 |
 |
|
| Total capacity in 2003 (MW) Planned new as at 1 Jan 2003: |
|
Large scale hydro-electric |
1385 |
8.5 (Scotland) |
|
|
|
| Small scale
hydro-electric |
194 |
Some projects planned (Scotland) |
|
|
There are three main categories used to define the output from hydroelectric power:
- Large scale hydroelectric produces more than 5MW.
- Small scale hydroelectric produces less than 5MW. Both usually feed into a grid.
- Systems of a few tens of kilowatts are referred to as micro hydroelectric and usually provide power for a small community or rural industry in remote areas away from the grid.
Likely contribution to renewables target
The UK currently generates about 1.8% of its electricity from large-scale hydroelectric schemes - most of which are found in the Scottish Highlands. Hydroelectric is a proven technology. It is efficient - the most modern plants have energy conversion efficiencies of up to 90%. Many smaller schemes exist, and as interest in this clean power increases more schemes are becoming operational.
Future development
Opportunities to increase large-scale hydroelectric in the UK are limited as most commercially-attractive and environmentally-acceptable sites have by now been utilised. Two new small-scale hydroelectric schemes in Scotland have been recently approved at Kingairloch in Lochaber and Braevallich in Argyll, which will provide 3.5 and 2.2 MW respectively, providing enough electricity to meet the demand of 5,250 households.
Some old water mills are being refurbished and bought back into the energy supply network. If small-scale hydroelectric power from all of the streams and rivers in the UK could be tapped it would be possible to produce 10,000GWh (1GWh = 1,000,000kWh) per year - enough to meet just over 3% of our total electrical needs and making a significant contribution to the Government's renewables target of 10% by 2010.
|
|
