The amount of power a site can generate depends on how much water there is and how great a fall there is. If your site is an old water mill then it was built because there was water power potential at that location, so there is a good chance you will be able to generate.
Many sites will produce enough power for a few houses, but there are some sites on larger rivers, and some mountain burns where there is the potential to supply hundreds of homes.
The FiT for hydro schemes is guaranteed for 20 years from the date of commissioning. However, the scheme will close to new schemes at the end of March 2019.
The export price is generally between 4p and 6p but changes constantly.
The FiT is index linked. Export sold outside of the FiT scheme varies in value with power markets.
A grid connection must be arranged with your local Distribution Network Operator (DNO). Alternatively, some large schemes may connect directly to the Transmission Network. Network capacity is scarce in certain parts of the country and should be assessed and reserved as early as possible to prevent delays to any project.
The costs of grid connection are site-specific, but the main variables influencing cost are: connection voltage; physical location and access to the network; network capacity and availability; upgrade requirement, if any; and generation technology.
The costs vary between DNOs and also depending on the connection voltage. Design fees vary between a few hundred pounds for small low voltage connections to several thousand for connections to the 33 kV network.
The DNO has a 3 – month period to design and cost an appropriate connection. The DNO will also identify the contestable and non-contestable works.
Once the design is complete, contracts are signed. In addition, Use of System Agreements will have to be signed for the export of electricity to the network.
This is very site dependant, but the cost is very rarely less than £35,000. As a very rough rule of thumb it might be useful to think of £8,000 per kW capacity for smaller sites, or £4,000 per kW capacity for a larger system, but there is huge variation from one site to another.
The main costs will include the following:
The capital costs will include the following:
Yes, unless it is seen as a domestic installation
In theory this is possible but the amount of power available is very small in comparison to sites where the water drops.
Occasionally yes, but normally no. There is no UK-wide general hydropower grant scheme. Schemes that are available change too frequently to be covered here.
Normally yes, as long as it still has a water supply and somewhere where the water falls (with space for the installation of a turbine), it is probably possible.
The more water is available, the higher the power potential of the site. It is important to remember that it will rarely be appropriate to use all of the water at a site for ecological reasons. The amount of water needed for a certain amount for power depends on far it falls, so if the water supply is only a small stream but it can be harnessed high up a hillside, there might still be a significant amount of power available.
Normally one or more license will be required from the Environment Agency in England, SEPA in Scotland and NRW in Wales. Planning permission is also often required as well. We would recommend consulting the local authority and EA/SEPA/NRW as soon as the technical viability of a project has been established.
With hydropower there is no standard solution. The best design for a site is often not obvious. It is important to take advice at an early stage from someone with experience and a good track record. Ask for references or information on working installations – hydropower schemes should last for a long time. The BHA is a very useful source of information.
