Welcome to North Wales Hydro Power
At North Wales Hydro Power we are passionate about the development of Hydro Electric Schemes and generating electricity from an abundant natural resource. Hydro Power is in our view the premier method of generating renewable electricity as it is a continuous process over the winter months when demand for electricity is at its highest. The mechanics of hydro power schemes are inherently simple and if properly maintained they will outlive many of the other forms of renewable energy production.
North Wales Hydro Power offer something different as we specialise in working with landowners rather than for them, we believe in the power of partnerships and investing in relationships that will last as long as the technology.
Hydro Electric Power
Hydro electric power is not a new phenomenon, indeed it is one of the oldest methods of generating power. Although, the generation of electricity through the downward movement of water is now commonplace the energy was traditionally used to power machinery. The Domesday Book in 1086 listed approximately 6,000 mills in England, it is not surprising therefore that in 2010 The Environment Agency Wales identified 4,112 sites in Wales alone with the potential for developing a hydro electric scheme with a total combined power of 396MW.
There has been a dramatic increase in the demand from Landowners to develop schemes, in one way or another, on their land, since the introduction of the Feed In Tariff (FiT) in April 2010 as a result of the Government’s obligation to promote the generation of Renewable Energy. The Government have a legally binding obligation to ensure that 15% of the electricity used in the UK is from a renewable source.
The FiT provides a payment of a number of pence per unit of electricity produced from a renewable source. The FiT is a generation tariff and a payment is therefore received regardless of whether the electricity is used on site, saving the purchase of electricity from the National Grid, or whether the power is exported to the grid in return for a payment from a Renewable Energy purchasing company such as Good Energy.
There are two types of hydro electric scheme and these can be defined as being either “High Head” or “Low Head”. High Head schemes typically involve smaller water courses where a percentage of flow is diverted down the hillside through a pipe; the water then passes through a turbine. Lower volumes of water are needed to create power with high head schemes as the water is constantly gaining momentum and power over a greater duration of time due to the height differential. Low head schemes typically operate on larger rivers at the location of a weir. The head available for a scheme may be much lower at perhaps 2-4m however the volumes of water used are much higher in order to create comparable levels of power. In this instance it is more efficient to use an Archimedean Screw as opposed to a conventional turbine. North Wales Hydro Power personnel have good experience with both high and low head schemes and with a variety of turbines including Water Wheels, Francis Turbines, Turgo Turbines, Pelton Turbines and Archimedes Screws.
The key to a potential scheme is the quantity of water that can be abstracted from the water course under licence from the Environment Agency. It is therefore important to have consideration for the environmental aspects of the potential scheme and to speak to the Environment Agency and the Local Planning Authority through the pre-application process. North Wales Hydro Power have built strong relationships with these respective parties and we have a good understanding of how best to gain the required permissions.
About Us
North Wales Hydro Power specialises in the development of Hydro Electric Schemes with Land Owners. Our background in Land Management means that we have a core understanding of the wider issues which affect the development of hydro projects. We understand that many landowners are not fully aware of the potential which their land has for the development of such schemes and we therefore aim to educate landowners on the opportunities which they have to create an additional income stream.
We also understand that many landowners are risk averse and rather invest in a renewable energy project with another experienced and trustworthy party so that they have a sense of security in what they are investing in. Being a family orientated company North Wales Hydro Power are passionate about working closely with individuals to build relationships which result in profitable partnerships over time. There is a sense of community involvement and working together to reach a common objective.
There are other parties who rather not invest at all as their skills and finances lie elsewhere and in these situations North Wales Hydro Power pay a rent for the use of land for the purposes of developing a Hydro Electric Scheme.
However, whatever the scenario, due to our scale and mobility within the market place we are always able to reach a solution which works for both parties in order to progress a scheme and exploit the natural resource that we benefit from as a country.
RICHARD REES
Managing Director
BEN POCOCK
Prospecting Consultant
Best Young Entrepreneur
Thursday, 22 September 2011 16:54
Richard is thrilled to have recently been shortlisted in the Best Young Entrepreneur category for the Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards 2011. We feel this is recognition for how far NWHP has come in the last year and we look forward to giving a presentation to Steve Morgan on 26th September!
NWHP at the BHA Hydropower Conference
Sunday, 03 July 2011 20:21
Earlier this week North Wales Hydro Power were represented at the BHA Hydropower Conference (England and Wales) at the Future Inn, Cardiff.
It is a significant step forward for a relatively small regional developer to be represented at this level and we feel that time mixing with larger developers and institutions was well spent. Topics covered over the course of the day included Community Hydropower, Technical Innovations and the Future of Hydropower in the UK. It was pleasing to hear that Environment Agency Wales are placing extra resource in North Wales to deal with the increased number of applications and pre-applications for abstraction and impoundment; we hope that this will see more schemes being developed in the next 12 months.
Delight with MCS U-Turn!
Friday, 24 June 2011 21:18
North Wales Hydro Power are pleased with the outcome of the UK Government’s strategy on Micro Generation which was announced yesterday. The policy now formally acknowledges that micro hydro is substantially different from other technologies such as wind and solar and will therefore receive different treatment.
Previously schemes upto 50kW in size where facing the prospect of passing through MCS Accreditation designed for all renewable energy technologies. The British Hydropower Association fought this policy as MCS just was not appropriate for hydro developments which are already rigorously regulated under environmental and planning consenting requirements. The assumption that a householder could just visit his local supermarket and buy a water turbine generating unit and then get it installed and therefore had to be protected from rogue manufacturers and installers is not appropriate according to Chief Executive David Williams. This was causing potential developers extra angst and uncertain costs from a system which was supposed to remove these barriers.
The new Government strategy states that it is to “withdraw the exclusive link between micro hydro and the MCS for the purpose of Feed-in Tariff eligibility”. Details of an alternative system are expected as part of the comprehensive review.
North Wales Hydro Power are now online!
Monday, 06 June 2011 12:26
Following a decision to increase the profile of the Company, we are now pleased to be online! We hope that you enjoy our site and reading the information that will tell you more about North Wales Hydro Power.
Contact Us
North Wales Hydro Power Ltd
Pant Idda,
Rhyd-y-Foel,
Abergele,
Conwy,
LL22 8EE
M: 07810 141052
E: richard@northwaleshydropower.co.uk
