The number of new licences issued for hydropower schemes in England and Wales has increased six-fold since 2000, and is set to increase further this year.

In 2009 the Environment Agency granted 31 hydropower licences, compared with just five in 2000. This year the Environment Agency has already issued 29 licences and is considering a further 166.

The 400 small scale hydropower schemes currently licensed by the Environment Agency in England and Wales produce enough electricity to power 120,000 homes, but the Agency estimates that this number could rise to around 1,200 by 2020.

There is significant potential to produce more. It has identified over 4,000 locations for win-win hydropower schemes where a fish pass could deliver an improvement in the local environment as well as renewable electricity.

These figures were revealed by the chairman of the Environment Agency, Lord Chris Smith, at the CIWEM National Hydropower conference on 23 June.

Lord Smith said: "Hydropower presents a unique set of challenges. It is a great example of a natural resource which produces few wastes. It's a reliable and well proven technology and it is increasingly attractive to local communities."

"But it can have a big impact on fish, in particular migratory fish. It can increase risk of flooding. The change in the quantity of water in a river can have impacts on the wider ecology. On top of all that, climate change may impact on the future flow of rivers.

"The challenge is to encourage the deployment of renewables, build public confidence, meet obligations on nature conservation and the environment, and not increase the risk of flooding.

"For the Environment Agency there is an extra challenge to regulate these technologies in a simple and efficient way.

In order to ensure progress in the development of sustainable hydropower schemes, the Environment Agency is consulting industry, anglers, NGOs and landowners on ways to improve its permitting process. It is also reviewing its Good Practice Guidance for developers on what is required when making a hydropower application."

[Image courtesy of the Environment Agency]

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