Myths about micro hydro power

What have you heard about micro hydro power? Chances are, someone may have led you wrong, so here are some explanations of some common misconceptions about micro hydro energy

1. It takes a large brook or stream to produce enough force to generate the power you will need.
False: Many small streams are suitable if the water flow is constant and there are some small to medium sized drops in height you can take advantage of.

2. You have to build you micro hydro system in a pool of water, often referred to as a "reservoir".
False. Micro hydro systems are often built in what's called a "run-of-river" system. This leads to almost no environmental impact.

3. Micro hydro generation will damage your local ecosystem by interfering with the natural flow f the stream or brook.
False. See the "run of the river" explanation above. This allows fish through, and does not affect water levels.

4. Electricity generated through micro hydro is unreliable
False. In short, newer and more advanced systems are able to capture and store excess energy for times when the flow of the water subsides

These are just a few of the falsehoods that may have led you to hesitate to bring micro hydro power to your home. It's worth looking into developing a system, and your local installer can give you more information about the costs to build and maintain on your property.