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The UK should invest in hydropower to help with the nation’s energy crisis, a new poll of Express.co.uk readers has found. The renewable energy source generates energy from the movement of flowing water released from reservoir dams.
The UK is planning to open its fifth hydroelectric power station in the Yorkshire Dales. The four current storage projects are located in mountainous regions of Scotland and Wales.
Experts claim that further investment in hydropower would be an efficient and affordable source.
In 2020, hydropower generated just five percent of the UK’s renewable energy but further investment could help the UK meet net zero emission targets.
Pascal Radue, CEO and President of Hydro Solutions and General Electric claimed that pump storage within hydropower systems make it a viable option for the UK.
He told Express.co.uk earlier this month: “Fundamentally, hydropower today is already now the biggest renewable energy resource that we have on the planet.”
In a poll that ran from 10am on Wednesday, October 19, to 4pm on Monday, October 24, Express.co.uk asked readers: “Should UK invest more in hydropower to help energy crisis?”
A total of 1,401 readers responded with the overwhelming result with 95 percent (1,324 people) of votes being “yes” in favour of hydropower investment.
A further five percent (74 people) said “no” against further investment in hydropower, while just three people said they did not know.
Readers debated whether hydropower would support the UK’s energy crisis in dozens of comments left below the accompanying article.
Many readers agreed that hydropower should be harnessed in the UK, with username gizalik writing: “Should have done it years ago – greenest energy there is.”
Username pheasant plucker said: “Tidal rivers could be used, and up and running producing power in no time if there’s a will to do it.”
Another, username Tjoepstil, said: “Hydro is the only reasonably reliable and consistent renewable energy. There are a few sites worth developing.”
And username Looflirpa said: “Yes we should because in addition to providing energy, these projects would provide massive water storage during droughts and, would act as an attenuation system to help prevent flooding.”
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Mr Radue also suggested that existing hydropower plants could be repowered with new turbines to increase efficiency too.
He explained: “Hydro is quite wide-ranging, you can go from small generation to large hydro dams that generate power for millions of households.
“Repowering of these existing plants is a lot cheaper than building a new hydro facility because you don’t need to build a dam or all the infrastructure is there. The only thing you need to change is the tiny thing which is the turbine and the generator, which is relatively quick and cheap to do.”
Meanwhile, username ja50 wrote: “We should be investing in every source of energy in order to be self-sufficient and supply affordable.”
However, some readers argued against investment in hydropower, with username Chris1842 commenting that “It’s too expensive”.
Username BillJackson said: “There are simply not any suitable locations to generate any meaningful amounts of energy from hydro.”
And username Palla said: “No, not at all, hydropower is like wind power, it is not efficient as solar or nuclear power.”
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