On Tuesday, Princess Astrid inaugurated Belgium’s first small-scale hydroelectric power station in Lessen (province of Hainaut). This is a first. The installation on an island in the Dender uses a turbine that generates energy from a slight height difference via a whirlpool.
The mini hydroelectric power plant, developed by the Leuven-based tech company Turbulent, is located in an old watermill building of a 13th-century farm in Lessen.
Vortex Turbine
“There is no significant difference in height or strong current here,” explains Turbulent CEO Pieter Joseph. “The water enters the installation via an inlet channel. Then it makes a turn, and a whirlpool is created that generates the energy.”
The so-called ‘Vortex Turbine’ illustrates how small-scale, continuous energy production is possible without significant impact on the landscape or ecosystem, without dams on major rivers or heavy infrastructure works.
High yield
According to Turbulent, the installation delivers a high yield for its size: a similar energy production with solar panels would require a solar park the size of almost half a football field.
According to Eurostat figures, Belgium ranks among the lowest in the European Union, with a share of only 13 percent of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption in 2023.
Small-scale, innovative project
However, the plant in Lessen is an example of how small-scale, innovative projects can also contribute to a more sustainable energy system.
Turbulent’s technology was designed in collaboration with several Universities and recognized by MIT for its promising innovations. The company earlier realized similar projects in Colombia, Kenia, and South Africa, among others.
