Small Hydropower Development on Irrigation Canals in the United States: The 45-Mile Hydropower Project 3MW Project Performance and Lessons Learned- Full Story

摘要

A significant untapped opportunity for small hydropower development in the U.S. lies in capturing power from flows within existing manmade or conduit infrastructure such as irrigation canals. This utilization of a renewable power source is being used by Apple Inc. to support its efforts to maintain an inventory of 100 percent clean energy sources dedicated for its operations of data centers. This dedication of harnessing natural power without disrupting the ecosystem is reflected in the site-specific application of this technology. Since these potential small hydropower sites are positioned in existing manmade infrastructure and preexisting screens would eliminate fish concerns and environmental impacts would be low. This approach allows for reduced construction costs and accelerated project completion compared with construction at undeveloped sites. This renewable approach minimizes the environmental impact and provides Apple the ability to support its global operations with carbon-reducing approaches. As an additional benefit, irrigation structures are frequently located on private property, which provides reduced licensing complexity compared to development on public land.