About this mini-hydro guide
Why the guide exists, what it covers, and how it is kept accurate for small schemes.
Our history
Small hydro power has been used for centuries to drive mills and workshops. Interest in returning to it grew when feed-in tariffs and falling equipment costs made run-of-river schemes practical for private landowners, farms and community groups.
This guide started as a set of notes for people who were considering their first scheme. It has since grown into a step-by-step reference covering site assessment, consents, design, installation and long-term upkeep.
What we are trying to do
Our aim is to make the process of building a mini-hydro scheme understandable. We explain each stage in plain language, name the questions to ask, and point to the regulators and standards that apply.
Side note: the guide is updated when consent rules or grid requirements change.
How we work
- Accuracy: every statement is checked against current regulation
- Clarity: each step is written so that a non-specialist can follow it
- Caution: we flag risks and do not promise outcomes for any site
- Openness: sources are named so readers can verify them
Key moments in the guide
First checklist
Consent section added
Full step-by-step guide
Who contributes
The guide is written and reviewed by a small editorial group. Contributors include engineers familiar with turbine selection, planners who handle consent applications, and landowners who have built schemes themselves.
Engineering review
Checks turbine sizing, head and flow calculations, and civil works details.
Regulatory review
Checks consent routes and keeps references to regulators up to date.
Where the work happens
Much of our material is drawn from real projects on upland streams, lowland weirs and estate canals. We describe typical conditions rather than a single site, so readers can adapt the steps to their own water.
Read the consent guidance before you plan the scheme, or contact us with your questions.
Limits of this guide
This guide does not replace professional engineering or legal advice. Figures and rules describe general practice and should be confirmed for each site.
Who the guide is for
It suits landowners, farm managers, community energy groups and students who want a clear overview before speaking to specialists. Read the sections in order, or jump to the stage you are working on.
Keep exploring
The home page summarises the full guide, and the legal section sets out consents in detail.