Assessment and evaluation of the utility of hydrokinetic technologies in low head streams

Large dams exploiting hydropower have been marvels of engineering practice, but over the decades their accrued environmental effects, such as sediment budget balances (due to upstream aggregation and downstream erosion) and water quality and fish biota degradation, were visible. Moreover, large centralised hydropower systems present the challenge of grid connectivity, as it can be challenging to connect large electricity grids to remote and inaccessible rural areas, not only due to costs but also due to the loss of energy due to high distances. Scotland having many small rural communities and thousands of small low-head streams, is a prime example for efficiently demonstrating tackling the above crucial challenges of small scale decentralised power generation, with alternative schemes such as micro-hydropower and hydro-kinetic systems. These flexible to install and operate systems, can help prevent grid connectivity problems and electricity loss. They can be installed in several locations due to their small assembly and easy construction process compared to large hydropower plants. They can also be installed at wastewater plants to exploit outlet flows. In this study several criteria were analysed to assess the new technologies based on data collected from various suppliers. The criteria covered several aspects of the technologies: health and safety, design, environmental constraints, employability, and financial viability. The selection process started to classify the viability of the technologies according to the score they achieved. The technologies are assessed, and optimal use sometimes based on the location and real world application, are offered.