Hydro in the UK
The UK, which has benefitted from hydropower for well over a century, has around 1,650MW of installed capacity, generating over 4,000GWh/yr (Hydropower & Dams World ATlas 2010). Recent surveys have shown that there is remaining potential in the UK for a further 2GW of capacity. In addition to this, there is 2,788MW of existing pumped storage. However, there remains significant potential for further development especially for new smaller and micro-scale hydropower projects making use of existing infrastructures such as old mill sites and weirs or water utility assets such as reservoirs and water transfer schemes. Emerging opportunities in offshore hydro are increasing, as well as opportunities to enhance and upgrade many existing hydro schemes. The UK Government’s incentives (e.g. the Renewables Obligation) have assisted in all these areas.
With hydropower development intensifying, there is increasing pressure to ensure that it is sensitive to local habitats. It is important that industry and the regulatory bodies ensure that best practice is observed in all future development.
As our hydropower capacity has grown, the industry has trebled in size and this has left us with a skills gap. Efforts to attract more people with practical, technical and academic skills are high on our agenda.
A third of Britain’s electricity plant will be retired by 2025. The UK is committed to increasing renewable generation to 15% by 2020. Hydropower has a prominent role to play in the future energy mix.
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