Hydroelectricity in the United Kingdom
As of 2012, hydroelectric power stations in the United Kingdom accounted for 1.65 GW of installed electrical generating capacity, being 1.8% of the UK's total generating capacity and 18% of UK's renewable energy generating capacity. This includes for conventional hydroelectric power stations and run-of-river schemes for which annual electricity production is approximately 5,000 GWh, being about 1.3% of the UK's total electricity production.[2] In addition, there are also pumped-storage hydroelectric power stations providing a further 2.8 GW of installed electrical generating capacity, and contributing up to 4,075 GWh of peak demand electricity annually.[3]
The potential for further practical and viable hydroelectricity power stations in the UK is estimated to be in the region of 146 to 248 MW for England and Wales,[4] and up to 2,593 MW for Scotland.[5] However, by the very nature of the remote and rugged geographic locations of some of these potential sites, in national Parks or other areas of outstanding natural beauty, it is likely that environmental concerns would mean that a large number of them would be deemed not to be suitable, or could not be developed to their full theoretical potential.
Interest in hydropower in the UK has been renewed in recent years due to new UK and EU targets for reductions in Carbon emissions and the promotion of renewable energy power generation through commercial incentives such as the Renewable Obligation Certificate scheme (ROCs) and Feed in tariffs (FITs). Prior to such schemes, previous studies to assess the available hydro resources in the UK had discounted a large number of sites for reasons of poor economic or technological viability, but more recent studies in 2008 and 2010 by the British Hydro Association (BHA) have identified a larger number of viable sites due to improvements in the available technology and the economic of ROCs and FITSs[4][5]
Schemes up to 50 kW are eligible for FITs, and schemes over 5 MW are eligible for ROCs. Schemes between 50 kW and 5 MW can choose between either. The UK Government’s National Renewable Energy Action Plan of July 2010 envisages between 40 MW and 50 MW a year of new hydropower schemes being installed annually up to 2020. The most recent feedback for new hydro schemes is for 2009, and approximately 15 MW of new hydropower was installed during that year. It therefore remains to be seen if the ROC and FIT incentives will be enough for these ambitious targets to be met.[2]
Contents
Statistics for UK hydroelectric schemes
-
United Kingdom gross electricity supplied from Hydro between 1920 and 2012 (GWh), including for pumped-storage schemes.[3]
-
United Kingdom annual electricity generation from hydroelectricity between 1990 and 2012 (GW hours), excluding pumped-storage schemes.[1]
-
United Kingdom net installed hydroelectricity capacity between 1990 and 2012 (MW), excluding pumped-storage schemes.[1]
List of UK hydroelectric schemes over 1,000 kW
| Name |
Operator |
Location |
Capacity (kW) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clachan | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Argyll, Scotland | 40,000 | |
| Cruachan Dam | Scottish Power | Argyll, Scotland | 400,000 | Pumped-storage |
| Dinorwig Power Station | First Hydro Company | Wales | 1,728,000 | Pumped-storage |
| Errochty | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Scotland | 75,000 | |
| Ffestiniog Power Station | First Hydro Company | Wales | 360,000 | Pumped Storage |
| Glendoe Hydro Scheme | SSE Generation Ltd | Inverness-shire, Scotland | 100,000 | 600m hydraulic head - largest in the UK |
| Glenlee | Scottish Power | Scotland | 24,000 | |
| Glenmoriston | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Highland, Scotland | 37,000 | |
| Inverawe | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Argyll, Scotland | 25,000 | |
| Kendoon | Scottish Power | Scotland | 24,000 | |
| Lochaber | Alcan Primary Metals - Europe | Highland, Scotland | 84,000 | |
| Maentwrog Site | Nuclear Decommissioning Authority | Wales | 30,000 | |
| Rannoch | Scottish & Southern Energy plc | Scotland | 44,100 | |
| Rheidol | Powergen | Cardiganshire, Wales | 50,000 | |
| Sloy | Scottish & Southern Energy plc | Argyll, Scotland | 160,000 | |
| Tongland | Scottish Power | Scotland | 33,000 | |
| Tummel | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Scotland | 34,000 | |
| Aigas Power Station | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Inverness-shire, Scotland | 20,000 | |
| Bonnington | Scottish Power | Scotland | 11,000 | |
| Carsfad | Scottish Power Generation UK | Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland | 12,000 | |
| Cashlie Power Station | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Perthshire, Scotland | 11,000 | |
| Cassley Power Station | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Sutherland, Scotland | 10,000 | |
| Ceannacroc Power Station | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Inverness-shire, Scotland | 20,000 | |
| Culligran Power Station Unit 2 | SSE Generation Ltd | Inverness-shire, Scotland | 17,100 | |
| Dinas Power Station | Powergen UK Plc | Cardiganshire, Wales | 13,500 | |
| Dolgarrog High-Head Power Station | Conwy Road | Dolgarrog Power Station, Dolgarrog, Nr Conwy, Wales | 18,400 | |
| Dolgarrog Low-Head Power Station | Conwy Road | Dolgarrog Power Station, Dolgarrog, Nr Conwy, Wales | 14,980 | |
| Earlstoun | Scottish Power | Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland | 14,000 | |
| Finlarig | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Scotland | 16,900 | |
| Grudie Bridge | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Scotland | 18,600 | |
| Invergarry Power Station | SSE - Generation Ltd | Invergarry, Inverness-shire, Scotland | 19,975 | |
| Kilmorack | Scottish & Southern Energy plc | Scotland | 20,000 | |
| Kinlochleven Hydro Power Station | Alcan Primary Metal - Europe | Argyll, Scotland | 19,500 | |
| Livishie Power Station | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Inverness-Shire, Scotland | 17,000 | |
| Mossford Power Station | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Inverness-shire, Scotland | 18,600 | |
| Nant | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Argyll, Scotland | 15,000 | |
| Orrin | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Ross-shire, Scotland | 18,000 | |
| Orrin Power Station | SSE Generation Ltd | Ross-shire, Scotland | 18,000 | |
| Pitlochry Power Station | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Scotland | 15,000 | |
| Quoich Power Station | SSE Generation Ltd | Tomdoun, By Loch Garry, Nr Fort Augustus, Inverness-shire, Scotland., Scotland | 18,050 | |
| Shin Power Station | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Sutherland, Scotland | 18,620 | |
| St Fillans | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Scotland | 16,830 | |
| Torr Achilty Power Station | Scottish & Southern Energy plc | Ross-shire, Scotland | 15,000 | |
| Achanalt | Scottish & Southern Energy plc | Ross-shire, Scotland | 3,100 | |
| Alt na-Lairgie | SSE Generation | Argyll and Bute, Scotland | 6,000 | |
| Ardverikie | Ardverikie Estates Ltd | Inverness-shire, Scotland | 1,100 | |
| Beeston Weir | Novera Energy | England | 1,676 | largest run-of-river scheme in England |
| Black Rock | Npower Renewables | Highland, Scotland | 3,000 | |
| Braevallich Hydro Station | Npower Renewables | Argyll, Scotland | 2,274 | |
| Broken Cross Muir Hydro | The Scottish Coal Company Ltd | Scotland | 1,000 | |
| Callop | Broadland properties | Scotland | 1,087 | |
| Carnoch | Npower Renewables | Scotland | 1,350 | |
| Chliostair Power Station | Scottish & Southern Energy plc | Scotland | 1,320 | |
| Chonais | SSE Generation Ltd | Highland, Scotland | 3,500 | |
| Cuaich | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Inverness-shire, Scotland | 2,500 | |
| Cuileig Power Station | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Wester Ross, Scotland | 3,300 | |
| Culligran Comp Set | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Inverness-shire, Scotland | 2,000 | |
| CWM Rheidol Hydro Dam | Powergen UK Plc | Cardiganshire, Wales | 1,000 | |
| Dalchonzie | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Scotland | 4,000 | |
| Deanie | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Highland, Scotland | 3,800 | |
| Douglas Water Power Station | Npower Renewables | Argyll, Scotland | 3,000 | |
| Drumjohn Power Station | ScottishPower | Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland | 2,200 | |
| East Aberchalder | Npower Renewables | Inverness-shire, Scotland | 3,500 | |
| Elan Valley | Novera Energy | Powys, Wales | 3,113 | |
| Eredine Hydro Project | NPower renewables | Argyll and Bute, Scotland | 2,500 | |
| Falls Of Unich | Npower Renewables | Angus, Scotland | 6,000 | |
| Fasnakyle Power Station | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Inverness-Shire, Scotland | 7,701 | |
| Foyers Fall Power Station | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Inverness-shire, Scotland | 5,036 | |
| Foyers | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Inverness-shire, Scotland | 300,000 | Pumped-storage |
| Franklaw Hydro at Franklaw Water Treatment | United Utilities PLC | 1,000 | ||
| Garrogie Power Station | Npower Renewables | Inverness-shire, Scotland | 2,400 | |
| Gaur | Scottish & Southern Energy plc | Perthshire, Scotland | 7,900 | |
| Glenn Dubh Hydro | Npower Renewables | Highland, Scotland | 3,000 | |
| Inverar Hydro | Npower Renewables | Perth & Kinross, Scotland | 1,100 | |
| Inverbroom | Norgen (Ffestiniog) Ltd | Highland, Scotland | 3,170 | |
| Inverfarigaig | GreenPower | Inverness-shire, Scotland | 4,000 | |
| Inverlael | Npower Renewables | Scotland | 1,250 | |
| Kerry Falls | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Highland, Scotland | 1,250 | |
| Kielder Power Station | Northumbrian Water Ltd | England | 5,500 | largest conventional hydro in England |
| Kilmelford Power Station | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Argyll, Scotland | 2,500 | |
| Kingairloch Hydro | SSE Generation Ltd | Inverness-shire, Scotland | 3,500 | |
| Lairg | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Sutherland, Scotland | 3,500 | |
| Lednock | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Scotland | 3,000 | |
| Little Loch Roag | SSE Generation Ltd | Scotland | 1,000 | |
| Llyn Brianne | Novera Energy | Carmarthenshire, Wales | 4,600 | |
| Llyn Celyn | Novera Energy | Wales | 4,507 | |
| Loch Dubh | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Wester Ross, Scotland | 1,200 | |
| Loch Eilde Mor | Hydro Plan (for Alcan) | Highland, Scotland | 7,000 | |
| Loch Ericht Power Station | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | perthshire, Scotland | 2,200 | |
| Loch Gair | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Argyll, Scotland | 6,000 | |
| Loch Turret WTW | Scottish Water | Perth & Kinross, Scotland | 1,950 | |
| Lochay Compensation Generator | SSE Generation Ltd | Perthshire, Scotland | 2,000 | |
| Lochiel Estate | Highland Light and Power Ltd | Highland, Scotland | 1,315 | |
| Lubreoch Power Station | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Scotland | 5,000 | |
| Lussa | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Argyll, Scotland | 2,400# | |
| Maldie Burn | Npower Renewables | Highland, Scotland | 2,000 | |
| Mary Tavy Power Station | South West Water Ltd | Devon, England | 2,600 | |
| Mucomir | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Highland, Scotland | 2,000 | |
| Mullardoch Tunnel | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Inverness-shire, Scotland | 2,400 | |
| Nostie Bridge | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Ross-shire, Scotland | 1,300 | |
| River E Power Station | Npower Renewables | Inverness-shire, Scotland | 3,000 | |
| Siadar | wavegen / Npower Renewables | Scotland | 3,000 | |
| Sron Mor Power Station | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Argyll, Scotland | 5,000 | |
| Stonebyres Power Station | Scottish Power UK Plc | Lanarkshire, Scotland | 6,000 | |
| Storr Lochs | Scottish & Southern Energy plc | Isle of Skye, Scotland | 2,400 | |
| Striven Power Station | Scottish & Southern Energy plc. | Argyll, Scotland | 8,000 | |
| Trossachs | SSE Generation Ltd | Stirlingshire, Scotland | 2,500 | |
| Urlar Hydro | Bolfracks Estate | Perth & Kinross, Scotland | 1,400 | |
| Victoria Falls Station | CRF Hydropower | Argyll, Scotland | 1,120 |
See also
Related Lists
- List of power stations in Scotland#Hydro-electric
- List of power stations in England#Hydroelectric power
- List of power stations in Wales#Hydro-electric
- List of conventional hydroelectric power stations
- List of pumped-storage hydroelectric power stations
Related UK pages
- Energy use and conservation in the United Kingdom
- Energy policy of the United Kingdom
- Green electricity in the United Kingdom
- Renewable energy in the United Kingdom
- Renewable energy in Scotland
Other related
- Environmental impact of wind power
- Friends of the Earth
- Relative cost of electricity generated by different sources
- Renewable Electricity and the Grid
- Renewable energy in the European Union
- United Kingdom National Renewable Energy Action Plan
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hydropower in the United Kingdom. |
- British Hydropower Association
- International Hydropower Association
- Hydropower Reform Coalition
- Interactive demonstration on the effects of dams on rivers
- European Small Hydropower Association
| Hydroelectricity generation |
 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Hydroelectricity equipment | ||
