Hydroelectric turbines can be among the most cost-effective generators of renewable electricity.

CAT's consultancy service can help you establish whether a river is suitable for this form or power generation. A typical pre-feasibility study for a hydro power project will consist of the following steps:

	Site Assessment and Measurement of Head One of the most important factors influencing the amount of power that can be produced from flowing water is the amount of height drop, known as head, is available. Detailed maps can be used for very rough initial estimates, but much more precise figures are required to calculate the technical and economic viability of a scheme. CAT consultants use surveying equipment to measure the height drop between two points, giving you a very accurate measurement of the head. This work can usually be carried out in a few hours during a site visit.
	Hydrological Analysis (Flow Rate Distribution) The second factor determining the amount of power that can be produced is the amount of water available, the flow rate. One approach is to simply measure how much water is available in a stream at a given moment, for example by measuring the speed or by diverting the stream into a pipe and filling buckets. However, flow rates are typically subject to large amounts of natural variation. CAT consultants use existing flow data from nearby streams as well as computer models to estimate how much water will be available at different times of the year. This information is crucial for deciding the right size of turbine and for estimating energy yields accurately.
	System Specification and Calculation of Yields Based on the data for head and flow rates, our consultants can make recommendations for the type and size of turbine, and the penstock pipe which supplies water to the turbine. Typically, there is no one correct or optimal solution. Instead, different variants will have their specific advantages and drawbacks. For example, a smaller penstock pipe diameter reduces the cost of the scheme but increases the losses from friction, decreasing the power output. Our consultants can propose several solutions and help you decide what is most appropriate for your needs.

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