New maps to reveal potential hydropower hotspots

Wednesday 17 March 2010

ENVIRONMENT Agency project uncovers hydropower opportunities in the North West.

A new map which shows where hydropower could be deployed in the North West could help to tap into the unused power potential of our rivers.

The hydropower opportunities and environmental sensitivities map, commissioned by the Environment Agency, found almost 2320 locations where a hydropower turbine could theoretically generate green electricity. Together, these sites could generate enough electricity to power up to around 146,000 homes and produce some of the country's 2020 renewable electricity needs.

However, in reality, only some of these sites could be exploited due to environmental sensitivities, as well as practical constraints such as access to the electricity network. In fact in large areas of the region environmental sensitivity issues will prove a significant stumbling block.

Pictured is Torrs hydropower scheme at New Mills, High Peak, Derbyshire - (courtesy of Sustainable Energy Systems who installed the electrical connection)

The new maps help to identify areas where hydropower could make a positive contribution to the local environment, and sites where it is less appropriate. The report found that a sensitively designed hydropower scheme that includes a fish pass could improve the local environment as well as generate electricity.

These win-win opportunities are particularly concentrated on rivers such as the River Mersey and areas within the South Lakes catchments. With the government soon to offer subsidies of up to 20p for every kilowatt hour of electricity produced, a medium-sized scheme that typically generates enough electricity for about 32 homes, could receive around 25,000 GBP a year.

Average set up costs range from 100,000 GBP to 150,000 GBP. But, the Environment Agency stressed, only schemes that were well designed and had no negative impacts on the river wildlife or the local environment would get the go ahead.

Clive Gaskell, North West Regional Water Manager Environment Agency said: “Some hydropower schemes have the potential to deliver low carbon electricity and improve the local environment for wildlife, for example by improving fish migration.

But there will inevitably be some sites where the risk to the environment outweighs the benefits of power generation. With the Government's new feed-in tariff for renewably generated electricity, hydropower could become an attractive income generator for hydropower developers, if environmental safeguards are met.

The report recommends that fish-friendly design needs to be incorporated in all schemes, and that grants for fish passes could help to unlock the potential of small scale hydropower in England and Wales. The Environment Agency report Opportunity and environmental sensitivity mapping in England and Wales was commissioned to identify the opportunities for small scale hydropower schemes on the rivers of England and Wales alongside the environmental sensitivities associated with their exploitation.

Pictures of a hydropower scheme and fish pass on the River Monnow at Osbaston in Monmouthshire, Wales (courtesy of the Environment Agency)

The national report found:

• A total of 25,935 small scale hydropower opportunities.
• Over 4000 win-win opportunities, where a hydropower scheme with a fish pass could deliver an improvement in the local environment as well as renewable electricity.
• Small scale hydropower at the sites identified could in theory generate up to 3660GWh electricity per year, or about 1.5 per cent of the country’s predicted 2020 electricity demand. The real potential is significantly less due to environmental and practical constraints.
• Hydropower hotspots, where win-win opportunities exist on the same river or close by were identified in several areas, including the Rivers Severn, Thames, Aire and Neath.
• Around half the sites identified were deemed to be highly environmentally sensitive for hydropower due to impacts on river ecology. Extra fish-friendly measures would be required in these locations.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, Minister of State for Energy said: "Small scale hydropower is potentially one of the most cost-effective means of producing clean, green and home grown renewable electricity.

“It is clear that recent advances in technology, reduced equipment costs and financial incentives like the new feed-in tariffs will provide further opportunities for communities to harness the power of our rivers and streams.”

An interactive map is available to view on the Environment Agency website, and lists the number of hydropower opportunities in each region, as well as the total power potential and the environmental sensitivities to be considered.

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The full report and the interactive hydropower maps are available to download at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/shell/hydropowerswf.html

A closer look at where the potential hydropower sites in the North West are, is available directly at http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/GEHO0310BSAB-E-E.pdf

>> For a step-by-step guide to mini-hydro power scehemes to do your own initial assessment CLICK HERE for the British Hydropower Associations Guide to Mini-hydro Developments available from their website.