British Waterways has unveiled plans to set up 50 wind turbines next to canals across the country.
Electricity generated by the scheme could power up to 45,000 homes in the UK within the next five years.
Proceeds from the scheme will be used to pay for the canals upkeep, the BBC reports.
Partnerships for Renewables praised British Waterways for its decision, saying it was a "torchbearer".
British Waterways chief executive Robin Evans said that the group was "proactively looking at how we can use this resource to make a contribution towards the fight against climate change".
He added: "If we successfully develop this resource it would mean that the nation's canal network would generate more than ten times more electricity than it consumes."
Friends of the Earth also commented on the plans, saying that they were doing good by "reducing our dependency on fossil fuels".
As well as the wind turbines, there will also be small-scale hydro-electric schemes created.
