Small Hydro

Tribally owned Colorado farm installs enterprise-wide in-conduit hydropower system

The installation consists of five similar in-conduit hydropower sites strategically positioned within the piped center-pivot irrigation system.
Tribally owned Colorado farm installs enterprise-wide in-conduit hydropower system
(Credit: Rentricity)

The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Farm and Ranch Enterprise (UMUFRE), a tribally owned farm known for its innovative agricultural practices, announced the installation of the first enterprise-wide in-conduit hydropower system across its 7,700-acre irrigated farmland.

UMUFRE is a tribally owned agricultural business specializing in the production of alfalfa, corn, wheat and cattle.

The installation consists of five similar in-conduit hydropower sites strategically positioned within the piped center-pivot irrigation system. These systems have been integrated into the UMUFRE system over the past two years. The sites collectively generate over 115 kW of energy seasonally, which is used to power onsite farming operations.

Conduit hydropower systems generate electricity by tapping into existing water infrastructure, such as canals or pipelines — or in this case, farmland irrigation systems.

As part of these projects, Rentricity, a New York-based in-conduit hydropower company, introduced the Renewable Energy AgriPower (REAP) platform, a clean energy solution designed for large farm enterprises using gravity-fed center-pivot irrigation systems.

The hydropower system spans about 1,000 irrigated acres dedicated to the cultivation of alfalfa, corn, and wheat and grazing cattle. The five in-conduit hydropower sites harness excess pressure in the water flowing through the irrigation pipes, converting it into electrical power without disrupting the irrigation process.

The overall project included renovations to 18 associated center-pivots to optimize hydropower resources and water-use efficiency improvements for the desert environment.

This is Rentricity’s first enterprise-wide REAP installation, and it said it hopes the project serves as a best practice for sustainable agriculture in North America. Rentricity and UMUFRE have completed the installation of five sites, with five more in development.

“Three months of the 115-kW operation could charge electric vehicles to travel a combined total of approximately 750,000 miles.” said Frank Zammataro, CEO and founder of Rentricity.

During the site assessment and feasibility study, it was determined that were was a “significant” potential for in-conduit hydropower energy recovery in certain “blocks” of UFRE’s center-pivot irrigation operations. A “block” is a large tract of land that is supported by center-pivot irrigation from a central supply conduit.

Additionally, the assessment identified several improvements to the pivot operations that would require upgrades or replacement to capture the maximum amount of energy at each site. These improvements included new low-head filters, nozzle packages to precise flow rates, delivery valve modifications, and improvements in the turnouts vaults. Rentricity said these improvements resulted in a maximum amount of excess head pressure available for clean energy recovery.

Rentricity said standardized designs were developed for the REAP in-conduit hydropower systems, which was meant to ensure compatibility with the center-pivot irrigation operation. Additionally, the installation involved “minimal” disruption to existing farming activities, the company said, and also included the integration of multiple in-conduit hydropower powerhouses into the irrigation pipeline network.

UFRE also utilized instream filters that reduced particle content while also reducing pressure drop compared to ‘H’ style filters, Rentricity said, which freed up “significant” pressure drop that could then be used to generate power via turbines. Additionally, the pivot controls and flow control valves were integrated with the hydropower turbine control packages.