Is UK hydro feasible?

sevenhills

Every country has rivers and the main ones flow 24/7, but yet I have rarely read about generating electricity from rivers.
We must have some hydro, how much?

gefnew

Have a look at this chart.

gefnew

This may also help with your question.
United Kingdom (hydropower.org)

sevenhills

The hydro electricity that we generate is from mountainous areas of the UK, not rivers found in every town in the country. Mills were once located on water courses, because that was the only source of power. So there is unused potential there.

Heedtheadvice

You must get out more sevenhills!

I live by the sea, not up a mountain. Hydro Station just up river a mile away, made as part of a scheme of dams and generators in 1920s or so and painted whilst  under construction by Oppenheimer.

But you are spot on with your sentiments!

Screwdriva

It is the most under-invested form of renewable energy. Sad as it is typically inversely proportional with solar (i.e. rivers run faster and fuller during the non-summer months).

70sbudgie

I have thought about this. There is ongoing work on tidal generation https://qednaval.co.uk

I have also had a bit of a Google on micro hydro (I think it may actually be called nano hydro). I wondered about all the existing water wheels being electrified. And there is new technology now based on archimedes screw (standard boat propellers) that look (to me) like they could be employed in river flows. 

I got the vague impression though, that it is all about cost. You don't get many kW for some significant investment. I think it is viable if a domestic property wants to go off grid (there is an american supplier that makes modern water wheels), but otherwise I don't think there is much willing investment for it.

However, if I decide to leave my job, that is what I will be looking at as a hole in the market to fill!

Most of the hydro on this island is pumped storage. But that is more harnessing energy from gravity than the flow of water.

Superscrooge

sevenhills said:

The hydro electricity that we generate is from mountainous areas of the UK, not rivers found in every town in the country. Mills were once located on water courses, because that was the only source of power. So there is unused potential there.

We have a hydro power generator on the River Dane in Congleton. The energy it generates is the amount required to power approx 60 houses. I'm sure this type of small scale hydro could be replicated on many rivers.  https://www.congletonhydro.co.uk/

70sbudgie

Superscrooge said:

sevenhills said:

The hydro electricity that we generate is from mountainous areas of the UK, not rivers found in every town in the country. Mills were once located on water courses, because that was the only source of power. So there is unused potential there.

We have a hydro power generator on the River Dane in Congleton. The energy it generates is the amount required to power approx 60 houses. I'm sure this type of small scale hydro could be replicated on many rivers.  https://www.congletonhydro.co.uk/

Yes. I think that is one of the schemes that made me look into it more.

ABrass

Large scale hydro electric energy needs rivers, dams and reservoirs. I doubt there are many suitable places in the UK where there isn't a village that will object strenuously to being submerged.

Plus the cost is significant and we aren't good at long term investment in the UK.

70sbudgie

I don't think we were discussing large scale hydro. Just how much could be generated by lots of small scale hydro plants.