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Premium Hydropower Design & Engineering

Water in
Perfect
Motion

Aqua Atelier designs and engineers premium hydropower systems — from intimate run-of-river micro-schemes to landmark reservoir installations that define landscapes.

35+ Hydro Schemes
0Schemes Commissioned
0MWInstalled Capacity
0Years of Expertise
0%Renewable Baseload
Our Craft

Water Shaped
with Precision

Hydrology Mastery

Every scheme begins with a thorough hydrological assessment — flow duration curves, flood frequency analysis, and seasonal yield modelling that informs every engineering decision.

Turbine Selection

We curate Kaplan, Pelton, and Francis turbines from leading manufacturers, specifying the optimal type and size for each scheme's unique head and flow characteristics.

Landscape Harmony

Our hydropower schemes are designed to enhance their riparian setting — from heritage-inspired intake structures to powerhouses that read as natural extensions of their geography.

Selected Work

Landmark
Hydropower

Run-of-River
Glen Affric Scheme
4.8MW Pelton — Scottish Highlands
Reservoir
Loch Rannoch Power
22MW Kaplan — Perthshire
Micro Hydro
Chamonix Estate Scheme
180kW Francis — French Alps
Industrial
Furnas Power Complex
120MW Multiple Kaplan — Portugal
The Atelier

Engineering
as Fine Craft

Aqua Atelier was founded on the conviction that hydropower engineering is both a science and an art. Our team combines civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering expertise with a deep respect for the watercourses and landscapes we work within.

Every project is personally managed by a principal engineer from feasibility through commissioning — ensuring that the vision established at conception is faithfully realised in every detail of construction.

Capacity Factor
58% avg
Plant Life
50–80 years
Availability
98.5%
How We Work

From Catchment
to Current

01
Hydrological Assessment

Flow gauging, catchment analysis, and 3D modelling establish the available water resource and optimal generation profile for your site.

02
Concept Design

Civil, mechanical, and electrical concept design explores intake, penstock, powerhouse, and tailrace options — optimising yield, cost, and environmental impact.

03
Environmental Consenting

We prepare environmental impact assessments and manage regulatory consenting, including fish pass design and abstraction licensing.

04
Procurement & Construction

Turbine and generator procurement, civil works supervision, and commissioning management — delivered to programme and budget.

05
Operations & Optimisation

SCADA-monitored operations with real-time generation reporting, fish pass monitoring, and scheduled maintenance programmes.

Our Story

Two Decades of
Flowing Power

2006

Aqua Atelier Founded

Three civil engineers establish the atelier in Inverness, commissioning their first 1.2MW run-of-river scheme on the River Findhorn.

2010

First International Project

A 6MW Alpine scheme in Haute-Savoie marks Aqua's first international commission, establishing a pattern of European excellence.

2015

100MW Milestone

The completion of Loch Rannoch Power pushes total commissioned capacity beyond 100MW — a landmark in the studio's history.

2020

Micro Hydro Division

Aqua launches a dedicated micro hydro service for estates, farms, and private landowners — making premium hydropower accessible at any scale.

2025

35 Schemes Worldwide

A global portfolio of 35 completed hydropower schemes delivering 480MW of clean, renewable baseload electricity from flowing water.

Recognition

Critical
Acclaim

"Aqua Atelier's approach to hydropower engineering is genuinely distinguished. Their Glen Affric scheme is at once technically excellent and architecturally sympathetic — a rare combination."

International Journal of Hydropower & Dams, 2024

"In an era of cookie-cutter renewable energy projects, Aqua Atelier's bespoke approach to each catchment and community stands out. They treat hydropower as a craft, and the results show."

The Engineer — Renewable Energy Special, 2023

"For institutional investors seeking long-lived, low-risk renewable infrastructure, Aqua's portfolio of hydropower assets offers exactly the predictable baseload generation that solar and wind cannot."

Infrastructure Journal — Clean Energy, 2024
Commission

Begin Your
Hydropower Study

Whether you own a Highland estate with a tumbling stream, or are developing a large-scale hydropower project, our engineers will provide an honest, expert assessment of your water resource.

Atelier
44 Church Street, Inverness, IV1 1EH
Email
studio@aquaatelier.co.uk
Response
Within 2 business days