North American company develops innovative mini hydroelectric turbine, capable of generating up to 130 thousand kWh of clean energy annually, with the potential to transform the electricity market.
Mini hydroelectric turbines are emerging on the market as an innovative alternative for providing energy to homes and communities, without the need for dams or intense water flows. These devices are capable of operating in rivers and even in bodies of water with smaller volumes and slopes. What is new, however, is the InPipe HydroX mini hydroelectric turbineS, which goes one step further by using the flow of water in pipes to generate clean energy, representing a significant advance in energy technology. sustainable energy.
Understand how the new mini hydroelectric turbine works
It is worth noting that the technology should be used in large pipes, not in domestic plumbing. Turbines are ideal for drinking water distribution systems, treatment plants, industrial facilities and other plants, the equipment is available in different sizes.
The idea is simple: transform the functionality of common control valves into a clean energy source. This technology not only manages pressure and flow control accurately, but also transforms the pressure of the water circulating in the plumbing into electrical energy, a resource that was previously wasted.
This new mini hydroelectric turbine represents an important advance, as it reduces operating costs, saves water, reduces CO2 emissions and extends the useful life of the infrastructure. The central concept of InPipe HydroXS is to give a new value to water pressure, transforming it into electricity. This results in a more affordable and reliable water supply for businesses and customers.
With the ability to deploy a single unit to an entire system, the benefits scale in terms of energy savings, meeting sustainability goals and water conservation.
New mini hydroelectric turbine can generate up to 130 thousand kWh per year
The new technology from Oregon-based InPipe Energy has been implemented for the first time in California. O East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), installed the mini hydroelectric turbine to take advantage of the flow of municipal water pipes to generate clean energy, with a potential to generate around 130 thousand kWh per year.
Microturbinization, the basis of this technology, efficiently uses hydroelectric energy from streams, pipes and rivers, operating continuously and adapting to water flow and pressure.
EBMUD, as one of the leading water and wastewater providers in California, has been able to reduce its CO2 emissions by 50% since 2000 due to clean energy and efficient equipment. This mini hydroelectric turbine project is part of its decarbonization strategy, with a focus on achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.
Advantages of new clean energy generation technology
Among the main benefits of the equipment, the manufacturer highlights the generation of clean energy by taking advantage of unused pressure and simple integration into existing pipelines without interrupting normal operation.
The system can be an efficient tool for reducing pollutant emissions and dependence on carbon-based energy sources. To monitor water flow and energy generation, an InPipe control panel constantly provides hydraulic information, enabling effective monitoring of energy production and sustainability.
The city of Portland, in the state of Oregon, has also tested a similar initiative. The method was developed in partnership with the company LucidEnergy and the system works with small turbines installed in the pipes, which rotate due to the flow of water and send this energy to a generator, which is directed to the city's electrical grid. The same company has already used the same method to power light posts and other points in California.
