Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

A home microhydro plant (2009)

ludens.cl

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 94 posts

Re: A home microhydro plant (2009)

#21

Post by benj111 »

mtw wrote: post #10

How much would all this cost in 2019? I'm wondering because I see many more people turn towards solar panels, or alternatively windmills. First time I see a hydro plant of this size.

Its more expensive than solar or wind, but cheaper than those + storage. Which is a legitimate comparison as its more reliable than those, and possibly dispatchable.

From a UK perspective theres quite a lot of paperwork. You have to get surveys for flow rate over the year, and theres limits to how much you can divert.

Both those combine to mean that it isn't really worth it unless you're off grid, and in the right location, with enough land, and water.

Re: A home microhydro plant (2009)

#22

Post by sathackr »

mtw wrote: post #10

How much would all this cost in 2019? I'm wondering because I see many more people turn towards solar panels, or alternatively windmills. First time I see a hydro plant of this size.

He said somewhere else on the site that because of the location he may only get 3 hours of sun in a day and sometimes months with no(I assume direct) sun in the winter.

So solar wasn't an option here though likely would have been cheaper and definitely easier.

Re: A home microhydro plant (2009)

#24

Post by wongarsu »

acomjean wrote: post #14
mtw wrote: post #10

How much would all this cost in 2019? I'm wondering because I see many more people turn towards solar panels, or alternatively windmills. First time I see a hydro plant of this size.

I’m not sure how cost effective it is. Most people don’t have a stream they can divert to run power. I’m not sure if the legality of stream diversion for personal use in many jusristrictions, and they seemed to divert a long way.

In Europe there are a lot of small streams that used to house mills before electricity made those redundant. Most of the earth work is alread done, you would just have to change it from a stretch of fast-flowing water to power a mill wheel to a small drop to power a turbine, and add the turbine and electronics. In some places there might even be ancient still-valid permits you could aquire if you buy the original mill.

I would expect a lot of red tape, but depending on local jurisdiction that might be very doable in Europe if you're willing to buy the right place for it.

Re: A home microhydro plant (2009)

#26

Post by theelous3 »

benj111 wrote: post #19
MisterTea wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He is a very interesting part of this whole article along with his son. The amount of physical labor involved is staggering. I've dug some trenches by hand, the longest being two feet deep for conduit, maybe 5 meters at most. Really hard work. Took me half a day. Reading through this article and seeing the amount of physical labor involved actually makes me anxious. But this guy and his son did it all. Most likely wi…

Yeah, at first I assumed Gabriel had a digger. Then it slowly dawned that he probably didnt.

I don't think I've ever seen someone so well shreaded from labour before. Usually it's the sort of in-shape-out-of-shape guy, or thin and wiry. Gabriel looks like he's off the set of 300 or something.

Re: A home microhydro plant (2009)

#27

Post by jacobush »

Flavius wrote: post #25
m_herrlich wrote: post #16

I cannot even imagine the legal sh!tstorm that would ensue from attempting this here in the PNW, the environmental impact looks quite significant.

It looks like a good way to ruin an entire ecosystem.

In what way? The digging? Or the water? It seemed he only uses a very little bit of the available water.

Re: A home microhydro plant (2009)

#28

Post by theelous3 »

Flavius wrote: post #25
m_herrlich wrote: post #16

I cannot even imagine the legal sh!tstorm that would ensue from attempting this here in the PNW, the environmental impact looks quite significant.

It looks like a good way to ruin an entire ecosystem.

Running water through pipes is going to destroy the surrounding forests how exactly?

It might modify where the wetter parts of the area are, but I don't think that equates to destroying it.

Re: A home microhydro plant (2009)

#29

Post by m-i-l »

Flavius wrote: post #25
m_herrlich wrote: post #16

I cannot even imagine the legal sh!tstorm that would ensue from attempting this here in the PNW, the environmental impact looks quite significant.

It looks like a good way to ruin an entire ecosystem.

Depending on where you live, there may be a lot of government sponsored guidance on how best to manage the environmental impact of micro hydro schemes - see e.g. https://www.gov.scot/publications/hydro-schemes-planning-adv... .
Post reply on HN