Tapping untapped renewable energy

Abstract

In water distribution networks in South Africa, water is often fed under gravity from a higher reservoir to another reservoir at a lower level. The high pressure head at the receiving reservoir is then dissipated through the control valves (altitude valves), or in some cases, orifice plates. The benefit of this hydropower generating application is that minimal civil works need to be done as the control valves are normally inside a control room/valve chamber. No negative environmental or social effects require mitigation and the anticipated lead times should be short.