Thanks, Sue: you put me on the spot there, it's a bit outside the IT/Cyber field 🙂 I think, if we're talking of big hydro projects we don't have the terrain like, say Norway, to develop many more large dams and plants - there are some in Wales and Scotland. Although there's no direct greenhouse gas waste products there are environmental issues - the affect on local flora and fauna, and the local population; I'm not sure drowning Welsh villages would be acceptable these days. The other problem is that build costs are high and I would assume maintenance is as well; dam breaks are disastrous.There are advantages in that output is more easily controlled by varying the speed of the water flow. It is possible that small scale plants - the modern equivalent of water mills - might be a contributor but that's not something I've come across. Certainly, other counties like Norway, where around 95% is hydro power, where there are nice deep sparsely fjiords and valleys can take advantage of this form of power. There's also tidal power but I believe environmental issues will limit that.So there's potentially a place for it, particularly smaller units and possibly in remote areas in Scotland, but it seems unlikely to ever be a major contributor to renewals in the UK. I'm sure if someone on the forum knows better they'll let me know!I did check my opinion against this ...https://theswitch.co.uk/energy/guides/renewables/hydroelectric-power
Michael Ixer ● 1295d