Potential of Archimedes Screw Turbine in Rural India Electrification: A Review

With the growing population of India, the demand for energy consumption is increasing. For the overall development of a region, especially remote areas, electricity is of prime importance. Production of electricity in large scale can further lead to various effects like environmental pollution, climate change and it is also costly. Thus the need for a socio-economic energy conversion to electricity is of prime importance for a sustainable development. India has a huge potential in the Hydro to generate 2,50,000 MW. An Archimedes Screw Turbine that was earlier used as a pump can give a very good solution in harnessing water potential. It rotates as water flows through it, rotating the generator’s prime mover connected to it. Archimedes Screw turbines operate at a low head of 0.8m to 10 m and relatively lower flow rate than the other turbines and more cost effective and are highly efficient. The AST is quite a new form of electricity generation practice which has been implemented in different countries along with India. Thus the electrification scenario in rural areas can be improved specially where there is a continuous flow of a river or canal by the installation of the low-cost socio-economic AST.