4.1              Preliminaries

4.1.1             Getting Professional Help

Any developer should seek independent professional advice before committing significant finance to the design and construction of a small-scale hydro scheme.

The involvement of professionals in a small-scale hydro development can range from preliminary site assessment, through the conducting of a feasibility study, to a full ‘turnkey’ service, handling every aspect of a development.  In addition, there are several companies that lease, develop and operate sites as a business activity, and can provide a full skills and finance package.

4.1.2             Preliminary Site Assessment

An experienced hydro professional should be able to indicate whether a site is worth considering further, on the basis of an initial site visit and discussions with the developer and others.  Preliminary investigations of this type will typically require no more than 2-3 days’ work and will cost between £300 and £1000.  A minor investment at this stage could save much greater expense and potential complications later in the development process. 

The main issues that should be considered in a preliminary investigation are:

·          The existence of a suitable waterfall or weir and a turbine site

·          A consistent flow of water at a usable head

·          The likely acceptability of diverting water to a turbine

·          Suitable site access for construction equipment

·          A nearby demand for electricity, or the prospect of a grid connection at reasonable cost

·          the social and environmental impact on the local area

·          land ownership and/or the prospect of securing or leasing land for the scheme at a reasonable cost

·          an initial indication of design power and annual energy output