An Assessment of Hydropower Potential in Cheshire West and Chester. Conducted by Mann Power in 2010. (We've had to reduce the file size, and hence the quality, in order to upload the document). Here.
Low Carbon and Renewable Energy Study for Cheshire West and Chester. Conducted by Verco in 2012. It looks at existing heat and energy usage, including domestic heating and oil refineries. Here.
Low Carbon and Renewable Energy Study for Cheshire West and Chester. Conducted by Verco in 2012. It looks at existing heat and energy usage, including domestic heating and oil refineries. Here.
CLASP provides support and training on carbon reduction, renewable energy and environmental resilience. This is freely available to local authorities, their communities, and the wider public sector across the whole of the UK. CLASP is part of Climate Support CIC. Due to funding issues, there's no live support, but the resource library is available. See http://www.claspinfo.org/
Non-Industrial DIY Waterwheel in East Cheshire
In 1991 Pedley Wood Conservation Trust installed a waterwheel in their stream, hooked up to an alternator via a tractor gearbox (run backwards, provides a great gearing up) to provide domestic electricity. Paul Bromley, the mastermind, took the technology to Sri Lanka and Africa, as it relied on readily accessible components. It was also the inspiration for a wheel in Stornoway. These photos below were taken in 2002, Paul's probably deservedly retired now.
More Waterwheel InformationREUK have more information about waterwheels available in the following articles:
Calculation of Hydro Power
Introduction to Waterwheels
Electricity from Waterwheels
In 1991 Pedley Wood Conservation Trust installed a waterwheel in their stream, hooked up to an alternator via a tractor gearbox (run backwards, provides a great gearing up) to provide domestic electricity. Paul Bromley, the mastermind, took the technology to Sri Lanka and Africa, as it relied on readily accessible components. It was also the inspiration for a wheel in Stornoway. These photos below were taken in 2002, Paul's probably deservedly retired now.
More Waterwheel InformationREUK have more information about waterwheels available in the following articles:
Calculation of Hydro Power
Introduction to Waterwheels
Electricity from Waterwheels
Hydro power comes to Stockport!
Two hydro power schemes have been given the go-ahead in Stockport. Otterspool Weir and Stringer Weir are archimedian screw setups which together will generate over 500MWh/yr.
Social enterprise Water Power Enterprises (H2oPE) is developing the two sites for construction in 2010. This follows on from a feasibility study produced by Stockport Council last year.
Both schemes will be owned by the community with surplus profits funding further environmental schemes in Stockport.
These schemes, totalling 130kW, will generate over 500,000 units of electricity per year, saving 215 tonnes of CO2, and will return over £1 million back to Stockport over their lifetime. They'll be co-operatively owned by Stockport Hydro Ltd.
The schemes are to be funded by a mixture of grants, a share offer and bank loan.
H2oPE is funded by the Co-operative Group, Joseph Rowntrees Charitable Trust and Key Fund Yorkshire. Otterspool Weir received a £100k grant from the NWDA Carbon Challenge Fund.
For more information, contact Steve Welsh (steve.welsh[at]h2ope.co.uk)
See http://www.stockport.gov.uk/services/environment/sustainability/renewableenergy for a 2005 Hydro-Electricity Feasibility Study for Stockport.
Energy from the MerseyA feasibility study has narrowed down the choices for renewable energy from the Mersey:
# Tidal Barrage, with conventional low-head turbines
# Tidal Power Gate, a grid of specially designed low-head turbines
# Tidal Fence, capturing energy from the natural or constrained tide, using horizontal or vertical axis turbines designed for use in open streams
# Tidal Fence variant, using turbines set in venturi tubes to concentrate the flow.
(This list may be revised as further information comes in)
The next stage in the study will identify suitable sites.
More information on the faesibility study by Scott Wilson, Drivers Jonas and EDF for Peel Energy and NWDA.
Where's the Hydropower?
The Environment Agency has a report on the potential for small hydropower in England and Wales. They've identified over 25,000 sites where existing structures have potential for conversion. Together they could generate 1% of the UK's electricity, but only around 4,000 sites are suitable for use with environmental measures to protect wildlife, eg fish passes for migratory fish, as well as having access to the electricity network.
Micro Hydro seminar, Middlewich, 7th October 2010
A report/notes
Torrs Hydro in New Mills
Another Archimedes Screw turbine. See Notes from C+W LCCN meeting, 13/7/11
Free PV panels on your roof?
Here's some hints on what to ask the installing company. There's more information on the CAT website
Community Renewables Finance School
This ran Wed 24th November/1st December/8th December 2010, Manchester
Do you dream of installing a small scale hydro project or wind turbine where you live, but don't know where to start? Is your community building crying out for a biomass boiler or a set of solar panels? Have you heard about feed in tariffs, heat incentives and paybacks and wondered whether your voluntary organisation could benefit?.
Last winter, Carbon Co-op and Carbon Leapfrog ran a series of masterclass sessions, practical, how-to guides for people
interested in low carbon projects that would transform their communities and their environment. Each session featured advice from a panel of professional experts from around the North West and the City of London. The emphasis of the programme was on sharing knowledge and experience and on practical solutions.
1. Inspiring Communities - engagement and planning
10.30-4pm, Wednesday 24th November 2010
Featuring a series of case studies, identifying key pitfalls and looking at monitoring. Featuring: getting going, communications, footprinting and engagement, renewables assessments, finance planning for communities and legal structures.
2. Finance and legal issues
10.30-4pm, Wednesday 1st December 2010
Governance issues, tax advice, options for investment, benefiting from incentives such as Feed In Tariffs and Renewable Heat Incentives, the co-operative way, community finance options and project planning for finance.
3. Installation and maintenance
10.30-4pm, Wednesday 8th December 2010
Practical advice on low carbon technologies. Running and sustaining a project long term. Featuring a series of case studies/pitfalls/monitoring
Followed by Fuelling Manchester - a social event for renewables projects in Manchester
More information on the events and the latest experts: www.carbon.coop/blog
Part of NESTA's Community Diffusion programme.
Carbon Co-op: http://www.carbon.coop
Carbon Leapfrog: http://carbonleapfrog.org
Two hydro power schemes have been given the go-ahead in Stockport. Otterspool Weir and Stringer Weir are archimedian screw setups which together will generate over 500MWh/yr.
Social enterprise Water Power Enterprises (H2oPE) is developing the two sites for construction in 2010. This follows on from a feasibility study produced by Stockport Council last year.
Both schemes will be owned by the community with surplus profits funding further environmental schemes in Stockport.
These schemes, totalling 130kW, will generate over 500,000 units of electricity per year, saving 215 tonnes of CO2, and will return over £1 million back to Stockport over their lifetime. They'll be co-operatively owned by Stockport Hydro Ltd.
The schemes are to be funded by a mixture of grants, a share offer and bank loan.
H2oPE is funded by the Co-operative Group, Joseph Rowntrees Charitable Trust and Key Fund Yorkshire. Otterspool Weir received a £100k grant from the NWDA Carbon Challenge Fund.
For more information, contact Steve Welsh (steve.welsh[at]h2ope.co.uk)
See http://www.stockport.gov.uk/services/environment/sustainability/renewableenergy for a 2005 Hydro-Electricity Feasibility Study for Stockport.
Energy from the MerseyA feasibility study has narrowed down the choices for renewable energy from the Mersey:
# Tidal Barrage, with conventional low-head turbines
# Tidal Power Gate, a grid of specially designed low-head turbines
# Tidal Fence, capturing energy from the natural or constrained tide, using horizontal or vertical axis turbines designed for use in open streams
# Tidal Fence variant, using turbines set in venturi tubes to concentrate the flow.
(This list may be revised as further information comes in)
The next stage in the study will identify suitable sites.
More information on the faesibility study by Scott Wilson, Drivers Jonas and EDF for Peel Energy and NWDA.
Where's the Hydropower?
The Environment Agency has a report on the potential for small hydropower in England and Wales. They've identified over 25,000 sites where existing structures have potential for conversion. Together they could generate 1% of the UK's electricity, but only around 4,000 sites are suitable for use with environmental measures to protect wildlife, eg fish passes for migratory fish, as well as having access to the electricity network.
Micro Hydro seminar, Middlewich, 7th October 2010
A report/notes
Torrs Hydro in New Mills
Another Archimedes Screw turbine. See Notes from C+W LCCN meeting, 13/7/11
Free PV panels on your roof?
Here's some hints on what to ask the installing company. There's more information on the CAT website
Community Renewables Finance School
This ran Wed 24th November/1st December/8th December 2010, Manchester
Do you dream of installing a small scale hydro project or wind turbine where you live, but don't know where to start? Is your community building crying out for a biomass boiler or a set of solar panels? Have you heard about feed in tariffs, heat incentives and paybacks and wondered whether your voluntary organisation could benefit?.
Last winter, Carbon Co-op and Carbon Leapfrog ran a series of masterclass sessions, practical, how-to guides for people
interested in low carbon projects that would transform their communities and their environment. Each session featured advice from a panel of professional experts from around the North West and the City of London. The emphasis of the programme was on sharing knowledge and experience and on practical solutions.
1. Inspiring Communities - engagement and planning
10.30-4pm, Wednesday 24th November 2010
Featuring a series of case studies, identifying key pitfalls and looking at monitoring. Featuring: getting going, communications, footprinting and engagement, renewables assessments, finance planning for communities and legal structures.
2. Finance and legal issues
10.30-4pm, Wednesday 1st December 2010
Governance issues, tax advice, options for investment, benefiting from incentives such as Feed In Tariffs and Renewable Heat Incentives, the co-operative way, community finance options and project planning for finance.
3. Installation and maintenance
10.30-4pm, Wednesday 8th December 2010
Practical advice on low carbon technologies. Running and sustaining a project long term. Featuring a series of case studies/pitfalls/monitoring
Followed by Fuelling Manchester - a social event for renewables projects in Manchester
More information on the events and the latest experts: www.carbon.coop/blog
Part of NESTA's Community Diffusion programme.
Carbon Co-op: http://www.carbon.coop
Carbon Leapfrog: http://carbonleapfrog.org