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Renewable energy challenge as city 'falls behind'
COUNCIL leaders in Sheffield have been challenged to come up with more ideas for renewable energy in the city after opponents pointed out that neighbouring authorities were leading the way.
Environment spokesman for Sheffield Council Labour group Gill Furniss said the city should be looking to develop projects like a hydro-electric plant which is planned for the River Don in Rotherham.
According to Coun Furniss, when Labour was in control of the authority, 10 potential sites for hydro-electric generation were identified but she said the idea appeared to have been dropped by the ruling Lib Dems.
She added: "It's great that other authorities are taking a lead in pioneering renewable energy projects in South Yorkshire. But it's a shame that Sheffield is not doing anything similar. Surely if hydro-electric power can be generated from the River Don in Rotherham, then it can be done Sheffield too.
"This is why Labour will be urging Sheffield's Lib Dem Council to look into hydro-electricity as a possible option for renewable energy and job creation in Sheffield."
Environment spokesman for Sheffield Council Coun Shaffaq Mohammed, rebutted Coun Furniss' criticism, and said: "Lib Dems on the council took the decision to provide investment for hydro-power last year. We granted Sheffield Renewables group 29,300 to develop some small scale hydro-power at Kelham Island and Jordans Dam."
As revealed by the Yorkshire Post earlier this month, engineers at the Oxfordshire-based Small Hydro Company have submitted drawings to Rotherham Council which show a hydro-electric plant on the Don at Aldwarke, north of Rotherham town centre.
According to the proposals, the project would involve the construction of a concrete channel on land that connects two parts of the river which are at different levels.
A turbine with a diameter of 4.5m (15ft) would be inserted into the underground channel and would be driven by the flow of the river, generating green, renewable electricity. Figures supplied by the applicants show that the combined flow of water from the weir and from a nearby lock would generate 250 kilowatts of energy, or enough to power about 1,000 homes.
According to the company, the plant could generate 2.5 per cent of the hydro-energy target set out for Yorkshire and the Humber in Government guidance. The power generated could be fed to the National Grid.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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