Assessment of the Hydropower Resource in Scotland

Project Summary

The study was undertaken to provide an assessment of the potential for development of hydropower resources within Scotland and consisted of a series of phases. The first of which was to provide a theoretical maximum potential for hydropower based on the country’s rainfall and topography. The later stages have involved a more practical assessment of the potential using Hydrobot, a GIS-based computer model developed by Nick Forrest that tool allows for an economic evaluation of all likely hydro configurations on rivers within a catchment.

The model was validated at several levels: firstly, to ensure that site selection was in accordance with the results expected with normal ground reconnaissance methods; and secondly, to ensure that the model was producing realistic baseline costs for each provisional site identified and was therefore making acceptable comparisons between potential sites.

Project Partners

SISTech worked with Nick Forrest Associates and Black and Veatch to complete this Scottish Government funded project.

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