Presidential Address Sixty Years of Hydro-Electric Development in Great Britain

THE title of my address is “Sixty Years of Hydro-Electric Development in Great Britain.” One of the outstanding changes in the post-war era has been the growth of hydro-electric development in all parts of the world. The interruption to shipping during the second World War was a direct incentive to most countries to make themselves, as far as possible, independent of overseas deliveries of coal or fuel oil;
thus attention was turned to utilizing their natural water power resources. While spectacular developments have taken place in Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, practically all the European countries, Asia and Africa, the growth of
hydro-electric power in the United Kingdom must not be overlooked or minimised. As a result of the efforts made by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board since its inception in 1943, well over 500,000 kW of hydro-electric plant have been installed up to date, with a further 300,000 kW at present under construction. Details of this achievement will be referred to later.

J. Guthrie Brown