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Run of River Power Explained
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Run-of-river or “non-storage” hydropower is an environmentally friendly means of producing electricity. Unlike traditional hydroelectric projects that use large dams to store water, run-of-river hydro plants rely upon the natural downward flow and elevation of rivers to produce electricity. Traditional hydroelectric systems significantly alter ecosystems and flood arable land and areas inhabited by wildlife and humans.
Run-of-River plants mitigate environmental damage in several ways: they tend to be much smaller, are safer for fish because they do not place turbines directly in the river, and run-of-river head ponds (if there are any) do not store water. Instead, water continually and naturally moves through the system. Water from the river flows into a small head pond, through a pipe called a penstock, to the power station housing the turbines and finally back to the original water source through a tailrace or stream of water coming from the power station. For example, the ecological footprint of a 50 MW run-of-river project is relatively small yet it can produce electricity for over 20,000 homes.
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