Hydro-electric power generation in UK?

Question

It's probably already been thought of and dismissed by the powers that be, but I was curious, given the very high profile of "green" power generation, why don't the Government and utilities businesses install some type of electricity generation at some, if not all, reasonably sized wiers and sluice-gates here in the UK - there's literally 1000's of them, most of which have a sizeable amount of water flowing through with some considerable force all year - surely they can make a significant contribution to local electricty consumption with little impact on the environment? I know of one locally to me that has, well, must be millions of gallons roaring and surging through all day, every day.

Or, and I've just thought of this just now, given that there's always a steady flow of "fluid" through the drains & sewers of towns & cities, can this not also be harnessed & harvested for electricity generation in the same way?

Missed opportunity, me thinks.

Just an idea.....

The thing is, they're alreadt built, so the impact would be minimum. Seems like a crime not to make best use of these things.

Answer 1

You have very valid point, but, It is too obvious and simple of an idea for government in this country to comprehend or act upon, because we are governed by people who are too busy thinking of other ways to tax the people, rather than to think of something constructive like producing cheaper forms of energy.

Answer 2

It all comes down to the NIMBYs objecting to these schemes

The electric mountain in Llanberis, Snowdonia, is a good example of a hydro-electric power plant which has barely an impact on the local scenery. It was a feat of engineering too, building the whole thing by carving out a slate mountain. I am led to believe that it is only 70% efficient and is used only when there is a demand spike for electricity.

Answer 3

As skill starts to grow to be a more effective extreme priced merchandise in the previous disregarded options will come lower back into play as they grow to be effectively more effective value-useful. we are bleating about the fee of skill now yet my own view is we favor to grow to be skill self useful and that is going to choose 'extreme priced electrical energy' from Nuclear ability, Hydro schemes, wind farms etc etc. maximum so referred to as renew-ables are very heavily subsidised in a roundabout way. Then so are the railways and continuously will be. uk is in for a era of a lot larger inflation no be counted what they pick to assert or how they fudge the figures in spite of the undeniable fact that the up area of this (in case you would possibly want to assert one of those ingredient) is that extreme priced skill will be worth generating to personal market. Your theory (even no matter if it really is a revival) would have its day they used to apply such weirs to ability the generators for a good number of industries. The Water Mill for grinding wheat or maybe operating furnaces has in consumer-friendly words been lengthy gone from our landscapes for per chance 50 years, no clarification why they could't make a turbine to generate electrical energy, probable is one someplace in case you googled it.

Answer 4

Please run some figures before deciding it's all a 'conspiracy' :-)

Power generators (dynamos), control systems and power distribution systems (cables) all cost money to build and maintain .. sure we could fit waterwheels to locks - but what will it cost ? (both to install and run) ?

Take a look at the windmill 'generators' that various DIY shops have been selling .. about £100 quid for something that powers a 50w light bulb .. if you leave the light on 24 Hrs a day, 'break even' takes 3 years ...

Far better to put the effort & resurces into something more cost effective.

Answer 5

Its Laughable isnt it - take Scotland - Gale Force Winds - Strong Currents . all year round ...and when Joe Public ask's why we cant have freebie or cheaper electricity Via Wind & Wave power ...the Politicians Gag & stutter and flannel - mutter something about their Share Portfolio - then next minute they are telling us to be more Green,...

Answer 6

there are a few prototype watermills which have been converted to produce electricity from river waters, its only a matter of time before this becomes large scale and should join solar and wind and tidal energy.

Answer 7

no,i just flick a switch!