Effective grid connection approach for an overshot waterwheel

Interest in very small-scale hydropower generation has increased over the past few years. These pico-hydro systems range from a watts to several kW. The exploitation of low head sites does not require expensive civil works and is environmentally sustainable. Pico-hydro are attractive only for remote areas where grid available, but also connection. This especially relevant existing infrastructures, used other activities which can be energy generation. Waterwheels emerging with enormous potential this context. Low speeds variations water flow constraint their connection grid. study shows that they effectively connected using competitive widely available technology renewable sources, such as photovoltaics. paper presents an innovative approach effective system based on overshot waterwheel. For purpose, permanent magnet synchronous generator photovoltaic inverter used. compatibility between them analysed detail analysis valid hydro turbines. 2 m diameter waterwheel been installed infrastructure aquaculture centre. With rate about 13 l/s, it injects average power 126 W into microgrid global efficiency 50%.