Benefits
Wind Turbines
Onshore wind power is one of the most mature and cost-effective renewable energy technologies currently available commercially.
A single wind turbine of the type used by Partnerships for Renewables, installed in a good location, generates on average the amount of electricity consumed by about 1,100 households. As this electricity is generated without burning fossil fuels, it displaces more than 2,200 tonnes of CO2 annually.
The green electricity generated by any wind turbines on British Waterways land will be supplied to British Waterways at a reduced rate, or fed into the National Grid to provide annual income for British Waterways to invest in projects across their portfolio.
For more information on wind energy, please click here.
Small-Scale Hydro
Hydro power was one of the earliest forms of electricity generation and many of the UK’s operating sites date from the 1920s.
Most of the better sites have already been developed but there is still some potential to be investigated.
British Waterways developments are likely to focus on small-scale, ‘run-of-river’ projects, probably at existing weirs, sluices and reservoirs.
For more information on hydro energy, please click here.
Community benefits
A market-leading community benefit package will be provided alongside any future developments. This will consist of a community fund for each development, receiving an annual payment. The funds will be administered by representatives of the local community, to be spent in any way that the community sees fit.