Brainstorm
Moving water is a powerful source of energy that is harnessed to provide clean, fast, and flexible electricity generation.Kinetic energy of water flow in a stream or river is a renewable source of energy abundantly available in our region. Harnessing this source through well established methods is both capital and time intensive. I am suggesting an alternate technology suited from afford ability as well as indigenous manufacture en mass. This involves use of an on site assembly kit for a “floating hydro-electric generator” tethered to the anchors on river bank and suited to minimum flow in winters and also swollen rivers during summers.
1.3 billion people are without electricity, and over 800 million people depend on high cost, polluting fossil fuel generators for their power. However, over 71% of the planet is covered with slowly moving water in rivers, canals, and ocean currents.
A huge, untouched global market exists to provide electricity where it is unavailable, and also to replace the millions of fuel-burning generators currently supplying power at very high cost.
Asian Scene: Asia’s hydro power technical potential amounts to about 5,980 TWh/year, accounting for 37 percent of the global potential, while the total generation in 2011 amounted to about 37 percent of the economically exploitable generation. Three countries accounted for more than 75 percent of total generation: China (61 percent), India (10 percent) and Turkey (5 percent). Generation in the rest of non-OECD Asia3 amounted in the same year to 182 TWh, about 22 percent of the economically exploitable potential. Russia’s hydro power potential amounts to 1,670 TWh/year and accounts for about 10 percent of global hydro power potential.
Objective: To provide electricity to each village independently through self help and gradually increasing the capacity to meet entire demand needed towards economical transformation. Another associated aspect: For pumping water from rivers to irrigate barren lands.
Inspiration
“The energy challenge – here and elsewhere – will require a multi-faceted response, including bold innovations in the way we both produce and consume energy... Hydroelectric power fulfills that goal. It is ‘clean’ energy – advancing sustainable development while minimising its environmental impact.”
His Highness the Aga Khan at the Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony of the Bujagali Hydropower Project (Kampala, Uganda) - 21 August 2007.
Facts and figures
- 13% of the global population still lacks access to modern electricity.
- 3 billion people rely on wood, coal, charcoal or animal waste for cooking and heating
- Energy is the dominant contributor to climate change, accounting for around 60 per cent of total global greenhouse gas emissions.
- Indoor air pollution from using combustible fuels for household energy caused 4.3 million deaths in 2012, with women and girls accounting for 6 out of every 10 of these.
- The share of renewable energy in final energy consumption has reached 17.5% in 2015.
Objective: To provide electricity to each village independently through self help and gradually increasing the capacity to meet entire demand needed towards economical transformation. Another associated aspect: For pumping water from rivers to irrigate barren lands.
Inspiration
“The energy challenge – here and elsewhere – will require a multi-faceted response, including bold innovations in the way we both produce and consume energy... Hydroelectric power fulfills that goal. It is ‘clean’ energy – advancing sustainable development while minimising its environmental impact.”
His Highness the Aga Khan at the Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony of the Bujagali Hydropower Project (Kampala, Uganda) - 21 August 2007.
What is a floating hydroelectric generator? Has such a generator been built anywhere in the world?
Yes, there are floating hydroelectric generators, also known as hydrokinetic turbines. These devices harness the energy of flowing water to generate electricity. They are typically anchored to the riverbed and float on the surface of the water, with the turbine submerged beneath.
While there are several companies developing and manufacturing these turbines, widespread commercial deployment is still relatively new. However, there are examples of successful installations in various locations around the world, particularly in rivers with strong currents.
One example is the Floating Drum Turbine (FDT) developed by Solar Impulse. This technology utilizes a floating turbine that extracts energy from water streams, even in slow-moving rivers and canals. It has been successfully deployed in several locations.
Another example is the hydrokinetic turbines developed by Smart Hydro Power. These turbines are designed to provide electricity to remote communities and have been installed in various locations around the world.
It's important to note that the feasibility of using floating hydroelectric generators depends on various factors, including water flow, depth, and environmental conditions. However, as technology continues to advance, we can expect to see more widespread adoption of these innovative renewable energy solutions.
Lets see and create something that has the same look and feel that can be seen in this video I found the other day.
NEPALI DESIGN, RECENT DESIGNS,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVREafgPcOs
IMPROVED DESIGN: Archimedes Hydrodynamic Screw system. This project demonstrated that the low-head technology is simple, robust, and economical.
Levels / Stages Prototype Development and functionality Tests
Need interested youngsters ready to go for a career in this field to participate.
Collaboration by government and established CSOs such as AKRSP, IFAD, ALTERNATIVE ENERGY BOARD etc is highly desirable.
Please feel free to add or update these if you think I missed anything!
Experience Shared: On the other hand, don’t under-estimate what one person looking to change their piece of the world can do. Before I bought the FITZ Waterwheel company, I had been through some hard times. Now 6 years later, I operate 1250 kilowatts of generators commercially, providing clean, environmentally safe power to over 1000 homes. I hope you have as much fun and satisfaction with your waterwheel, whatever the size.
(Rudy Behrens owns the FITZ Waterwheel Company. 118 Sycamore Ct., Collegeville, PA 19426, Phone: (215) 489-6256.)
Cost Analysis of Hydro-power
Key findings: Average investment costs for large hydro power plants with storage typically range from as low as USD 1 050 /kW to as high as USD 7 650/kW while the range for small hydro power projects is between USD 1 300 /kW and USD 8 000 /kW. Adding additional capacity at existing hydropower schemes or existing dams that don’t have a hydropower plant can be significantly cheaper, and can cost as little as USD 500/kW.
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MOU
Background:
A “road map” towards
a “Better
Tomorrow” has been proposed since 2005 by Brig Hisamullah
Beg SI (M). The top priorities in this mission are development of energy and
human resources through “Self Help” efforts of civil
society in the region.
Present MOU has been drawn to ensure that the responsibilities
for each member of the team are clearly laid down so that this particular
effort in realizing an indigenous design of a “Floating Hydro Electric Generator” is
successfully concluded.
The salient points of MOU are:
1.
Finances:
Brig Hisamullah Beg SI (M) will invest the
amount towards development of a prototype illustrated by him through the
sketches in Fig-1 and
Fig-2
2.
Fabrication:
Will be done in accordance with
the manufacturing drawing in Baig Engineering Factories in Gilgit owned and
supervised by Hayat Baig resident of Rahim Abad Gilgit.
3.
Accounts:
Auditable accounts will be
maintained by Baig Engineering separately for the topic
4.
Expense Head:
a.
Materials
b.
Labour Charges
c.
Services
5.
The progress is visualized according to the
monitoring schedule placed on the shared drop box folder titled PROJECT.
Modifications/changes will be
incorporated through mutual discussions and also reflected in the shared
documents.
6.
The venture is basically motivated from TKN
concept and participation by LSO/WOs/VOs towards Self Help. However it could also
be considered as a business venture for which a separate “Business Plan” will be
drawn through mutual agreement.
7.
Agreed
on 10th June 2017:
a.
Brig Hisamullah Beg SI(M) Baltit Hunza- Proponent
b.
Hayat Baig- Owner and Chief Executive of Baig
Engineering Gilgit- resident of Rahim Abad.
c.
Faisal Hayat- Mechanical Engineering Graduate and
trainee partner of the team.
FIRST PROTOTYPE THROUGH BAIG ENGINEERING GILGIT
Cost: More than 2-Lacs Rupees
FACEBOOK
ALTERNATE PROTOTYPE THROUGH COLLEGE OF EME RAWALPINDI
Cost: Around Fifteen Thousand Rupees.
DESIGN2, SECOND PROTOTYPE
THIRD OPTION also started.
FIRST PROTOTYPE THROUGH BAIG ENGINEERING GILGIT
Cost: More than 2-Lacs Rupees
Cost: Around Fifteen Thousand Rupees.
DESIGN2, SECOND PROTOTYPE
THIRD OPTION also started.
1.
Average investment costs for large hydropower plants with
storage typically range from as low as USD 1,050/kW to as high as USD 7,650/kW
while the range for small hydropower projects is between USD 1,300/kW and USD 8,000/kW.
Adding additional capacity at existing hydropower schemes or existing dams that
don’t have a hydropower plant can be significantly cheaper, and can cost as
little as USD 500/kW.
TABLE 1: TYPICAL INSTALLED
COSTS AND LCOE OF HYDROPOWER PROJECTS
Installed costs
costs
( %)
|
(USD/kW)
( %/year of
Levelised cost of
|
Operations and
installed costs)
electricity
|
maintenance
Capacity factor
(2010 USD/kWh)
|
|
Large hydro
|
1050 – 7,650
|
2 – 2.5
|
25 to 90
|
0.02 – 0.19
|
Small hydro
|
1,300 – 8,000
|
1 – 4
|
20 to 95
|
0.02 – 0.27
|
Refurbishment/upgrade
|
500 – 1,000
|
1 – 6
|
0.01 – 0.05
|
Note:
The levelised cost of electricity calculations assume a 10% cost of capital
2.
Annual operations and maintenance
costs (O&M) are often quoted as a
percentage of the investment cost per kW. Typical values range from 1% to 4%.
Large hydropower projects will typically average around 2% to 2.5%.
Small
hydropower projects don’t have the same economies of scale and can have O&M
costs of between 1% and 6%, or in some cases even higher.
3.
The cost of electricity generated by hydropower is generally low although
the costs are very site-specific.
The
levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) for hydropower refurbishments and upgrades
ranges from as low as USD 0.01/kWh for additional capacity at an existing
hydropower project to around USD 0.05/kWh for a more
expensive
upgrade project assuming a 10% cost of capital. The LCOE for large hydropower
projects typically ranges from USD 0.02 to USD 0.19/kWh assuming a 10.% cost of
capital, making the best hydropower power projects the most cost competitive
generating option available today. The LCOE range for small hydropower projects
for a number of real world projects in developing countries evaluated by IRENA
was between USD 0.02 and USD 0.10/kWh, making small hydro a very cost
competitive option to supply electricity to the grid, or to supply off-grid
rural electrification schemes. Very small hydropower projects can have higher
costs than this and can have an LCOE of USD 0.27/kWh
or more for pico-hydro systems.
4.
Significant hydropower potential remains unexploited. The
technical potential is some 4.8 times greater than today’s electricity
generation. The total worldwide technical potential for hydropower is estimated
at 15,955 TWh/year.
UPDATE: : Brig Tariq Javed, commandant College of EME detailed a team to include Dr Aqib PerwaizR&D, Dr Raja Amer Azim, and Dr Azhar-ulhaq to work on the improved design being developed by Brig Beg. First coordination meeting was held on 19th Feb 2018. Aqib.Perwaiz raja_amer@cemr.nust.edu.pk tjtariq@gmail.com
UPDATE: : Brig Tariq Javed, commandant College of EME detailed a team to include Dr Aqib PerwaizR&D, Dr Raja Amer Azim, and Dr Azhar-ulhaq to work on the improved design being developed by Brig Beg. First coordination meeting was held on 19th Feb 2018. Aqib.Perwaiz raja_amer@cemr.nust.edu.pk tjtariq@gmail.com
