The potential for ‘Low-Impact’ Hydro in Scotland
On the 2nd September 2008 the Scottish Government published a report on the potential for small-scale hydro electricity generation in Scotland – the ‘Scottish Hydro Power Resource Study’. The report was commissioned by the Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland (FREDS) and funded by the Scottish Government. It reported there are some 1,000 sites in Scotland where commercially viable electricity could be generated producing a total of 657MegaWatt. (The associated press release can be found at the bottom of this article) Commercially viable is defined as plugging directly into the Grid and having a payback period of less than 15 years at 8% NPV.

The report described a thorough study conducted by Nick Forrest Associates, Systech and Black & Veatch. The study employed a predictive model, developed by Nick Forrest over several years, which is designed assist in the search for potentially suitable sites for small-scale hydro schemes, primarily in ‘run-of-river’ situations (as distinct from mass storage schemes).

In addition to the 1,000 ‘commercial viable’ sites the model also identified some 1,400 ‘grid-connected’ sites each generating less than 100kW but fail to meet the strict ‘commercial viability’ test criteria. But, if the electricity was consumed locally, or the Government’s financial support regime was improved, then they could become attractive. And at the end of the day they still produce carbon free electricity!

Possible Barriers:
There are of course potential barriers to the creation of micro or small-scale hydro power. But with flexibility and sensitivity these can, in the majority of cases, be addressed and the needs of all stakeholders met. It is the experience of babyHydro that these barriers are more perceived than real – in all of our dealings with the impacted agencies we have found them supportive, and practical in the discharge of their duties.

These agencies include:

o SEPA
o SNH
o Local Authority Planning Departments
o Fishery protection

News article referenced above:
(http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/09/02084203)

http://babyhydro.co.uk provides site identification using hydrobot site identification software in addition to providing micro hydro installation and consultation services. We promote run of river hydro as a low impact solution to Scotlands energy needs.

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Recent interest in Small Scale Hydro Plants as part of movements in producing more cleaner and greener energy has attracted many researches to study and develop many improvements in Micro Hydro Technology.

Micro Hydro Plants can produce useful amount of electricity even from just a small stream. For houses that has access to streams can consider to set up a Micro Hydro Plant to produce reliable electricity supply at lower cost than other renewable technology sources.

One main reason why many people turn to Hydro Electricity Plant is because it is a renewable energy, meaning it will not be depleted over time and it will consistently be replenished. It is also a clean energy source, as it does not emit any toxins. Other reason many turn to Micro Hydro Plants is because it’s relatively more cheaper than other green technologies in converting energy to electricity and can be used almost immediately when turned on to meet the demand for electricity.

How Does a Micro Hydro Plant Work?

This Water Powered Electricity Generator works by relying on Potential Energy that is contained in water that are stored in height. You may be wondering what is Potential Energy anyway? Well you can imagine it as gasoline in your car that is parked in your garage, it has a potential to move your car but your car is still parked in your garage, but once you start the engine the potential released into movements.

So, when the water falls down from height it converts the Potential Energy into Kinetic Energy. This Kinetic Energy will then turn the turbines. The internal mechanic in the turbine will then produce electricity for you.

For Small Hydro Plant (Micro Hydro Plant) it can converts about 60%-80% of Kinetic Energy into Electricity. If you’re really interested in creating your own Micro Hydro Electric Power you should read a book from a professional Author that’s been in the business for years…

To learn more about green living and Amazing Green Technologies and Gadgets that are available now, you can visit :

http://green-tech-gadgets.blogspot.com

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One thing that not a lot of people consider is that during drought years there is less water to go through hydro-electric generations stations and this causes a great demand for energy on other generation stations which use coal, nuclear or some other form to make the energy. One consideration, which luckily is not an issue this year is the Colorado River and the water usage to three states post Hoover Dam. As the water flows down toward Mexico it is used to generate electric energy, but in years of severe drought we cannot allow the water to flow out of Lake Meade, NV as fast as we wish to generate the power we need.

We see this year out west that there has been good snow pack in the Sierra Nevada Mountain range although that snow will melt too early and could flood some of California as it breaks out over spill ways rather than being able to be used for generating electricity, as the snow pack is 160% of normal. Along the Columbia River there are always issues with cycles of drought years and wet years and all this plays a factor on how much energy can be generated using hydro-electric power, but one thing is for sure and that is hydro-electric power makes sense for so many reasons. Consider all this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

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