Hey everyone, hope you are all doing amazing.

I was wondering if there is a better alternative to energy production than solar? I'm trying to find as close as possible to a zero waste option for setting up power to somwhere that is off grid. I do have a running stream close by so something that gathers the energy of the flow of the current without disrupting the natural flow or levels of the water source?

I feel like solar is still really wasteful that is why I ask. I don't need much, just enough to run a small fridge/freezer and a few lights. Thanks.

Why do you think solar is wasteful? Yes, streams can provide power 24/7, several shows on TV about people living in remote Alaska have proven that.  I have NO IDEA what each costs. 

I don't understand what is wasteful either? This might be helpful to determine the site hydroelectric capacity and type of turbine that would be most appropriate:

Borst Hydroelectric Capacity Software

Solar is not wasteful. You can take the help of some professionals to know more about it.

the flow of a steam is highly variable and can be unreliable in dry spells. You'll need a battery based system with some method of recharging, whether it's solar, wind, hydro or bicycle power.

If you mean "power generated on site"?

For that, your best bet is likely a combination of solar and wind. Solar during the day. Wind turbine at night.

Depending on how big this "stream" is (and how fast-flowing), you MIGHT be able to set up a water turbine system (micro-hydro).
Getting permitting to do it might be more difficult though, depending on water rights and laws in your area.

If you're looking for RELIABLE, you probably would want to take a look at doing some combination of all three with a battery storage system and a grid tie.

Stream flow variability doesn’t affect micro hydro power generation at all unless the stream flow rate becomes less than the hydro design flow rate. Run-of-the-River hydro doesn't divert any stream water or affect natural flow at all. Hydro power is 24/7/365 which gives it a large advantage over everything else. Permitting can be an issue and it’s always best to work with a certified water rights examiner to first sort things out.

Air has a much lower density than water. So you need a lot of wind and wind machine compared to hydro to generate the same amount of power. Small scale wind power generation is often not practical or feasible.

Most of the off-grid folks in our remote and rural area use a combination of micro hydro power and solar photovoltaic to charge their batteries, which are often of the Edison nickel type. Hydro power is plentiful in Winter and solar power is plentiful in Summer. Some also additionally use simple diesel engines like the Lister or Listeroids that run on waste motor oil or vegetable oil which can be readily obtained when gas or diesel isn’t available.

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