Hydro Power

Hydropower:  the capture of the energy of moving water for some useful purpose. Prior to the widespread availability of commercial electric, hydropower was used for irrigation, milling of grain, textile manufacture, and the operation of sawmills.

The energy of moving water has been exploited for centuries; In India, water wheels and watermills were built; in Imperial Rome, water powered mills produced flour from grain, and in China and the rest of the Far East, hydraulically operated "pot wheel" pumps that raised water into irrigation canals.

The North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board (1943 - 1990) was founded to design, construct and manage hydroelectricity projects in the Highlands and Islands.  It is regarded as one of the major achievements of Scottish politician Tom Johnson, who chaired the board from 1945 to 1959.

Small scale hydro or micro hydro power has been increasingly used as an alternative energy source, especially in remote areas where other power sources are not viable. Small scale hydro power systems can be installed in small rivers or streams with little or no discernible environmental effect on things such as fish migration. Most small scale hydro power systems make no use of a dam or major water diversion, but rather use water wheels.

Latest Hydro Power news Simply Renewable sponsors Highland Housing Fair 30/06/2008 simply renewable Ltd - proud sponsors of the highland housing fair. Scotland's First Housing Fair 1st to 31st August 2009 Inverness The Highlands of Scotland is staging a major housing fair to showcase the best of house building design and technology - the first of its kind to be held in Scotland. The keynote of the... Energy Performance revolution in the Outer Hebrides 07/04/2008 To understand the concept behind Greenspace, you don't have to under­stand the technology — which is just as well. Even someone with a fairly advanced understanding of computer systems would be left baffled by a pro­gramme which conducts &... 1st Professional qualification in renewable energy launched 20/03/2008 A Scottish college, Lews Castle College in Stornoway has secured a major coup by winning approval for Scotland's only professional qualification in renewable energy, with hundreds of on-line students from around the country expected to sign up.... UK's first science degree in sustainable construction 15/03/2008 A new science degree in sustainable construction, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, is due to be launched by the University of the Highlands and Islands in September of this year. ... Sustainable Construction degree designer joins UBC Group 15/03/2008 Kenneth MacLeod, formerly the subject network leader at Inverness College UHI has joined the the successful Scottish construction and civil enegineering company - the UBC Group, as Managing Surveyor. Welcoming Kenneth  to... Brown urges EU initiative for green VAT cuts 14/03/2008  Britain and France on Friday persuaded their EU partners to consider cutting value-added tax (VAT) on environmentally friendly domestic products. Speaking at the end of a two-day (Friday 14th)  European summit in Brussels, Pri...

Featured Hydro Power company natural watt Naturalwatt MicroGrid® - The professional renewable energy system * Save money on your electricity bill forever * Generate clean electricity from solar panels * Prevent significant CO² emissions * Secure mains power for your property, entirely Off-Grid if required * Combine Solar PV, wind turbine or hydro * Claim ROCS, money for being green we are OFGEM approved * Every customer gets the... more info »