NARO and Hokuriku Seiki Developed Open-type Microhydro

National Aguriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) announced on 10th that it had developed an open-type microhydro power generator in cooperation with Hokuriku Seiki in Uozu city of Toyama prefecture.

By adjusting the covers attached to the water wheel, the generator can make water elevation as high as possible between the upstream and the downstream.

If the width of a channel is 0.9 meters and its slope one five hundredth, it can generate 465 W electricity at maximum.

According to NARO, the new product will reduce generating cost by 25 to 30 percent as compared with engine generator.

Nikkan Kogyo: 2013/09/11
http://www.nikkan.co.jp/news/nkx0520130911caae.html
NARO (in English)
http://www.naro.affrc.go.jp/english/index.html
Hokuriku Seiki (in Japanese)
http://www.s-hokuriku.com/