Small hydro |
Power to the people
With energy prices rising and increasing efforts to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuel since the war in Ukraine, the UK has been encouraged to turn to community-owned renewable schemes to help generate more electricity. Advocates for small hydropower believe it has a key role to play in the grassroot transformation of the energy landscape
KATE GILMARTIN IS THE Community Energy Investment Lead at the Local Energy North West Hub. A regional programme to promote investment in energy projects, it provides support to businesses, local authorities and communities across northwest England to meet the Net Zero agenda. Gilmartin aids the scoping, seeding and development of renewable energy projects across the region. In our changing energy climate, and with a drive
Above: A local hotel has agreed to be the main consumer of electricity for the 45kW Buttermere hydro scheme
to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuel, is there now a greater a role for the development of more community-owned renewable schemes, such as small hydro, in the UK?
22 | April 2022 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
“Yes, there absolutely is,” Gilmartin says emphatically. “The grid isn’t able to connect large- scale new energy generation without reinforcements, which are costly and take a long time to come to fruition. Small-scale generation will be key in allowing the transition to a low carbon energy system. “Hydro generates the most energy in the winter and can be 24/7 – this is when we need energy the most (ie supporting communities to move off fossil fuel heating to heat pumps). It is low visibility, low impact and low carbon and if well maintained can generate local energy for more than 60 years. “The government suggests that the grid will be
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37
