Your Country Your Call.

[Spudulika]

Back in the day we went on a school tour to Turlough Hill (and Blessington) and I remember being stunned at the sheer size of the place, plus that only 2 people died in its construction (or so we were told). The one thought on all our minds that day was - what if you were swimming in the lake and got sucked into the turbines - naturally somebody asked just that question. It seemed such an excellent way of generating energy that I've been surprised ever since that a second hasn't been built.

One system that I know works on the continent, and that they were going to follow up in Tallaght, is tapping into underground rivers for (mainly) heating. A couple of towns in Germany use this method by drilling down to hit a rivers where the water is at boiling point and can be used to heat the surrounding area.

Not a plug, just an example of what is available.
http://www.renewableheating.com/geot...pump_works.htm