Hydro Power: The Potential Within the UK By Calvin Laing February 24 th 2005

Hydro Background Currently the largest electricity generating renewable ~2%. Long life time. Large capital costs. Potential large energy pay back.

Types of Hydro Power Large hydro > 5MW. – ~ 95%. – Dams/reservoir storage. – Important to national energy demand. – Operated by major electricity utilities. – Pumped storage.

Types of Hydro Power Small hydro < 5MW. – ~ 5%. – Private developers/small companies. – Can make use of current weirs, natural drops. – Run-of-river. – Micro hydro – not connected to grid.

Current Capacity 2003: – Electricity generation: 3228 GWh, 11.6 PJ – Declared net capacity: GWh, 5.3 PJ – Lower bound estimate: 3.8 PJ

Recent Trends.

Recent Trends- Small Hydro.

Increasing the Capacity Technology is advanced. UK based expertise. Plenty of opportunity for small hydro. Large hydro limited by: – Physical sites. – Economic sites. – Environmental implications.

Potential Capacity Most estimates predict about twice the current capacity. Large hydro: up to 1GW resource in Scotland. 10% increase in current large hydro from upgrades. Small hydro: MW economically attractive. Further MW after this.

Projected Trends- Small Hydro.

Projected Trends- Large Hydro.

Another Possibility? No shortage of hydro resources world wide. Build hydro power abroad- import energy/put profits into other renewables.