The Scottish government aims to generate enough renewable energy by 2020 to cover the equivalent of 100% of the country’s annual demand for power. However, the country still has a long way to go in order to meet this target and currently the Scottish Renewables association is predicting that renewables will only cover 86% of annual demand by 2020.

Traditionally, hydropower has been the second largest provider of renewable energy in Scotland, with an installed capacity of 1.5GW. However, while large-scale projects continue to be announced, at the smaller end of the scale, cuts to subsidies have threatened the progress of the small to medium hydro sector.

In this uncertain environment, where developers are no longer able to lock in financial incentives for planned projects, it is increasingly important to maximize the speed and efficiency of the planning process in the short-term, as well as the long-term performance of projects themselves.

With over 20 years of hydro consultancy and development experience, Dulas is well-placed to assist landowners in overcoming the financial challenges of an ever-evolving market.

This month, Dulas starts development of a 1.2MW Hydro scheme, as well as a 2km private wire to the grid, for an estate located within the Loch Lommond and the Trassachs National Park in the Highlands. Having commissioned Dulas to refurbish a previous hydro project, the client has since sought to further expand its portfolio with this additional scheme.

The second estate, in Perth and Kinross has also chosen to expand its hydro portfolio with a 100kW scheme located on the shores of Loch Rannoch. This again follows a previous refurbishment of a medium-scale hydro scheme on their estate by Dulas.

Both schemes will help the estates to cover rising energy-costs as well as providing them with access to additional revenue streams through financial incentive schemes and opportunities to sell unused power back to the grid.

"Hydro technology has proved a particularly effective source of energy in rural parts of Scotland, offering landowners and estate managers clean and cost-effective energy throughout the year. Given ever-rising energy prices, hydro schemes also provide invaluable sources of alternative income for clients looking to sell unused power back to the grid or benefit from the various renewable energy incentive schemes," said Phil Horton, Managing Director of Dulas.

"However, cuts to incentives and the end of the pre-accreditation process have posed serious challenges to the market. Many hydro projects have been put on hold or cancelled. Given the financial and environmental value these projects can unlock for landowners, it is important that developers and consultants work together to maximize the efficiency of sites, safeguarding the future of the market," he added.

Dulas is the Hydro Sector Sponsor for the Scottish Renewables Annual Conference on the 1st and 2nd March, in Edinburgh.

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