microhydro for RE portfolio standards [RE-wrenches]

[Doug Pratt]

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Eric, microhydro was excluded from the rebated RE systems when California
first started encouraging RE growth in the mid-90s for a couple reasons. The
biggest one was that none of the big power companies want more capacity at
night. They're already doing big complex pump-by-night, hydro-by-day
projects and offering nighttime power at 4 cents per kW to try and use some
of their excess capacity from the big baseline plants that don't adjust
output easily. And second, microhydro didn't have any lobby or political
force to make their story heard. Both these reasons are still valid.

Cheers,
Doug Pratt
DC Power Systems


-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Youngren [mailto:eric at rainshadowinc.com] 
Sent: Friday, March 23, 2007 11:12 PM
To: microhydro at yahoogroups.com
Cc: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: microhydro for RE portfolio standards [RE-wrenches]



Why is microhydro not considered "renewable energy" in most of the states
that have passed mandatory renewable energy portfolio standards (RPS) for
utilities?

 

http://www.awea.org/legislative/pdf/State_RPS_Fact_Sheet_UPdated.pdf

 

 

In my mind a well designed and installed microhydro system connected to the
utility grid is producing electricity that is just as renewable and
non-polluting as a wind generator or a landfill gas plant or CSP array.   

 

Is anyone working on developing a standard for truly low impact microhydro?
I know there is the Low Impact Hydropower Institute with their certification
program but those guys are dealing with major dams on navigable rivers.
I'm talking about the really small stuff on creeks in the headwaters.  Run
of the river systems of less than a certain kW rating, maybe.    

 

Obviously hydropower has a troubled history when it comes to environmental
damage.   Dams can really screw up an ecosystem.     But I'm not talking
about dams.   Well designed and installed run of the river systems are no
more impacting to the environment than a wind farm or a big methane
digester.    

 

In some parts of the country the available resource for distributed
generation of firm power from micro and pico hydro is pretty huge.    Direct
grid connection with induction motor/generators is simple and robust or
rectified DC fed into a Windyboy or similar batteryless inverter is an
off-the-shelf configuration available now with a UL sticker to make the
inspector and utility happy.    

 

Inclusion on state and federal incentives, tax credits and portfolio
standards would make a lot more installations cost effective and provide
more work for those of us who like to drag pipes around in the woods.

 

Is there anybody else out there who is doing anything about this?

 

Eric Youngren

Rainshadow Solar

Orcas, WA

 

 

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