Projects
		Environment
		Energy
		People
		Equipment
		Economics

ENVIRONMENT : Landscape

Historically, hydro schemes have been associated with dams, reservoirs, over-ground pipelines and high-voltage transmission lines. All can be prominent in the landscape. None apply to our run-of-river schemes...

At most, a stone-faced weir about 1m high above river bed level is needed. This causes a slight local rise in the river level. The risk of flooding is not increased. The purpose of the weir is to create sufficient water depth to ensure that air does not enter the pipeline.

Pipelines are usually buried underground. Local exceptions to this sometimes occur, for example where a small ravine has to be crossed. An innovative solution was devised at Garnedd. The pipeline was used as a structural support for a walkway across a ravine (see photo).