Interest grows in power generation from water pipes

USA

PORTLAND, January 10, 2024 – Drinking water pipes could supply a significant amount of hydropower via micro-turbines powered by excess pressure, according to a report published by New Scientist on Wednesday.

The technology, known as “in-conduit hydropower,” is already in place at multiple sites in the USA, the report said, and its deployment at all feasible sites could add 1.41 GW of generation capacity without the need to build new infrastructure and with a negligible environmental impact.

Gregg Semler of Oregon-based developer InPipe Energy told the magazine that the in-conduit approach could allow cities to back up intermittent renewable energy supply by pumping more water when technologies like wind and solar are unavailable.

The in-conduit micro-turbine technology is being developed by US players such as InPipe Energy, NLine Energy and Canyon Hydro.

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