Rethinking the Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy

Alexander Clarke is a Teaching Fellow in Renewable Energy in the Natural Sciences Department at the University of Bath, UK and an Associate Lecturer at the Open University.

• 1. Introduction 2. Literature Survey 3. Theory 4. Questions raised by the theory 5. Setting up the test 6. Initial results and first conclusions 7. Extension of the hypothesis to other water based renewable sources 8. Extension of the hypothesis to low power flux density sources 9. Conclusions

"In terms of possible responses to the impacts Clarke’s book describes, it allows us to go beyond simple practical rules of thumb, like that evidently used sometimes by run-of-the-river hydro project designers who say you should not take out more than 10% of the energy in the flow...It is helpful to have a rigorous basis for counter-assertions and a guide for making low impact choices. There are impacts, but mostly they are small and, with the help of studies like this, most can hopefully be dealt with. Recommended." - Dave Elliott, ENVIRONMENTALRESEARCHWEB