Hydropower schemes can be complex and need to be designed and managed carefully to avoid unacceptable impacts on communities and the river environment.
For example, changes to a river can increase the risk of flooding and have significant impacts on wildlife, especially fish.
You must apply for an environmental permit to ensure that your scheme doesn’t harm the environment. Your permit will include a variety of licences, approvals or consents depending on your requirements. It may include controls and conditions on:
- your use of water, for example the volume you can abstract or impound
- the passage of fish
Environmental permit application
Stage 1: Pre-application
Before you make a formal application, please complete our pre-application process. This will help us to understand what you are proposing and support you in preparing your formal application. You must complete Part A of the hydroelectric power scheme pre-application form and the Environmental Site Audit checklist and submit them both to us.
Please return both forms to us.
Post - download and print the forms, and return them to the address in the pre-application form.
Once we have received your completed forms we will put you in touch with an account manager who will help to guide you through the application process and may arrange a site visit. We've produced an example of a completed pre-application form to help you understand the type of information we need from you:
Stage 2: Formal application pack
The formal application pack will depend upon the type of scheme you develop. Your account manager will tell you which forms you need to complete.
Who you are - you must complete this form for each scheme
Water resource licences - transfer or impoundment
Fish pass approval
Flood defence consent - hydropower - please use this form for hydropower applications only
Information to help support your hydropower application
Environmental Statement
This is the report produced if your Local Planning Authority has required you to do an Environmental Impact Assessment.
Environmental Report
If you do not have an Environmental Statement then we are likely to ask you to provide an Environmental Report. Contact your account manager for further information. If you don't have an account manager contact us on 03708 506 506 before you fill in the form.
