Scotland looks to "turn on the tap to new hydro power"

The Scottish government has strongly signalled its support for a new generation of hydroelectric power plants across the country with the publication of a report claiming new facilities could power up to 600,000 homes.

The study, carried out by the Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland, found that while Scotland already generates 1,379MW from hydroelectric plants there are still 657MW of financially viable hydroelectric schemes that could be exploited.

In comments likely to be welcomed by the 10 hydroelectric projects currently working their way through the planning system, energy minister Jim Mather said that hydroelectricity represented a "hugely important" part of the country's future energy mix.

He added that while the Glendoe project near Fort Augustus, which is scheduled to open next spring, was likely to be one of the last large-scale hydroelectric dams to be built in Scotland, there was still "huge untapped potential – and a sustainable and profitable future – in smaller and micro-hydro schemes".

"Each scheme would have to be assessed on its own merits," he said, "but if we can turn the tap on to new hydro power we can tackle climate change and continue to stimulate economic growth."

The report was welcomed by David Williams, chief executive of the British Hydropower Association, who argued that it should help to drive greater investment in the sector. " Hydropower has long been the 'quiet' renewable and this will stimulate development of new projects of all sizes in a country which has already embraced the benign and significant role of this technology," he said.