| In the 1950s and '60s there was massive | | | | & Veatch. The study employed a predictive |
| investment applied to the development of sites | | | | model, developed by Nick Forrest over several |
| through the North of Scotland Highland Electricity | | | | years, which is designed assist in the search for |
| Board - then it all stopped and very little has | | | | potentially suitable sites for small-scale hydro |
| happened since. Now with rising energy costs and | | | | schemes, primarily in 'run-of-river' situations (as |
| climate change issues there is a fresh interest in | | | | distinct from mass storage schemes). |
| genuinely renewable energy. Wind power has | | | | In addition to the 1,000 'commercial viable' sites |
| received considerable attention - but now it is the | | | | the model also identified some 1,400 |
| turn of the water flowing down our rivers. | | | | 'grid-connected' sites each generating less than |
| The potential for 'Low-Impact' Hydro in Scotland | | | | 100kW but fail to meet the strict 'commercial |
| On the 2nd September 2008 the Scottish | | | | viability' test criteria. But, if the electricity was |
| Government published a report on the potential | | | | consumed locally, or the Government's financial |
| for small-scale hydro electricity generation in | | | | support regime was improved, then they could |
| Scotland - the 'Scottish Hydro Power Resource | | | | become attractive. And at the end of the day |
| Study'. The report was commissioned by the | | | | they still produce carbon free electricity! |
| Forum for Renewable Energy Development in | | | | Possible Barriers: |
| Scotland (FREDS) and funded by the Scottish | | | | There are of course potential barriers to the |
| Government. It reported there are some 1,000 | | | | creation of micro or small-scale hydro power. But |
| sites in Scotland where commercially viable | | | | with flexibility and sensitivity these can, in the |
| electricity could be generated producing a total of | | | | majority of cases, be addressed and the needs |
| 657MegaWatt. (The associated press release can | | | | of all stakeholders met. It is the experience of |
| be found at the bottom of this article) | | | | babyHydro that these barriers are more |
| Commercially viable is defined as plugging directly | | | | perceived than real - in all of our dealings with the |
| into the Grid and having a payback period of less | | | | impacted agencies we have found them |
| than 15 years at 8% NPV. | | | | supportive, and practical in the discharge of their |
| The report described a thorough study conducted | | | | duties. |
| by Nick Forrest Associates, Systech and Black | | | | |