New guidance will make schemes quicker and easier to implement

The Environment Agency has today (Friday 7th August, 2009) stepped up its support for the development and growth of hydropower in England and Wales.
 
Small scale hydropower currently produces enough electricity to power 120,000 homes in the UK, but the Environment Agency recognises that it has significant potential to produce more.   Applications for permits to build small scale hydropower schemes have increased dramatically in the last five years, and the Environment Agency is keen to see the swift deployment of this technology to help meet Government’s renewable energy and carbon reduction targets.
 
The Environment Agency has been urging all public sector organisations to consider using their land and property to generate renewable energy and calculated that they could generate up to three gigawatts of power – and save three million tonnes of CO2 a year – by installing wind turbines and hydropower schemes on their land. New guidance produced by the Environment Agency will give useful advice to help developers comply with environmental legislation first time – to make it quicker and easier for public sector organisations, businesses, developers and homeowners to get approval for a hydropower scheme.
 
In the past hydropower projects have been sent back to the drawing board because their designs fall short of environmental legislation put in place to protect the local environment and its wildlife.   As the organisation tasked with protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales, the Environment Agency must ensure that hydropower schemes do not damage the river environment, increase flood risk or put wildlife at risk. To address the needs of both hydropower developers and the natural environment, the Environment Agency drafted in the Angling Trust, the Association of Rivers Trusts and the British Hydropower Association to help draw up the guidance. 
 
Tony Grayling, Head of Climate Change and Sustainable Development at the Environment Agency, said: “The Environment Agency wants to work with developers to ensure the swift deployment of sustainable renewables  – but we must continue to maintain a high level of environmental protection. With this new guidance we hope to show that it is not a matter of striking a compromise between renewable energy and the natural environment. Good hydropower schemes can generate renewable energy and enhance the environment for wildlife.” 
 
David Williams Chief Executive of the British Hydropower Association said: “We welcome the launch of the Good Practice Guidelines introduced for clarity of purpose, consistency in approach and to speed up the licensing process for low head hydropower projects. It is the balance between preservation of the environment and the need for more renewable energy which has to be accomplished. We are all part of this process and the new guidelines should help to promote greater efficiency in the licensing process.”
 
Arlin Rickard, Director of the Association of Rivers Trusts said, “We recognise the need for renewable energy and that it should not compromise biodiversity. This will depend on its wise implementation and we will continue to work with the Environment Agency to ensure this. We look forward to this informing planning of where hydropower may safely take place without causing damage or unacceptable environmental impact.”
 
The Hydropower Good Practice Guidance can be downloaded from the Environment Agency website at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/water/32022.aspx

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