Hydro electricity is produced from fast running streams or rivers. It is a mature technology, used for thousands of years. These days smaller water turbines are used, as opposed to the water wheels of the past.
'Make every building a power station.' That was the demand issued by a group of environmental and economics experts a fortnight ago when they came out with their Green New Deal.
It doesn't mean installing a steam turbine in your living room; microgeneration, or making your own energy, for decades the realm of long-haired families with glazed expressions, is stepping out of the fringes.
A few of the Ourpower team got to test drive a new electric car earlier this week in London. The NICE Car Company very kindly picked us up at Kings Cross station and we drove around North London a bit before heading back down to Euston where we then caught our train up north...
We were very impressed - 50 mph top speed with a range of around 50 miles. 2p/mile to charge - 1.5 hours to charge 25% - 8 hours full charge. Clean, quite and efficient - what more do you want?
I can see electric cars taking off in a very big way - we think we'll wait will December when they are launching a 5 seater family electric car with longer range and a higher top speed.
Today is E-Day, E-Daywhen we should all be turning off as many electricity-hungry appliances as possible. Its a great idea - lets see what a difference it would make if we all tried for a day.