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Sign upDecember 19, 2024
EDA Renováveis
São Miguel Island
Remote islands face energy challenges due to grid isolation and fossil fuel dependence. In the Azores, where over 60% of electricity is fossil-fuel based, EDA Renováveis sought to enhance energy efficiency at the Central Hidroelétrica dos Túneis, a 1.6 MW plant with a 3.4 m tailwater head. Two Turbulent 30 kW vortex turbines were installed in cascade layout, with each unit operating at 1.7 m head and 1.9 m³/s flow. Though each turbine generates 20 kWe, generators were oversized to 37 kWe to allow for future flow increases. The system delivers 280,000 kWh/year with minimal civil works, maximizing use of existing infrastructure. This upgrade improves plant efficiency, displaces diesel generation, and enhances grid resilience, offering a scalable model for energy optimization in remote locations.
The retrofit of the existing hydropower infrastructure generates ~280,000 kWh/year, displacing diesel generation and avoiding 224 tons of CO₂ annually. By using existing structures, the project minimized cement use and avoided dam construction. Operating costs are 1–1.5% of CAPEX per year. With a lifespan of 30–50 years and a payback period under 4 years, the project ensures strong long-term financial and environmental performance.
Turbulent aims to provide even the most remote communities of the world with reliable and affordable energy. We’ve developed a special kind of Vortex Turbine that generates low cost electricity, without the ecological impact, without large civil works, and without the high upfront investment cost. Turbulent's environmentally friendly hydropower technology (no dams) is an ideal match for Variable Renewable Energy (VRE), offering continuous electricity 24/7/365 in mini-grids and micro-grids, even featuring dispatch ability. Turbulent safely powers critical healthcare infrastructure, telecom, schools, villages, businesses ... on a continuous basis, in combination with new (solar) and existing installations. Turbulent offers off-grid, micro-grid and on-grid distributed electrification solutions with installed capacities of 15 kW, 30 kW, 50 kW, 70kW per turbine, easily scalable to a combination of multiple turbines to increase capacity.
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