The aim of the Kent Watermills Hydropower project is to facilitate the installation of micro-hydropower in Kent. Although small-scale hydropower is a proven and mature technology, installation typically remains a fairly complex process with several stages from initial site feasibility to final installation.

The aim of the project is to identify owners of sites suitable for installation, and to provide these owners with the continuing information and support necessary to complete an installation.

The project has identified over 120 potential sites in Kent, many of which are historic watermills. Some of these sites will not have sufficient water flow or fall to make installation feasible. In partnership with the Environment Agency the project team has therefore been investigating the flows of Kent rivers, then conduct a rolling programme of free pre-feasibilities on 'good' rivers, to give site owners an idea of the suitability of their sites for further investigation.

The first of these rolling sets of pre-feasibilities (funded by GOSE) was held in partnership with Hydro Generation Ltd at the end of February 2004 for siteowners on the Great Stour and Len: 14 sites were visited, of which at least 10 are likely to provide good sites for installation with typical energy generation capacities of 15kW, and paybacks between 7 and 10 years.

We are now working to continue the process with owners of sites on the Dour and on the Medway. We are also working to assist our existing sites to go to the next stage towards installation by providing assistance with funding and advice.