If you want to build a new hydropower scheme, you need to apply to the Environment Agency for
Before you apply, you can get pre-application advice from the Environment Agency to get more detailed information of what you need to send with your formal application to build a hydropower scheme. You must contact Natural Resources Wales if any of your site is in Wales. Designing your scheme
You must not cause harm to the environment while constructing or operating your hydropower scheme. Fish and other aquatic ecology can be very sensitive to changes in river flows. You should employ a specialist to help you design your scheme and make your application. You can contact the British Hydropower Association or the Micro Hydro Association to get help finding a hydropower specialist. The Environment Agency is less likely to grant a licence or permit in sites of high environmental sensitivity, like protected sites and sites where there are protected species. The Environment Agency will only give you permission to build a scheme if you can show in your schemes design how you will prevent harm to the environment and other water users.
You must make sure it will
Check you have rights of access
You must have rights of access to the river at the point where you plan to build your scheme. Use weirs on upland watercourses
If you want to build or reconstruct a weir on an upland watercourse, your proposal is likely to be rejected by the Environment Agency if its higher than 1.5 metres. You will need to show that your scheme will not harm the watercourse and its ecology. You need to show this in your application by providing a report containing hydrological assessments that explain
Use existing weirs on a lowland river
You must contact the Environment Agency to check that there are not any existing plans to remove the weir. The Environment Agency will not give you permission to use an existing weir on a lowland river if your scheme will increase the risk of flooding or disrupt
The Environment Agency will not give you permission to raise the height of an existing weir, unless
Build or reconstruct weirs on a lowland river
The Environment Agency is unlikely to give you permission to build or reconstruct a weir in a lowland river. You might get permission if you can show there will not be significant impacts on the environment. Include in your proposal detailed environmental and technical assessments showing that there will be no significant impacts on
You may need to get help from specialists in these areas to prepare the reports. Use existing weirs that are used to measure river flow
The Environment Agency uses some weirs and river structures to measure river flows. If your scheme will change the flow of water across one of these structures, you must avoid affecting the accuracy of the data that the Environment Agency collects. The Environment Agency will tell you if the weir you plan to build on is used for measuring flows when you get advice through the enhanced pre-application service before you apply for your licence. Get advice before you apply
You will not get a licence to build a hydropower scheme from the Environment Agency unless you can satisfy them that your scheme will not harm the environment. Before you apply you can ask the Environment Agencys pre-application advice service for help. Fill in the hydroelectric power scheme pre-application form. For more details about the costs and benefits of the enhanced pre-application service, see get advice before you apply for a water abstraction or impounding licence. In your form, include as much of the following information as you can you do not need to provide all this information if you do not have it
You need to show the Environment Agency that you have considered the local environment and other water users when designing your scheme. Do this by producing a report explaining
Consult local communities
You should talk to local people that might be affected by your scheme before you apply.
This can help you
There are no specific requirements or standards for this consultation. Consider talking to
Apply for licences, approvals, permits and consents
If you ask for enhanced pre-application advice, the Environment Agency will tell you which licences, approvals, permits and consents you need for the scheme you plan to build. You should apply for these at the same time as applying for planning permission. Many of the documents you complete for your applications to the Environment Agency may also be needed when you apply for planning permission. Apply for an abstraction or impounding licence
Most hydropower schemes will need a water resources abstraction licence or impounding licence. To apply for a licence, complete hydroelectric power schemes application form WR317 about you. Youll also need to the complete the following water resources licence application forms
Include these with your application
The Environment Agency might ask you to provide more information after you apply. For example, if something has changed
Apply for fish pass approval
The Environment Agency must approve the design and size of any fish passes you propose to use, including eel passes. See the guidance on fish pass approval for how to apply. Charges
When you apply for a new abstraction or impounding licence, or want to vary your existing abstraction or impounding licence, you must pay an application charge. Use the guidance on the charges for water resources licences to work out your application charge. You may have to pay additional charges during determination if the Environment Agency need to carry out extra work. For example, completing conservation assessments or advertising the application. The Environment Agency must publish notices of some applications in the local newspaper and on GOV.UK. See the current notices of water resources licence applications. After you apply
The Environment Agency will check your application forms and supporting documents. If you do not fill them in correctly, they may
The Environment Agency will usually make a decision on your application within 4 months. If your application is complex, it needs to be advertised or there is a queue of applications, it may take longer.
If this applies to you, the Environment Agency will tell you and may ask you to agree an extension of time for their decision. If you are granted a licence, you will receive it as a PDF by email. You can also manage your licences online. Successful applications
The Environment Agency will give you conditions within which you must build and operate your scheme. The Environment Agency will tell you
The Environment Agency might visit your site during construction and before and after your scheme starts operating. You must comply with your water abstraction or impoundment licence conditions. Precautions for fish passage
The Environment Agency may ask you to design your scheme so that additional water flow will be available for a fish pass even if you do not need to include a fish pass when you build your scheme. This is because the Environment Agency might in future need to improve fish passage in the river as part of wider environmental programmes. Record keeping
You must keep a record of evidence that proves you are operating your scheme according to the conditions in your licence. The type of records you must keep will be specified in the licence. The Environment Agency can ask you for these details at any time. You must submit these details in an annual report to the Environment Agency. Your reporting requirements will be written in your licence. You must show
Check for environmental impacts
The Environment Agency might ask you to do environmental monitoring to measure how your scheme changes the local environment when its in operation. These requirements will be included in your abstraction or impounding licence. You may need to stop operating your scheme if you fail these inspections. The Environment Agency might ask you to
If you are refused a licence
The Environment Agency will write to you if they refuse to give you a licence for your scheme.