Is river flow sufficient for a hydropower scheme to be viable? The challenge The Environment Agency estimates that in England and Wales hydropower schemes of all sizes could…
The Environment Agency estimates that in England and Wales hydropower schemes of all sizes could increase from 350 at present to 1200 by 2020, while an analysis of Scotland’s untapped hydropower potential suggests over 2,000 potential schemes in the 100-5… https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/energy/small-hydropower/

Could aquifers beneath your site support a large scale open-loop Ground Source Heat Pump? The challenge The government roadmap for achieving national targets of 15% renewable…
The government roadmap for achieving national targets of 15% renewable energy by 2020 implies that about 6% of this target will be from non-domestic ground source heat pump installations. This corresponds to a 30-fold increase in installed capacity of hea… https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/energy/ground-source-heat/

How can we maintain a healthy river ecosystem? The challenge Water temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) are both fundamentally important to the biological health of rivers, and…
Water temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) are both fundamentally important to the biological health of rivers, and therefore to the delivery of the Water Framework Directive objectives to enhance and maintain the quality of European waters. https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/energy/temperature-modelling/

Can water from old mine workings heat Glasgow? The challenge The extensive abandoned mine workings beneath the City of Glasgow contain large quantities of heat stored in…
The extensive abandoned mine workings beneath the City of Glasgow contain large quantities of heat stored in mine-water and rocks. The City of Glasgow and Scottish Power wish to establish whether the heat in these old mine workings can be used for residen… https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/energy/glasgow-mines/

Groundwater information to support shale gas development The challenge Exploitation of shale gas in the UK could have economic benefits, but before granting a permit the…
Exploitation of shale gas in the UK could have economic benefits, but before granting a permit the relevant regulatory authorities (e.g. the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales etc) needs to be satisfied that the activity will not cause pollution … https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/energy/shale-gas-development/

How can we tell if shale gas exploitation will increase methane in groundwater? The challenge Evidence from the USA has shown high methane concentrations in some aquifers where…
Evidence from the USA has shown high methane concentrations in some aquifers where shales are being commercially exploited for gas, raising the concern that hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is responsible. However, high-methane groundwater can also occur … https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/energy/shale-gas-methane/

Wastewater treatment at sewage works uses a lot of energy – in total, around 2% of all UK electricity demand. However, the latent energy stored in Northumbrian Water’s works is more than four times the amount required for treatment. https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/energy/hydrogen-fuels/

The water industry is the fourth most energy-intensive sector in the UK economy. Reducing the industry’s energy costs, which have risen 159% since 2004, and cutting its carbon emissions are high priorities, but ensuring a continuous supply of water remain… https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/energy/hydropower-2/