Micro Hydro Association

The Forestry Commission Scotland has just launched  what it is calling ‘Residual Offerings’. This is the latest in a series of opportunities offered on the National Forest Estate in Scotland. It is available for applications by both commercial de­velopers and communities and covers hydro, wind, solar photovoltaic and geothermal energy genera­tion. You can read more on the Forestry Commis­sion website about this new opportunity here and read the detailed guidance document here

The new Good Practice hydropower guidance for England is now live on the Environment Agency’s website: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/water/126575.aspx

and for Wales: published on the Natural Resources Wales website today http://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk/apply-buy-report/apply-buy-grid/water/abstrations-impoundment/hydropower-scheme/?lang=en

From this point forward the pre-application advice for all new hydropower enquiries will  be based on the revised guidance.

Twelve weeks after publication, on Tuesday 1 April 2014, the revised guidance will become the basis for the EA's determination of permit applications for any new hydropower schemes received and accepedt as valid from that date.