David Williams

British Hydropower Association

HydropowerA New Lease of Life

Farm Carbon Cutting ToolkitShrivenham

10 June 2010

Head (H)

HH

Hydro Basics

“It all depends on the head”

Head (H)

Flow rate (Q)QQ HH

…. and Flow Rate

Hydro Basics

QQ HH

Power

Water power available = H x Q

Power output alsodepends upon:

Head lossesTurbine EfficiencyGenerator EfficiencyDrive losses

xx

Hydro Basics

“There’s no such thing as a 80 kW water turbine”Medium Head = 10mFlow = 1m³/s P = 80 kW

Low Head = 1m Flow = 10m³/s P = 80 kW

Small water turbineLarge water turbine

Hydro Basics

Potential

• Pumped Storage - 1000 MW• Conventional Hydro

Scotland 1049 MW (min)England & Wales 250 MW (min)N Ireland ~10 MW

• Water supply and water treatment ~40 MW

TOTAL (Min) ~ 2350 MW

Hydropower in the UK

FOR:

• Renewables Obligation (and Feed-in Tariffs)

• EU Renewable Energy Sources Directive

• Regional Development Plans

Hydropower in the UK

Policy and Legislation

New projects

Refurbishment and upgrade of existing projects

Renewables Obligation

Hydropower in the UK

Small-scale hydro

1. Pre-Feasibility2. Feasibility3. Planning and Licensing4. Detailed Design5. Construction

Five stages

1.Pre-Feasibility

• Is the site suitable• Will stakeholders allow it• Can it be built• Can you get the power out• What impact will it have• Who’s land is it on• What might it be worth

2. Feasibility

• Hydrology• Outline system design• Budget cost• Estimated capacity• Estimated energy• Estimated revenue• Environmental impact

3.Planning & Licensing 1

Address possible concerns at the design stage

Fisheries bodies or those with an interest in fisheries (e.g. angling clubs).

Ensure that the site is acceptableEstablish a design that is acceptable, especially where construction work is neededIdentify permissions required

Relevant planning authority/service

Site and project design is acceptableIdentify the permissions requiredDiscuss and agree an acceptable river operating regime (i.e. amount and timing of abstractions)

Environment Agency (England andWales)Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA)NI Environment Agency

If electricity connection is required, establish any design constraints and connection costs If appropriate, to enter negotiations for electricity sale

Regional Electricity Company (REC)

Address ownership, access and leasing issues, way-leaves for cablesAddress possible objections to development

Landowners

Address potential environmental impacts at the design stage

Statutory environmental bodies e.g. Natural England

3.Planning & Licensing 2

• Environmental Impact• Weir• Intake• Pipeline or channel• Valve chambers• Pigging facilities• Powerhouse• Tailrace

4. Detailed Design

• Agree the Scope• Prepare the contract• Appoint a contractor• Time the works• Clients Engineer• Project Manager

5. Construction

Timescales & Costs

£2,000 - £10,000per kW

10 – 12 months5. Construction

Included in 5Included in 54. Detailed Design

£200 - £5,0006 – 12 months3. Planning & Licensing

£3,000 - £10,0004 months2. Feasibility

£500 - £2,0002 months1. Pre-Feasibility

Approximate Cost

Typical Timescale

Stage

Feed-in Tariffs

“Mini Hydro Guide”

www.british-hydro.org