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Small Hydropower System

A hydropower system can be a great way to power your home or small business if you've got access to a sufficient quantity of falling water.

Although hydropower projects vary greatly in size and environmental impact, most consumers will be able to meet their needs with a very small ("microhydro") system, which generates up to 100 kilowatts of electricity.

Most microhydro projects are free of the environmental impacts associated with large-scale projects because they use a "run of the river design", which does not require a large dam and storage reservoir. Instead, run of the river projects generate electricity by diverting only part of the stream. This produces relatively little change in the stream channel and flow, and minimizes impacts on fish migration, water quality, and wildlife habitat.