Micro hydropower
Environmentally friendly Micro hydro, or small-scale hydro, is one of the most environmentally benign energy conversion options available, because unlike large-scale hydro power, it does not attempt to interfere significantly with river flows.
When is hydropower micro?
The definition of micro hydropower varies in different countries and can even include systems with a capacity of a few megawatts. One of the many definitions for micro hydropower is: hydro systems up to a rated capacity of approximately 300 kW capacity. The limit is set to 300 kW because this is about the maximum size for most stand alone hydro systems not connected to the grid, and suitable for "run-of-the-river" installations.
Microhydro definitions
Definitions of small, mini, and micro hydro plants found in litreature
| Country | micro (kilowatts) |
mini (kilowatts) |
small (megawatts) |
| United States | < 100 | 100 - 1000 | 1 - 30 |
| United States | < 100 | 100 - 1000 | - |
| China | - | < 500 | 0.5 - 25 |
| USSR | < 100 | - | 0.1 - 30 |
| France | 5 - 5000 | - | - |
| India | < 100 | 101 - 1000 | 1 -15 |
| Brazil | < 100 | 100 - 1000 | 1 - 30 |
| Norway * | < 100 | 100 - 1000 | 1 - 10 |
| various | < 100 | < 1000 | < 10 |
In: Johansson T.B. et al, (1993) Renewable energy : sources for fuels and electricity (ISBN 1-85383-155-7)
from The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Administrasjon (NVE).
