For those with an eye on FiTs, Huhne just resigned (not related!). Ed Davey, Business minister will replace him.

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Hi

Has anyone come across these hydro power companies, who are looking at various schemes on the Aire?

Yorks Hydro
UK Hydro
Carbon Free Power

Cheers

PM sent Treetrouter

Just a couple of quick updates. More arguments about renewables subsidies in case you missed them Wind power: why the MPs have written to the Prime Minister - Telegraph. (Telegraph link is just one example.)

And I'm sure you're all keeping abreast of the consultation responses to the EA's hydro good practice guidelines whose pages are running almost as long as this thread! https://consult.environment-agency.g...ew&q:sortMode=

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Hello again

Treetrouter, and all, here's a very interesting FOI request regarding the relationship between British Waterways and The Small Hydro Company (including the British Waterways 10% shareholding in The Small Hydro Company). There are a host of schemes mentioned within the document. Extract from q8:

Q8) which other hydro developers have/is BW currently working with on potential hydro electric developments and at which sites?

- Yorkshire Hydro Ltd Option Agreement - Castleford Weir
- UK Hydro Ltd – Exclusivity Agreement - Pillings Lock & Weir, Barrow Upon Soar, Kegworth Deep Lock & Weir, Overflow and Sluice, Aire Navigation, Leeds, Fishponds lock Overflow weir Aire Navigation, Chapel Haddesley, Aspley Weir, Huddersfield, Hunts Lock, River Weaver, Barnton Lock, River Weaver, Vale Royal Lock, River Weaver, Marsh Lock, River Weaver, Saltersford Lock, River Weaver,
- Beneco Ltd – Option Agreement – Holme Lock
-Carbon Free Power Company –Exclusivity Agreement – Knostrop Weir
- Newtown Action on Climate Change - Exclusivity Agreement –Penarth Weir

All the best
Ant

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Ed Davey just made a statement re FiTs. The last few seconds of the short clip suggest small scale renewables will be backed all the way:

Ed Davey message on Feed-in Tariff scheme changes - YouTube

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SSE puts controversial River Isla hydro scheme on hold
Power giant SSE has put on hold plans for a hydro scheme on the Angus-Perthshire border. The run-of-river project between Kirriemuir and Alyth would have seen the River Isla diverted from Bridge of Craigisla along four miles of underground pipes to a power station at Shanzie, near Alyth. The scheme provoked serious concerns among environmental and angling interests when the plan was announced last year, with fears that almost 90% of the Isla's water would be diverted in the hydro scheme, severely impacting on the local area, including the prominent local beauty spot of the Reekie Linn waterfall.

The Courier, 9.2.12
The Courier - SSE puts controversial River Isla hydro scheme on hold

Friends of the Earth are backing a report that demands the government give more support to community renewables projects. New Mills is cited as a 'successful' example, alongside a project on the Isle of Eigg and another in Stirling. Short press report is here The Press Association: Call to embrace community energy, a longer one, on which you can post a comment, is here Green community energy projects need more support, new report argues > General Analysis > Analysis | Click Green. Of course, we all know New Mills is very bad, although it seems to be impossible to find any press/science reports confirming this! Anyone have any links?

Meanwhile the scheme proposed for the Lancashire Whalley looks set to be refused on 'visual grounds'. Hahaha! What a world we live in! Whalley weir 'micro-hydro station' set for refusal (From Lancashire Telegraph)

And here's a techie look at a scheme just established in Italy which apparently 'has no impact on river life'.

Finally, if anyone was just wondering about getting involved in f*cking up the rivers all across Europe, here's a useful report brought to you by The Small Hydro Association (who present their report without any bias whatsoever, of course) Renewable Energy Focus - Focus on small hydro. Its from 2008 but was tweeted again this morning and if you've been paying attention here, you'll already know that 80% of European rivers are being negatively impacted by human pressure. Further ransack, anyone?

Happy reading
Ant

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Contact details sent.

Hydro-electric disaster - Letters - Whitby Gazette