Small hydro sites, once scorned, get a second look

Journal Article · Mon Sep 05 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · Energy User News; (United States)

OSTI ID:7212433

Schroeder, C

High generating costs for conventional thermal power plants have prompted renewed interest in small-scale hydroelectric units that could be constructed to serve industrial plants or to allow utilities to lower their base power costs. Indications of this new interest include an ERDA program for encouraging the development of small sites having hydroelectric potential, new generating equipment designed for small sites, a Federal grant program, and feasibility studies. Grant money will be aimed at municipal, cooperative, industrial, and nonprofit development. An estimate by the Army Corps of Engineers indicates a potential 49,000 dams are capable of generating 33,000 megawatts (MW). The Corps study also projects a higher capacity is available from existing thermal plants with more powerful generators and more efficient turbines. A regional breakdown in new capacity is based on the Corps' estimate for a total potential of 54,000 MW. A list of equipment suppliers includes both foreign and domestic manufacturers of small-scale equipment. (DCK)

• OSTI ID: 7212433
• Journal Information: Energy User News; (United States), Journal Name: Energy User News; (United States) Vol. 2:35; ISSN EUSND
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

13 HYDRO ENERGY
130100 -- Hydro Energy-- Resources & Availability
130500 -- Hydro Energy-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
296001* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Electric Power Generation-- (-1989)
CAPACITY
COMMERCIALIZATION
ECONOMIC POLICY
ECONOMICS
ENERGY FACILITIES
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EQUIPMENT
FINANCING
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
LEGISLATION
NATIONAL ENERGY PLAN
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PLANNING
POWER GENERATION
POWER PLANTS
PUBLIC UTILITIES
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WATER RESOURCES