Hydropower
SEPA supports the development of renewable energy in Scotland,
including hydropower. However, even small hydropower schemes
have the potential to adversely affect the water environment. SEPA
aims to ensure that an appropriate balance between promoting
hydropower and protecting the water environment and other water
users is always achieved. This balancing determination will be in
line with the policy
statement 
issued by the
Scottish Government in January 2010.
If you are considering developing a hydropower scheme, you
should refer to the SEPA Guidance
for developers of run-of-river hydropower schemes. This sets
out how SEPA intends to achieve Scottish Ministers' policy
objectives and contains guidance on the developments that are
likely to be acceptable in the context of the Ministers' policy
statement. Emphasis will be placed on supporting hydropower
developments which can make a significant contribution to
Scotland's renewables targets while also minimising any adverse
impacts on the water environment.
If you are in the process of developing a hydropower scheme,
this section of the website contains information and
guidance which will help you with your application. It
explains the process of applying for a water use licence and the
minimum information you will need to provide SEPA in support
of your application. These pages also highlights where
other consents are necessary for a development and how these may
interact with the SEPA determination.
Information and guidance is available on the following:
- Regulation
Information on the regulation
that applies to hydropower schemes
- Applying for a licence
Guidance on the application process, relevant consents that
are required and environmental standards
- Supporting information
Guidance on the general information you are required to supply in
support of an application, and details of what is required in
relation to hydrological data, fish and fish habitats, and
protected areas and species.
- Useful
links
Details of organisations that may be helpful sources of further
information
This guidance is also available in a single guidance document which
you can download.
Best practice
A best practice guide has been
developed to direct the construction industry to the appropriate
sections of the existing guidance.