Research and development aspects of pico-hydro power

A.A. Lahimer, M.A. Alghoul, K. Sopian, Nowshad Amin, Nilofar Asim and M.I. Fadhel

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2012, vol. 16, issue 8, 5861-5878

Abstract: Intensive explorations of different alternatives and renewable energy resources are currently being conducted worldwide. Pico-hydro power is at the forefront of these options because it is considered as the most cost-effective renewable energy option to provide electricity for rural areas, and to enable energy to be derived from extremely low head and flow streams of 1m and 1L/s, respectively. This review discusses the research and development aspects of pico-hydro and the factors influencing the success of the pico-hydro scheme in rural areas. These factors are also likely to increase the demand for pico in a rural energy market. This paper concurs with the view held by many researchers and experts that customs duty imposed on pico-hydro components is a major obstacle to the dissemination of renewable energy because it raises original cost by up to 40%. The future of the pico-hydro market looks prosperous because there is substantial availability of low head and flow hydroelectric sites in less developed countries. In the future, technology can play a crucial role in the lighting of houses in remote communities, with the energy source derived from domestic water supply.

Keywords: PicoHydro; Installation; Cost-effectiveness; Hazards and safety; Pico users; Pico market and demand (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (17)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032112003292
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:rensus:v:16:y:2012:i:8:p:5861-5878

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/bibliographic
http://www.elsevier. ... 600126/bibliographic

DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2012.05.001

Access Statistics for this article

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews is currently edited by L. Kazmerski

More articles in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().