Designing and Building Mini and Micro Hydropower Schemes

Small hydro power installations have the potential to provide a renewable supply of energy to people in remote, hilly communities, far from the national grid. This book is based on the authors' considerable experience of installing hydroelectric schemes that produce up to 500 kW for powering small communities. This book describes not only the electro-mechanical equipment and how it is installed, but also the correct siting of the installation and how to design and build the channels leading up to the turbine so as to optimize performance. These civil works can be carried out by local manpower, using materials that are usually available locally. Chapters cover the main components of small hydroelectric plants from the intake and the headrace channel, via the conveyance channel, to the forebay tank, penstock, turbine, and generator.

Luis Rodrguez is a civil engineer with extensive experience designing and installing micro hydro systems in Peru and Central America, working for Practical Action since 1992, as well as the Peruvian Government and other organizations. Teodoro Snchez is the Technology and Policy Adviser for Energy, Practical Action. He is a mechanical engineer with 20 years' expedience with Practical Action in Peru and Britain.