Background
The UK Government has set a target requiring 15% of the country's energy needs to be derived from renewable resources by 2020 and 10% by 2010, which means that alternative methods of producing energy are likely to become increasingly sought after. According to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regularatory Reform, only limited opportunities exist to increase large scale hydroelectric power in the UK, however if small scale hydroelectric power from all of the streams and rivers in the UK could be accessed 10,000 gigawatt hours per year could be produced, equating to just over 3% of the UK's total electricity needs.
Globally hydropower schemes produce around 20% of the world's electricity, making them the largest contributors of sustainable energy. 25 countries depend on hydropower for 90% of their electricity (99.3% in Norway), whilst 12 are 100% reliant on hydro. Hydro produces the bulk of electricity in 65 countries and plays a part in 155. The three largest producers of hydroelectricity constitute Canada, China and the USA. Vietnam operates in excess of 2,500 mini hydro schemes (100 kW or less, typical supply for one or two houses) powering over 200,000 households.
Hydroelectricity has been at the forefront of renewable energy for over a decade - 5% of UK energy was accountable for by renewable energy in 2007 of which approximately 40% was taken care of by hydro, having increased from 4.5% in 2006. Renewable energy grew by 8.4% in 2007 and continues to increase, having grown more than five times since 1990.
Mini hydroelectric (run of river) operations are defined to deliver between 100 kW to 1 MW, equating to levels of power capable of supplying anywhere between a small factory to an isolated community of between 300-400 houses. The concept is simple, cost effective and enjoys the highest efficiency percentages of all energy technologies (70% -90%) and a capacity factor typically greater than 50% far and surpassing solar (10%) and wind (30%).
Power sourced from hydroelectricity has been in place for centuries at varying levels; there is theoretical potential wherever there is movement of water or a height difference between two bodies of water. The energy available to be unlocked depends on two primary factors; the head (the height from which the water vertically falls) and the flow rates (volume of water passing per second). Modern turbine generators can convert over 90% of the energy available in water into electricity.
A low head site would incur a vertical drop of less than 10m, between 10-50m would be classified as a medium head site, whilst greater then 50m metres would be classified as a high head site.
Small scale hydroelectric developments benefit from reliable, low-cost, inflation proof energy. The simple yet robust engineering behind the equipment has been designed to last 50 years or more and with electricity being produced at a stable price it is not subject to swings in the international energy market.
The UK Government has set a target requiring 15% of the country's energy needs to be derived from renewable resources by 2020 and 10% by 2010, which means that alternative methods of producing energy are likely to become increasingly sought after. According to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regularatory Reform, only limited opportunities exist to increase large scale hydroelectric power in the UK, however if small scale hydroelectric power from all of the streams and rivers in the UK could be accessed 10,000 gigawatt hours per year could be produced, equating to just over 3% of the UK's total electricity needs.
Globally hydropower schemes produce around 20% of the world's electricity, making them the largest contributors of sustainable energy. 25 countries depend on hydropower for 90% of their electricity (99.3% in Norway), whilst 12 are 100% reliant on hydro. Hydro produces the bulk of electricity in 65 countries and plays a part in 155. The three largest producers of hydroelectricity constitute Canada, China and the USA. Vietnam operates in excess of 2,500 mini hydro schemes (100 kW or less, typical supply for one or two houses) powering over 200,000 households.
Hydroelectricity has been at the forefront of renewable energy for over a decade - 5% of UK energy was accountable for by renewable energy in 2007 of which approximately 40% was taken care of by hydro, having increased from 4.5% in 2006. Renewable energy grew by 8.4% in 2007 and continues to increase, having grown more than five times since 1990.
Mini hydroelectric (run of river) operations are defined to deliver between 100 kW to 1 MW, equating to levels of power capable of supplying anywhere between a small factory to an isolated community of between 300-400 houses. The concept is simple, cost effective and enjoys the highest efficiency percentages of all energy technologies (70% -90%) and a capacity factor typically greater than 50% far and surpassing solar (10%) and wind (30%).
Power sourced from hydroelectricity has been in place for centuries at varying levels; there is theoretical potential wherever there is movement of water or a height difference between two bodies of water. The energy available to be unlocked depends on two primary factors; the head (the height from which the water vertically falls) and the flow rates (volume of water passing per second). Modern turbine generators can convert over 90% of the energy available in water into electricity.
A low head site would incur a vertical drop of less than 10m, between 10-50m would be classified as a medium head site, whilst greater then 50m metres would be classified as a high head site.
Small scale hydroelectric developments benefit from reliable, low-cost, inflation proof energy. The simple yet robust engineering behind the equipment has been designed to last 50 years or more and with electricity being produced at a stable price it is not subject to swings in the international energy market.
