UK hydropower: Renewables obligation breathes new life into historic hydro plants. Energy World September 2004 P. 16-17

The bedrock of the UK’s existing renewable energy generation is hydropower, generating over 40% of the country’s renewable electricity. Much of the existing conventional hydro generating capacity (about 1,500 MW) is in Scotland but there is the potential to double or even triple capacity, through the refurbishment of existing mill sites, using existing structures such as weirs or utilising water utility infrastructure. The Renewables Obligation provides an incentive to the development of these sites and has spurred refurbishment of small hydropower plants - including two plants in Devon owned and operated by South West Water.