Scotland has enough untapped hydro potential to power a quarter of the nation’s homes, according to a new study published today. The study carried out for the Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland shows there are still 657 Megawatts of financially viable hydro electricity schemes to exploit. That would power around 600,000 homes and is around half the amount of installed hydro capacity that already exists in Scotland. Energy Minister Jim Mather said: “Water power has been used for centuries and Scotland was the one of the first countries in the world where electricity was harnessed from the water around us. That legacy is still visible - Scotland’s ambitious hydro building programme in the 1950s and 1960s resulted in infrastructure which produces electricity today. In making Scotland the green energy capital of Europe, we will utilise the rich mix of our diverse renewables potential, and hydro remains a hugely important part of that mix. Investment continues, with the Glendoe project near Fort Augustus, scheduled to open next spring, set to be a significant addition to Scotland’s renewables capacity.” To download the report visit: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/917/0064958.pdf

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3 September 2008
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