WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

Despite the issues which adversely affect the progress of
hydropower in the UK, there is a general optimistic
feeling within the industry. Much of the attention is
given to onshore and offshore wind projects which has
affected the support for hydropower from the
Government. However, the ROC and FIT incentives have
caused a real renaissance affecting all aspects and
players in the industry.
A combination of economic recession and the
introduction of an excessively high FIT for Solar PV
threatened funding of the FIT system and a review was
called by the Government in late 2010. Hydropower
industry suffered the most because banks refused to
lend money. Stability has been resumed and some of
the uncertainty expelled for the hydropower sector but
the overall effect of the review will not be known until
developments have gone through the system.
6. Beurskens, L.W.M., Hekkenberg, M. and Vethman, P.
(2011). Renewable Energy Projections as Published in
the National Renewable Energy Action Plans of the
European Member States. Energy Centre of the
Netherlands.
7. Tallat-Kelpšaitė, Jurga (2013). United Kingdom Feed-in
Tariffs. Legal Sources on Renewable Energy. Available
from www.res-legal.eu/search-by-country/united-
kingdom/single/s/res-e/t/promotion/aid/feed-in-tariff-
5/lastp/203/.
The review of ROC banding suggested halving the
payment per MWh for hydropower. The hydropower
industry proved that the reason which DECC provided
for this was based on incorrect evidence. There is hope
that this might be sufficient to return at least to one
ROC on completion of DECCs review of the consultation.
However, if it does not, then fewer hydropower
schemes above 2 MW will be developed, and it may
severely threaten its 2020 targets. It also threatens to
halve the FIT tariff between 2 MW and 5 MW, which will
add to the same conclusion.
Note
i. The flow exceeded for 95 per cent of the time, and
used as a marker of low flow.
References
1. Central Intelligence Agency (2012). The World
Factbook: United Kingdom. Available from
www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/.
2. European Small Hydropower Association (2008). Small
Hydropower Energy Efficiency Campaign Action:
Strategic Study for the Development of Small Hydro
Power in the European Union.
3. Department of Energy and Climate Change (2012).
Chapter 5: Electricity in Digest of United Kingdom
Energy Statistics. Available from
www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/publication
s/dukes/dukes.aspx. Accessed November 2012.
4. Department of Energy and Climate Change (2011).
Planning our electric future: A White Paper for secure,
affordable and low‐carbon electricity.
5. National Grid (2012). Electricity Market Reform.
Available from
www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Electricity/Electricity+Market
+Reform/ Accessed November 2012.
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