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Enterprise looks to rivers for electricity
A WATER-powered energy scheme that uses 2,000-year-old technology could soon bring heat and light to towns across Yorkshire.
Water Power Enterprises hopes to establish a string of small hydroelectric power stations, as global warming forces us to find more environmentally-friendly energy resources.
The social enterprise, which is based in Todmorden in West Yorkshire, believes that almost every river could have a hydroelectricity plant.
Water Power Enterprises has been the driving force behind one of Britain's first community-owned hydroelectric schemes – Torrs Hydro New Mills in Derbyshire –which is expected to become operational this autumn.
Steve Welsh, the managing director of Water Power Enterprises, approached the New Mills community with the idea for a small-hydroelectric plant. Mr Welsh is managing the project on behalf of a community company that will own the scheme and benefit from electricity sales.
It will provide enough power for about 140 homes and is expected to have a lifespan of around 40 years.
Helen Walker, the operations director of Water Power Enterprises, said that disused weirs, dating from the 18th and 19th centuries, could be adapted to create hydroelectric stations.
The company plans to introduce a hydroelectric scheme in Settle, North Yorkshire, that could generate 180,000KwH of electricity a year, which is enough power to provide heat and light for 50 houses. If it secures planning permission, the Settle scheme could start by the end of the year. It's estimated lifespan would be 40 years, and Water Power Enterprises predicts it will save 80 tonnes of carbon a year.
Ms Walker said: "Water Power Enterprises plans to re-use river weirs for their original intention, namely the generation of power. However, this time round, we'll use them to develop electrical energy instead of mechanical energy.
"By doing so, we will be tapping into a vastly underused resource that will be of benefit to local communities."
To make this happen, Water Power Enterprises is using an engineering device – the Archimedean screw – that dates from the time of Christ. But it's the Archimedean screw with a twist. Instead of being used to push water uphill, by turning the screw around, the water from the weir will run down the screw, turning it and generating electricity. The screw can be installed next to river weirs. The electricity generated can then be sold through the National G rid.
Mr Walker added: "By using 2,000 year old technology on 200-year-old river weirs, we aim to save approx 6,500 tonnes of carbon emissions per year by installing around 5MW of renewable energy by 2015. This is the equivalent of saving 18 million car miles per year and supplying upwards of 10,000 homes.
"Throughout Yorkshire, we have got a number of schemes in the pipeline. The one that's most progressed is a small scheme in Settle. We are hoping to have that operational by the end of the year. The largest of our schemes would provide power for the equivalent of 400 average houses, so you're not really talking about a whole town's electricity supply.
"All we are doing is putting the industrial heritage of the north back into use. The Settle scheme is at a fairly early stage – we had a public meeting about it at the beginning of March and attracted about 250 people who were interested in what was going on.
"Most people supported the scheme, although there was representation from other river users, who were very concerned about what we might be doing with the water. We try to reassure people that we are an environmental company, so we do take into account every other use of the water. We have got a lot of regulatory processes to go through involving the Environment Agency and the planning authority."
Water Power Enterprises is supported by the European Regional Development Fund, Friends of the Earth, and Future Energy Yorkshire, a public sector-funded body that encourages the use of renewable energy.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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