UK Hydro Electric Power.

Flowing water is a valuable renewable energy source, and the most modern hydroelectric power stations are capable of converting at least 90% of their energy into electricity. (The other 10% is lost as noise of the flowing water, friction creates heat as the water flows down the pipes).

The Committee on Climate Change which advises the HM Government estimates that hydroelectric power could theoretically contribute up to 8 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year to the UK’s energy needs.

Hydroelectric power stations in the United Kingdom accounted for 1.65 GW of installed electrical generating capacity, being 1.8% of the UK’s total generating capacity and 18% of UK’s renewable energy generating capacity.

The reality is that storing electricity is actually quite hard, you can have chemical storage, such as a battery, or converting Potential Energy to Kinetic Energy. This is the essence of Hydro Electric.

Large-scale hydroelectric power stations need to dam valleys to create reservoirs in which to store water. For the installation to include pumped storage – a technology that improves the reliability of the power station by storing energy for later use – two reservoirs must be situated close together, but at different heights.

Not many sites in the UK meet these conditions. Most of those that do are in the Scottish Highlands and are already home to large-scale hydropower schemes. These schemes generate about 1.4% of the electricity used in the UK, but due to the lack of other suitable sites, this figure is unlikely to increase significantly.

This is a non-exhaustive list of UK Hydro Electric Sites:-

Clachan
Cruachan Dam
Dinorwig Power Station
Errochty
Ffestiniog Power Station
Glendoe Hydro Scheme
Glenlee
Glenmoriston
Inverawe
Kendoon
Lochaber
Maentwrog Site
Rannoch
Rheidol
Sloy
Tongland
Tummel
Aigas Power Station
Bonnington
Carsfad
Cashlie Power Station
Cassley Power Station
Ceannacroc Power Station
Culligran Power Station Unit 2
Dinas Power Station
Dolgarrog High-Head Power Station
Dolgarrog Low-Head Power Station
Earlstoun
Finlarig
Grudie Bridge
Invergarry Power Station
Kilmorack
Kinlochleven Hydro Power Station
Livishie Power Station
Mossford Power Station
Nant
Orrin
Orrin Power Station
Pitlochry Power Station
Quoich Power Station
Shin Power Station
St Fillans
Torr Achilty Power Station
Achanalt
Alt na-Lairgie
Ardverikie
Beeston Weir
Black Rock
Braevallich Hydro Station
Broken Cross Muir Hydro
Callop
Carnoch
Chliostair Power Station
Chonais
Cuaich
Cuileig Power Station
Culligran Comp Set
CWM Rheidol Hydro Dam
Dalchonzie
Deanie
Douglas Water Power Station
Drumjohn Power Station
East Aberchalder
Elan Valley
Eredine Hydro Project
Falls Of Unich
Fasnakyle Power Station
Foyers Fall Power Station
Foyers
Franklaw Hydro at Franklaw Water Treatment
Garrogie Power Station
Gaur
Glenn Dubh Hydro
Inverar Hydro
Inverbroom
Inverfarigaig
Inverlael
Kerry Falls
Kielder Power Station
Kilmelford Power Station
Kingairloch Hydro
Lairg
Lednock
Little Loch Roag
Llyn Brianne
Llyn Celyn
Loch Dubh
Loch Eilde Mor
Loch Ericht Power Station
Loch Gair
Loch Turret WTW
Lochay Compensation Generator
Lochiel Estate
Lubreoch Power Station
Lussa
Maldie Burn
Mary Tavy Power Station
Mucomir
Mullardoch Tunnel
Nostie Bridge
River E Power Station
Siadar
Sron Mor Power Station
Stonebyres Power Station
Storr Lochs
Striven Power Station
Trossachs
Urlar Hydro
Victoria Falls Station

Yes, 109 sites in the UK

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