Small scale hydroelectric

[Andy Barnes]

I know this is not strictly mining related. However.......

The other day I attended a sustainable energy fair in my home town. One of the most appealing and seamingly efficient sustainable energy example on show was community scale hydroelectric. However, the person on the stall explained that one of the biggest barriers to setting up a system was the cost of implementing a Environmental and Social Impact Assessment. The ESIA example here cost the community nearly £20,000 when the cost of setting up the system was between £5,000 and £10,000. Seems rediculous .

I think for governments to make implementation of these sorts of systems more finacially viable by somehow targeting sites and undertaking ESIA in bulk or by sharing ESIA costs with the communities involved would really see these things take off.

I would be very intrested in hearing any thoughts or UK or non-UK examples of these sorts of projects and any government led initiatives to setting them up?

Also, to relate this back to mine-water, has any one heard of these systems being installed on mine discharges and their effectivness, resistance to fouling up, use for supplying power to treatment systems etc

Andy

[Chris Wolkersdorfer]

I don't know of such a system on a current mine site - but I know that e.g. in Germany or in Canada or in Slovenia you need to go through a long process of permitting before you can install such a system. I agree with you it seems ridiculous and I don't understand why this is necessary - but you and I we might miss some information from the authorities why those systems are that much restricted by regulations.

Chris