While the global conversation on renewable energy fixates on massive solar farms and wind turbines, Dave Borlace argues that the most transformative solution for the world's most vulnerable populations lies not in scaling up, but in scaling down. He introduces a technology that bypasses the environmental devastation of traditional dams while solving the intermittency issues that plague solar power, offering a compelling case for why water flow, not just sunlight, should be the next frontier of rural electrification.
Beyond the Grid and the Dam
Borlace opens by highlighting a stark reality often ignored in high-level climate summits: despite urbanization, nearly a billion people remain disconnected from national grids. He notes that while solar photovoltaic panels have made significant inroads, they are hamstrung by a fundamental flaw. "Solar does have that inherent and inconvenient intermittency factor which even with the battery storage can never be completely overcome," Borlace writes. This observation is crucial; it dismantles the assumption that solar is a silver bullet for off-grid communities, forcing a reevaluation of other natural resources.
The author then pivots to the historical context of hydropower, acknowledging its long history while critiquing modern implementation. He points out that governments remain "fixated on extremely large centralized infrastructure projects," citing the Three Gorges Dam as a prime example of a megaproject that displaces millions and disrupts ecosystems. Borlace argues that these massive dams "often screws up the migration routes for species of fish" and cause upstream flooding, creating a paradox where the solution to carbon emissions generates new environmental and social crises. This framing effectively separates the concept of hydropower from the specific, destructive method of damming, clearing the way for a different approach.
"Building a dam on a river means blocking, diverting, or completely changing the natural course of the water... so you know, not ideal here."
The Vortex Solution
Enter the micro-hydropower system developed by the Belgian startup Turbulent. Borlace describes a "vortex turbine" that requires a water head of less than five meters, making it viable for small rivers and canals where large dams are impossible. The technology's elegance lies in its design: it creates a low-pressure vortex that spins the turbine while allowing aquatic life to pass through unharmed. "The low rotation speed turbine blades have soft rounded edges allowing aquatic life to pass straight through the entire system," he explains. This directly addresses the primary ecological objection to hydropower, a point that is often glossed over in broader energy discussions.
The economic argument presented is equally robust. Borlace contrasts the high upfront cost of these bespoke systems with the long-term operational savings, particularly when competing against diesel generators. He calculates that for off-grid installations, the unit cost of energy drops to "less than 2.3 euro cents per kilowatt hour," a fraction of the "50 euro cents per unit" typically charged for diesel. This isn't just an environmental win; it is a financial imperative for remote communities currently burning expensive, polluting fuel. The argument holds up well against the volatility of fossil fuel markets, offering a predictable cost structure over the turbine's 30-year lifespan.
Critics might note that the initial capital expenditure for a 15-kilowatt system—around 90,000 euros for off-grid setups—remains a significant barrier for the poorest nations without substantial international aid or grants. However, Borlace counters this by emphasizing that these projects can be built in phases, reducing initial risk and allowing local communities to see immediate benefits, unlike the decade-long timelines required for large-scale dams.
Resilience and Real-World Application
The piece shines when it moves from theory to practice, citing the Green School in Bali as a case study. Borlace details how the school, after years of trial and error with their own systems, partnered with Turbulent to install a system capable of withstanding severe flooding and debris. The installation was rapid, taking only a day, and required no heavy machinery. "The whole system sits within a nice small neat footprint just outside the school," he notes, contrasting it with the vast land requirements of solar arrays. This example validates the technology's durability in harsh, real-world conditions, moving it beyond a laboratory concept.
The scalability of the model is another key strength. Borlace points out that while a single turbine might power 50 households, these units can be linked into networks to generate multiple megawatts. This modularity allows for a decentralized energy grid that is inherently more resilient than the centralized systems the administration and global institutions often prioritize. The ability to hook up to a national grid if one becomes available, or to operate entirely independently, provides a flexibility that large infrastructure projects simply cannot match.
"Off-grid communities get the benefit of effectively free electricity 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for the entire lifetime of the turbine."
Bottom Line
Dave Borlace's strongest contribution is reframing hydropower not as a relic of the industrial age, but as a scalable, low-impact solution for the 21st century's most pressing energy gap. The argument's greatest vulnerability remains the upfront financing required for deployment in the world's poorest regions, a hurdle that policy and international funding must clear. For readers seeking alternatives to the binary choice between massive dams and intermittent solar, this piece offers a pragmatic, third path that is both technically sound and economically viable.