Renewable and Alternative Energy, water turbine

 Water Turbines are growing in popularity in recent years as they, like Hydro Power, provide cheap and non polluting energy for many years. The Romans were some of the first recorded users of water turbines, using the energy possibly for grinding grain or hoisting blocks of stone to certain heights. Water Turbines can be used by virtually anybody's if they have as free flowing stream or river flowing through their land. An entire village in England, bought a Water Turbine between them, about 15m long and weighing 8 tons, and placed it in their local river, submerging It completely, it now provides enough electricity to supply all the houses with their energy needs, their street lights and the remainder energy they do not use is then sold onto the national grid. The cost of this water turbine will repay itself after only 6 years, then they will have free energy for the rest of the turbines days. The turbines are designed to withstand rust and other problems due to water erosion and corrosion. The cost of a Water Turbine will easily outweigh the cost of energy provided by it, even if you need it servicing or replaced after so many years.

If you have a river running through your land, it is quite easy to have a Water Turbine installed at some point along the river. Depending on the flow of the river, the turbine can provide enough energy to your home for all or most of your needs, reducing the need to draw power from the national grid, therefore reducing your electricity bills. The turbines, like all other eco friendly energy devices, such as solar and wind power, all work in conjunction with your normal electricity supply. Which means that you will use your own power first, and only if you need more power, will you draw it from the national grid automatically. To ascertain whether or not your river will provide you with enough power, you need to call in a company which deals with Water Turbines, they can assess your river flow, volume, depth ratios to find the ideal location to ensure the most output, and will be able to tell you approximately how much power you can produce, and the energy you do not use, you can sell back to the national grid. You could then weigh up how you could save against the cost of the installation. Ask your Water Turbine provider, before you sign up for one, about his servicing policies, guarantees etc, the turbines will save you money, but the more money they save you, and the less you have to spend on maintenance, is better for you, and for this planet. Water Turbines provide a clean renewable source of energy with virtually no impact on the eco system. Unlike Hydro dams, the Water Turbines do not stop water from flowing, they allow the water to flow through, there is usually a protective mesh at the inflow, so as not to allow debris and fish in.