"Grid- tie" versus "Off-Grid"

The mechanics for doing "Grid-Tie" or "Off-Grid" systems are well established. However, if you plan to "Grid-Tie" in the USA be prepared to deal with the Fereral Energy Regulatory Commision (FERC) first.

NOTE: FERC only regulates non-federal hydro projects and does not supply or design equipment.

Grid Tie Hydro
FERC was established to protect the waterways in the USA, and you must have a permit from them to sell power back into the utility grid. If you have it in mind to do a grid tie, contact FERC first. This will give you an idea of the process involved.

You may hear about exemptions from a FERC license. They have these provisions but you still must go through the process, as if you were getting the actual license.

FERC web page
http://www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/gen-info/licensing/pre-permits.asp

exemptions web page:
http://www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/gen-info/licensing/exemptions.asp


Small Hydropower Project 
(5-megawatts
         or less)
The contact person for small hydro at FERC is:
Michael.spencer@ferc.gov

Off-Grid Hydro
There are a few approaches to this method:

1) Produce enough power to run your home, farm or business. This requires the largest turbine and you need to generate enough power to handle peak loads (like motors starting).
2) Charge batteries and use the battery to store power for time when it is needed. This allows a small turbine to be used, one that will generate sufficient power for your total use. You will need to use an inverter to provide AC Power, because batteries operate with DC voltage and current.
3) use a electronic load management system that prioritizes where power goes - this approach allows a medium sized turbine to be used but allot more engineering.

A word of caution with off-grid systems

When you operate off-grid, the hydro system will not maintain 50Hz or 60Hz exactly as large loads are applied and/or released. Even though electronics control the load, there will still potentially be a swing - it can be large.

These swings in generator rpms can be more closely controller by the use of a flywheel on the system. The fly wheel should be connected to the turbine/generator and it will store energy. When a large load is engaged, the flywheel will want to maintain the generator at the proper rpms and frequency and will release some energy into the system to do so. And conversely, when the large load is uncoupled, the flywheel will resist the systems tendency to increase in rpms, it will absorb energy, and so the flywheel facilitates a more effective load controlled operation. It is relatively easy to add a flywheel to a kaplan, and difficult to do on small Turgos and Peltons

We can help you develop any of the above systems when you are ready.