Micro High Head Hydro (M3H)
Heidra's core business is the development of M3H sites. The installed capacity of these sites is in the range of 4 kW to 1 MW. The site requirements are that the stream/river falls through a distance of over 20 m with an average gradient exceeding 1:25 and a mean flow greater than 20 l/s.
Heidra has estimated that there is over 1 GW of financially viable M3H capacity in the UK, principally in upland areas. This number is continously increasing as the price of electricity rises.
M3H is a true run-of-the-river system: It does not require the reservoir storage seen in more traditional systems. No reservoir storage means minimal environmental impact of the depleted stretch of stream. The intake of an M3H system is normally in upland areas and smolts either entering the intake or passing the weir are not an issue. Heidra is working in partnership with Aquatonics to further justify this statement.
Heidra has developed M3H, a modular design approach and component products matched to these sites:
Heidra has 2 exclusivity agreements to develop demonstration schemes on Dartmoor, UK. One is a 250 kW site, the other 4 kW. Further funding is currently being sought to cover the environmental impact assessment and planning application of the larger site. Investment for the design and installation of the smaller site has been secured.
