The Uphill Battle for Water
As I sit here gazing out at the serene Ringarooma River that winds through our property, I can’t help but chuckle at the sheer determination it took to turn this picturesque scene into a renewable energy oasis. You see, my husband Graham and I didn’t exactly have the easiest time harnessing the power of this natural wonder. In fact, it was a bureaucratic battle of epic proportions that would have left most people throwing in the towel. But not us – we were on a mission to prove that a backyard hydroelectric generator was not only possible, but an absolute marvel of engineering.
It all started back in 2001 when we purchased this lovely little off-the-grid property in Tasmania. No council services, no water, no nothing. Now most people would see that as a daunting challenge, but not Graham. Oh no, he had his sights set on tapping into the nearby Guiding Star Creek to provide us with clean, sustainable drinking water. Easy peasy, right? As the story goes, that’s when the fun really began.
You see, our local council had this little habit of making up their own rules when it came to providing services. Apparently, the fact that our property was technically within the town boundaries and water district was irrelevant. And the fact that the town’s water supply pump was a mere 10 meters from our front gate? Also not important. No, they had their reasons, and by golly, they were sticking to them!
So off we went, determined to source our own water supply. And that’s when Graham had his eureka moment – why not harness the power of that creek to generate electricity too? I thought the man had gone completely mad. “At 2002 electricity prices,” I told him, “it’ll take at least 20 years to recover the cost of such a scheme!” But when has logic ever stopped this stubborn soul?
Navigating the Bureaucratic Maze
Before we could even think about the hydroelectric side of things, we had to jump through hoops to secure the water license. As the story goes, that meant completing an extensive environmental impact assessment during the driest summer months, all while dealing with some rather interesting encounters with mysterious bushwalkers in the hills. I still can’t help but wonder if they were somehow linked to the mysterious disappearance of water in the creek at certain times of the day. But I digress.
After a grueling 10-year battle, we finally had water flowing through our pipeline again. Phew! Now it was time to tackle the next hurdle: the Forestry Tasmania lease for our pipeline. You’d think this would be a walk in the park after the council debacle, but oh no, these bureaucrats had a few more tricks up their sleeve.
As we learned, the Forestry Tasmania guys discovered that their initial assessment of our pipeline plan had been completely wrong. Apparently, there were some oh-so-important heritage values that needed to be considered. And the solution, in their infinite wisdom? Force us to reroute the pipeline in the most convoluted way possible, with four 45-degree turns, just to avoid a flattened old water race on one side of the road. You can’t make this stuff up, folks!
But you know what they say – where there’s a will, there’s a way. So we rolled up our sleeves, got creative with the mini excavator, and managed to complete the pipeline in a matter of weeks. Take that, bureaucracy!
Powering Up the Dream
With the water supply and pipeline in place, it was time to tackle the real challenge: selecting the perfect generator for our micro-hydro system. Now, I’ll admit, I was a bit skeptical about Graham’s ability to figure this out. After all, his previous experience was limited to being the Hydro Electric Commission’s apprentice of the year back in 1967. But the man had a knack for problem-solving that never ceased to amaze me.
As it turns out, Graham did his homework. He dug up old water flow charts, enlisted the help of an Australian company, and even got his hands dirty with a pressure gauge, a water meter, and some welding gear. Through all that trial and error, he managed to determine the optimal working head and flow rate for our system – a staggering 88 meters of head and a maximum flow of 20 liters per second. Armed with that information, we made the informed decision to invest in a 7.5kW induction generator.
With the generator installed and the system connected to the grid, we were ready to power up our dream. But of course, the bureaucratic roller coaster wasn’t quite done with us yet. As we discovered, our shiny new import-export meter wasn’t quite doing its job, leading to a confusing and frustrating battle with the local utility company, Aurora. Estimated bills, faulty meter connections, and even threats of disconnection – you name it, we dealt with it.
Overcoming Obstacles and Powering On
But through it all, our micro-hydro generator kept on chugging, producing a steady stream of renewable electricity for our off-the-grid property. In fact, from July 2013 to mid-January 2014, our little system generated a remarkable 18MWh of power – more than enough to keep the lights on and the heat pumps running.
Of course, we’ve had our fair share of hiccups over the years. Changing out the jets, the exciter, and the inverter, all while dealing with the occasional estimated bill from Aurora during the pandemic. But through it all, our micro-hydro marvel has remained a reliable and sustainable source of power, supplemented by our 175kW solar array and 27kWh Tesla Powerwall system.
The Rewards of Perseverance
As I look back on this journey, I can’t help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. What started as a seemingly crazy idea from my stubborn husband has turned into a testament to the power of renewable energy and the importance of perseverance.
Sure, there were times when I thought Graham had truly lost his mind, chasing cows off our property and battling bureaucrats at every turn. But his unwavering determination and problem-solving skills never ceased to amaze me. And now, as we sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labor, I can’t help but marvel at the sheer ingenuity of our backyard hydroelectric generator.
So if you’re considering a similar project, take it from us – it won’t be easy. You’ll have to navigate a maze of red tape, overcome unexpected challenges, and perhaps even deal with a few mysterious bush wanderers along the way. But trust me, the sense of accomplishment and the knowledge that you’re doing your part to power a more sustainable future make it all worth it.
After all, as the Plug ‘n’ Save Energy Products team likes to say, “Small steps today lead to big strides tomorrow.” And with a little bit of grit and a whole lot of passion, who knows what marvels you might uncover in your own backyard.