The Environment Agency has identified locations where hydropower schemes have the potential to produce green energy.

The Environment Agency has uncovered almost 26,000 potential hydropower hotspots in England and Wales, which it hopes would help to tap into the unused power potential of British rivers.

The Agency commissioned the ‘Hydropower Opportunities and Environmental Sensitivities Map’ to search for locations where a hydropower turbine could be positioned to help generate green electricity.

The turbines could potentially have outstanding results, generating enough electricity to power around 850,000 homes, producing around 3% of the country’s 2020 renewable electricity needs.

However, the Environment Agency has warned that realistically only some of the 26,000 sites could be used in light of environmental sensitivities and practicalities of installing electricity networks.

In those areas where win-win opportunities exist – the Rivers Severn, Thames, Aire and Neath – Tony Grayling, Head of Climate Change and Sustainable Development at the Environment Agency said that the hydropower schemes have the potential to deliver low carbon energy and even help improve the local environment for wildlife.

Mr Grayling said: “The report recommends that fish-friendly design needs to be incorporated in all schemes, and that grants for fish passes could help to unlock the potential of small scale hydropower in England and Wales.”

Paul Knight, Chief Executive of the Salmon and Trout Association, commented: “We welcome this report as a first step towards a sustainable, consistent approach to handling hydropower application on an overall catchment basis.

“Poorly designed hydropower systems can cause damage to the river environment and its dependent species, so we are pleased to see that the report recommends that fish passes are used as a matter of course in all new hydropower installations.”