Micro-hydro power can be an excellent source of electricity for your off-grid home.  It operates on the principle of water falling downhill with force and uses that force to turn an electrical alternator that produces electricity.  Although the amount of electricity produced may not seem large when compared to a fuel powered generator, you need to remember that a hydro unit is running 24/7.  This means that whenever you are using less electricity than the unit is producing (i.e. when you are sleeping), your batteries are being charged.  And the beauty is that you don't have to worry about a lack of sunshine (as with solar) or a lack of wind (as with wind power).  The main concern is that the flow of water be sufficient even during the driest time of the year.  And even if you have a seasonal creek, a "hybrid" system can be used that utilizes hydro during the darker wetter months and solar during the sunnier drier months.  The major drawbacks to hydro power would be the legal "red tape" involved in many states, the amount of user involvement/maintenance required, and freezing issues in northern areas (these freezing issues can certainly be dealt with but must be properly address at time of installation).  The other down side would be that property with a good creek is often more expensive than a similar property without a creek.  Positives would include lower upfront cost than solar or wind (usually), a very consistent charge 24/7 with less impact by weather conditions, and thus fewer batteries are usually required for a hydro system than for a comparable solar system.

 

In calculating system performance, the term "head" is often used.  This refers to how many feet of vertical fall from your water collection point to the hydro unit.  Here is an easy rule of thumb for evaluating a creek's potential:

It is important to remember that this is just a rough estimate and will depend on many factors, such as how many feet of pipe the water must flow through (more pipe = more friction and less power produced).  Also, the diameter of the pipe can dramatically impact the performance of your unit (smaller diameter = more constriction, more drag, and less power produced).  The type of unit you choose can also impact how much power you glean (certain units are better suited for certain conditions).

 

Here is a link to an excellent free booklet that covers the topic of hydro power very well (MMM is not associated with ABS Alaskan, this is simply a great resource we wanted to share with you).   Hydro Info Booklet