Scotland Could Boost UK Hydropower by 50%

In an attempt to cut their dependency on fossil fuel driven energies, the British government hopes that renewable energy will provide 20% of electricity by 2020. And thanks to a new report, the UK might be looking to Scotland to double their hydropower generation by 50%.

The study by the Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland showed that there were still 657 megawatts of fiscally safe, small scale hydroelectricity schemes available to them. This figure equates to about half the amount of installed hydro generation currently running in Scotland, and could power about 600,000 homes, a quarter of the nation’s homes.

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In the last 40 years, despite a theoretical potential in the UK, only one large hydropower scheme has been built with a capacity greater of 20 megawatts, the 100 megawatt Glendoe scheme near Loch Ness. Not surprisingly, the British hydropower industry is subsequently looking for locations to build further hydropower dams, while the government focuses on wind and, more controversially, nuclear power, to meet its energy goals.

“Water power has been used for centuries and Scotland was the one of the first countries in the world where electricity was harnessed from the water around us,” said energy Minister Jim Mather. “In making Scotland the green energy capital of Europe, we will utilise the rich mix of our diverse renewables potential, and hydro remains a hugely important part of that mix. Investment continues, with the Glendoe project near Fort Augustus, scheduled to open next spring, set to be a significant addition to Scotland’s renewables capacity.”

David Williams, chief executive of the British Hydropower Association, added: “We welcome the Scottish hydropower study which proves the vital role which hydropower can play in the nation’s drive for renewable energy generation. Hydropower has long been the ‘quiet’ renewable and this will stimulate development of new projects of all sizes in a country which has already embraced the benign and significant role of this technology. The British Hydropower Association and its members look forward to contributing much more to Scotland’s renewable future.”

credit: Tuftronic10000 at Flickr under a Creative Commons license

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