21 April 2023

Hydropower on farms – going with the flow

Fiacc O’Brolchain, Hydropower Engineer Specialist, spoke to Teagasc’s Barry Caslin about the option to generate electricity from hydro on farms.

With high electricity prices and uncertainty, farmers with steep land and high, consistent volumes of rainfall may consider hydropower. Some of the power generated can be used on the farm, saving it on its electricity bills – a saving that is expected to become more significant as conventional electricity costs rise. In addition to the Microgeneration Support Scheme, it can generate an income from power which is exported to the national grid and earns an export tariff which is paid by the buyer of the power.

Areas covered in the webinar included: planning requirements; types of hydro; feasibility studies; selling to the grid; cost of construction; maintenance costs; river/site suitability; protecting the spawning fish; labour input; Government agencies involved; and where advice can be sought.