Author: Alicia Webb
A retired hydro engineer in Ellendale, Tasmania has designed and built a small scale hydro plant, completed in November 2010. During winter it will provide almost enough power for the town of Ellendale, in Tasmania's central highlands. On top of generating clean energy, it's even attracting tourists to the area.
The project
Nigel Tomlin retired to a farm after a 17 year career working as an engineer with energy companies. A stream flows downhill right into his backyard, and he couldn't resist the urge to tap in. The call went out to his old network and together Mr Tomlin and five ex-hydro engineers spent five months welding and connecting their mini hydro generator from scratch.
Water is piped 500 metres from the top of the river until it reaches the base of the cottage housing the turbine. The total vertical drop is 30m.
Project scale and economics
The project cost $35,000 and has a maximum output of 15 kW and an average output throughout the year of 7.5 kilowatts. It will deliver between 60 and 80 megawatt hours annually. In winter, the plant will supply totally renewable energy to most of the town, and save 75-tonnes of carbon emissions, compared to conventional coal-fired power.
Potential for replication
According to Nigel there are hundreds of sites in Tasmania for small scale hydro generation.
More information
ABC news story
European small hydro association
Why Hydro Power
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