INFORM Opinion
The Peter McManners Column
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Like most renewable sources, it is hard
R
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for hydro to compete with fossil fuels
iver hydropower is not a more expensive, then the business
new technology. Before the case for small-scale hydropower
advent of coal-powered becomes compelling. When I
steam engines, there were over examine the figures using today’s
22,000 watermills operating in the energy prices, the pay-back peri-
UK. This is a reliable and consis- od can be two decades or longer.
tent source of power. It is odd that This is not attractive for investors
we abandoned it. Perhaps no one looking for high returns in the
wanted old fashioned technology short-term.
as the steam engine and then later Until recently, one additional
electricity took over. barrier to making progress has
I believe that the main factor been the UK’s Environment
keeping river hydropower out of Agency (EA). The statutory role
the spotlight over the last half of the EA is to protect the envi-
century has been the low cost of Likely temperature rises from climate change ‘will affect river habitats more ronment, including the river and
fossil fuel. There was no point in
than any well designed hydropower scheme’
the surrounding habitat. The red-
putting management effort into tape required by the EA to get a
the complex challenges of build- this is when solar power is at its was that this hydroelectric plant project approved would strangle
ing effective river hydro schemes. most productive. had been switched on in the 1920s most projects. Fortunately the sit-
Such schemes have to be designed Around the world I have come and the left to run unattended uation is changing.
to match the vagaries of the par- across many hydroelectric power ever since. This could not be true I recently attended a hydro-
ticular site; unlike a gas-fired schemes. My favourite memory of course, but hydropower facili- power seminar at The River and
power station can be built from a comes from Norway. This was ties certainly operate with little Rowing museum in Henley. The
standard plan and located almost not one of the big dams and huge maintenance for long periods of EA representative explained that
anywhere. turbines that normally come to time. If we can find the initial the EA was now proactive in driv-
A hydropower scheme requires mind when visualising power sta- investment, then it will generate ing forward river hydropower.
careful analysis of the water flow tions. A small hydroelectric returns over many decades. The The most telling point in the pres-
and river profile to determine the scheme had been built in the technology favoured for weirs on entation was that the likely tem-
most efficient and cost-effective 1920s and been churning out the River Thames is the perature rises from climate change
design. There are then a number power to the local community Archimedes screw, an ancient will have a far greater effect on
of assessments required including ever since. It was built on the side piece of technology that has been river habitats than any well-
the impacts that the scheme will of a small stream running down a used to lift water for thousands of designed hydropower scheme.
have on wildlife and the affect of steep valley. At the top, a simple years. Exactly the same principle It will be like walking through
the scheme on risks of flooding. partial dam had been built to can be used to extract power from treacle to finally harness the
You have to be a passionate advo- divert some of the water to the water passing over a drop of as lit- power of the River Thames. Red
cate to go through the lengthy entrance of a pipe about a metre tle as two metres. Modern tape, excessively detailed environ-
approval process. across. The pipe taking the water Archimedes screws are designed mental assessments and low ener-
Each day, an average of five down to the generator house was with the bearings mounted above gy prices, are all slowing down
million tonnes of water drops more complicated. This was made the water. This means that the progress. This is solid engineer-
over the weir just a few hundred of wood held together by iron periodic maintenance needed to ing, producing reliable consistent
meters from my home in rings, similar to the methods for replace the bearings every 20 power and delivering solid mod-
Pangbourne on the River Thames. constructing wooden barrels. The years or so is a straightforward est financial returns. We should
It would be great if the computer pipe was laid above ground and and inexpensive process. proceed without further delay.
on which I am writing could be open to view. Towards the bot- The problem is finding the ini-
powered from this source. The tom, where the pressure was high- tial investment. Like most renew- Peter McManners is a visiting
water flows seven days a week est, small spurts of water were able power sources, it is hard to executive fellow of Henley
and 24 hours a day, complement- spraying out of the joints. This compete with fossil fuel. The core Business School of Reading
ing other sources of renewable looked like a very old and tired challenge is that energy is too University. His book, Adapt
power very well. It does not have pipe but still serving its purpose; cheap. Either politicians, or even- and Thrive: The Sustainable
the intermittency problems of an equally old generator house tually the market, will solve this Revolution is published by
wind and, although in a dry sum- could be heard humming away in problem. When investors can be Susta Press
mer flow rates will be reduced, the background. The impression certain that energy will be much w www.petermcmanners.com
Sustainable Business 13❘ May 2009
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