Waterways provide a flow of renewable energy
11 March 2009
British Waterways has today announced an agreement with The Small Hydro Company Ltd to generate 210,000 mega watt hours of renewable energy per annum using the public corporation’s 2,200 mile waterway network. The initiative will:
- invest around c.£120 million of private capital over the next three years;- develop approximately 25 small-scale hydro electricity schemes generating enough power for c.40,000 homes;
- create 150 construction jobs;
- save an annual 110,000 tonnes of CO2.
Backed by Climate Change Capital’s Ventus Fund, the process of gaining consents for the first five hydro schemes alongside river weirs will begin later this month. The proposals will enhance waterway biodiversity as well as providing improved flood mitigation for local communities.
The partnership with The Small Hydro Company follows British Waterways’ announcement in October 2008, of an agreement with Partnerships for Renewables to bring forward wind turbines on canal-side land over the next five years – with annual capacity to generate 219,000 mega watt hours of renewable energy. Income that British Waterways generates from both initiatives will be reinvested towards maintaining the nation’s historic waterways.
Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Ed Miliband MP said: “By committing to build small hydro power stations and wind turbines, British Waterways is playing an important role in generating renewable energy from the UK’s natural resources. This will help cut carbon emissions and further secure energy supplies. We want even more homes, communities, businesses and public sector organisations to take action and play their part in tackling climate change. The Renewables Obligation already supports renewable electricity generation and from 2010 we'll be introducing a feed-in tariff which will reward projects like this with guaranteed cash payments.”
Hilary Benn, Environment Secretary said: “Britain’s waterways were the arteries of our economy, providing transport and power. This scheme shows how with ingenuity and innovation they can once again deliver real economic, social, and environmental benefits, especially in tackling and adapting to climate change.”
The Small Hydro Company will now start a programme of community engagement alongside the process of seeking the necessary environmental and planning consents, with the aim of having the first schemes up and running in 2010 to help meet the government’s 2010 hydro renewable targets.
ENDS
For media enquiries contact:
Jonathan Ludford, British Waterways, T. 020 7985 7275, M. 07747 897783, jonathan.ludford@britishwaterways.co.uk
Notes to editors:
British Waterways is a not-for-dividend public corporation which cares for a 2,200-mile network of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs across Britain. It is accountable to the Department of the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs in England and Wales and to the Scottish Government in Scotland and works with a broad range of public, private and voluntary sector partners to protect and find new uses for the nation's historic waterways.
The Small Hydro Company funds, and develops small scale hydro electric generation installations making use of the available energy in lowland rivers and tidal estuaries. The objective of the Small Hydro Company is to harness this source of renewable energy at suitable locations, providing direct benefit to land owners and sustainable long term benefits to the wider community.
Climate Change Capital manages the Ventus Funds, one of the largest groups of funds specifically targeted at the UK renewable energy sector. The Ventus Funds are specialist Venture Capital Trusts focused on investing in companies that develop, construct and operate small to medium sized on-shore renewable energy projects in the UK.