An update on a 2008 study on Scotland's hydro resources estimates there could be 1.2 GW of potential new hydro capacity in 7,043 hydro projects. This compares to 657MW according to the 2008 study.

"There is a clear untapped potential for smaller, community hydro schemes (right) which can create green energy and tackle climate change,” said Energy Minister Jim Mathers. "While large-scale renewable energy development is helping drive economic recovery, there could also be substantial economic and social benefit from micro-hydro schemes.”

The British Hydropower Association (BHA) welcomes the publication of the Scottish government’s recent reports regarding hydropower, including “The Employment Potential of Scotland’s Hydro Resource.”



BHA CEO David Williams (left) said “We are particularly pleased that the renewable policies that have been put in place since the major “Scottish Hydro Resource Potential survey,” in late 2008, have increased the number of financially-viable hydro projects. This increase, due to the wider acceptance of micro-hydro generation, boosts overall generation capacity from 657 MW to 1,204 MW, which would generate up to 4m MWh a year – up to a third of Scotland’s domestic demand.”

However, in reviewing different growth scenarios up to the year 2030, major bottleneck is the amount of skill available in Scotland and the rest of the UK to achieve worthwhile targets.

Job creation, meeting renewable energy targets to fight climate change, needs Scottish and UK government support  to optimise hydro development in several areas, reports the BHA, naming training in hydro skills, streamlined consents processes, removal of bureaucracy and improved infrastructure.

“Hydro is better placed than some other renewable energy technologies and can accelerate quicker to meet demand,” Williams said. “We have an existing hydro industry which before the rush for UK renewable energy development relied heavily on export work. Now, with a flourishing home market, we are well placed to provide the bulk of equipment and services required to maximize on this opportunity.”