Environmental controls on hydro-electric schemes in Scotland

Scotland's water resources have been used to generate hydro-electricity since the end of the 19th century. During that time the environmental impacts of hydroelectric schemes have not altered, but our perceptions of them have and so have the regulatory mechanisms put in place to control such developments. The purpose of this article is to look briefly at the development of these controls and to consider the current regime for the approval of hydro-electricity projects.