Power struggle fails to generate funds for eco-energy schemes

Sheffield Renewables had entered the large scheme section of the Energyshare contest, while the Friends of Millhouses Park were in the small scheme category.

Voting ended on Saturday and the results, though close, meant that Sheffield Renewables’ scheme for Jordan Dam lost out to Hexham River Hydro.

The Friends of Millhouses Park, meanwhile, finished behind category winners North Devon Hospice.

Planning permission has already been granted for the Jordan Dam scheme, which would use a modern Archimedes screw to generate hydropower on the River Don, and it is hoped that funding will still be secured.

The project, which would cost around half a million pounds, could generate up to 310,000 kilowatt hours of energy each year – the same amount as would typically be used by 80 average-sized family homes.

Project officer Cariad Thomas Cooke said: “We are determined that, one way or another, this project is definitely going to go ahead.”

So far, more than £65,000 for the Jordan Dam project has been raised through Sheffield Renewables’ “community shares” scheme, which gives environmentally-minded individuals and organisations the chance to buy into the project.

It is anticipated that a total £250,000 will be raised through the community share scheme, which is set to be relaunched next year.