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Belgian Youth Develop Mini Hydropower Plant Capable Of Generating Energy For 500 Homes. The Project Generates Sustainable Energy And Also Features Special Blades That Allow Fish And Other Animals To Pass Without Getting Hurt
Two young inventors from Belgium, Geert Slachmuylders and Jasper Verreydt, created an innovative proposal for generating sustainable energy. The youths have knowledge in various fields such as finance, electromechanics, law, and smart mobility and, restless, have always sought solutions for a better life. The young men developed a low-cost mini hydropower plant that can be installed in almost any waterway. Geert and Jasper founded Turbulent, a company that installs and develops innovative turbines, generating low-cost sustainable energy, without the need for maintenance, and with minimal environmental impact.
Mini Hydropower Plant Can Generate Energy For 500 Houses
The design of the hydropower plant began when the two studied the vortices formed in canals and rivers, and after gathering a team of professionals, it was possible to develop hydropower turbines ranging from 15 to 70 kW that can be installed in any canal, river, or watercourse that has a drop of between 1.5 and 5 meters.
The mini hydropower plant can generate energy using a single turbine or a network of several turbines in locations that require more sustainable energy. The turbines are an excellent alternative for remote locations, considering that their installation is simple and easy, as well as being a product with good durability that requires little maintenance, capable of generating clean energy for communities of 50 to 500 families.
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Depending on the conditions of each system, the mini hydropower plant can generate, in each turbine, between 120,000 kWh and 560,000 kWh per year in sustainable energy. The young men affirm that the project’s goal is to bring sustainable and accessible energy to remote areas through new technologies, while empowering local populations to use them.
Understand How The Mini Hydropower Plant Works
The young men are delivering on their promise, and since Turbulent was launched about 7 years ago, Jasper and Geert have installed the mini hydropower plant in various parts of the world, including Belgium, Indonesia, Chile, France, Estonia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Portugal, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
The project consists of a concrete structure that acts as a water collector in a spiral shape, responsible for directing the liquid to the blades at a speed sufficient for the turbine to spin and the mechanical energy to generate sustainable energy.
Although it may seem simple, the idea has been quite effective and, once implemented, the system has the capacity to generate energy consistently, unlike other sources of renewable energy, such as wind and solar, which depend on weather conditions.
Mini Hydropower Plant Preserves The Environment And Marine Animals
According to the developing company, to generate the same amount of sustainable energy provided by the turbine, it would be necessary to have a solar power plant the size of a football field.
To further reduce the environmental impact of the turbines, the project’s creators conducted various tests to arrive at a special design that ensures that fish and other marine species can pass unharmed through the blades when they are installed in rivers, canals, and watercourses.
Another positive aspect of the project is that the turbines can be transported in a small truck, making delivery, construction, and installation much easier, taking just a few days. Thanks to the project, Geert and Jasper have received numerous awards in engineering and innovation competitions in the UK, Belgium, France, Chile, and Australia.
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