What is Hydro Power?

Hydro power is created by capturing energy from moving water. Usually, hydro power works by capturing the potential energy of dammed water, which drives a water turbine and generator as it is piped down a hill at high pressure.

Around 13 per cent of Scotland's total electricity output comes from renewable energy sources - the vast majority of which currently comes from the many hydro power stations across the Highlands and Islands.

The region’s predominance in hydro-electricity is as a result of massive post-Second World War investment. Large-scale schemes such as those of the late 1940s and 1950s are, however, unlikely to be repeated today due to a lack of suitable sites and heightened environmental awareness.

Today, there are over 80 hydro power stations in the Highlands and Islands. The development of a new large-scale hydro power scheme at Glendoe, near Loch Ness, is the first in the UK in many decades.

In the main, increasing the total output from hydro power is achieved through efficiency upgrades to existing hydro plants and environmentally-sensitive small-scale hydro schemes, such as those on smaller rivers. For the foreseeable future, hydro power will remain an important source of renewable energy in Scotland.

Learn more about hydro power via the links below:

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