Environment Agency map focuses on hydro renewable energy

Posted by Andrew Marshall.

A number of areas where hydropower projects could possibly be developed in the coming years have been highlighted by the Environment Agency.

Nearly 26,000 destinations across England and Wales have been pointed out on a new map published by the organisation, assessing which would prove beneficial and which might have less positive environmental implications.

The agency''s head of climate change and sustainable development Tony Grayling suggests that it is important for these renewable energy sites to meet environmental criteria.

He stated: ''There will inevitably be some sites where the risk to the environment outweighs the benefits of power generation.''

According to the Environment Agency''s research, as many as 850,000 households could benefit from low carbon energy if all of the hydropower sites it has highlighted were developed.

Wave and tidal power are also set to be looked at in a new Strategic Environmental Assessment backed by the government.