Why are we ignoring hydropower energy?

THE new PM, Liz Truss, intends to rack up Britain’s national debt to keep consumer energy costs low. It seems that her long term ‘energy plan’ is ‘fracking’ for natural gas and vague hopes of more nuclear power by 2030. How much will be Britain’s debt by then?

I have asked many times why we don’t invest more in water power. There are many successful hydropower plants around the world, including a few in Britain. The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, oversaw the installation of a hydropower system for Windsor Castle, using an Archimedian screw as the turbine. It produces sufficient electricity for 500 homes.

Hydroelectric systems create no pollution except during construction. The energy that drives such systems is the force of gravity, which is free. So why have successive governments ignored hydropower?

Surely the decision-makers in Westminster and Whitehall are not being influenced by those with vested interests in gas, oil and nuclear power who want to keep Britain shackled to expensive and polluting energy sources?

Ian Anderson South Gloucestershire