Hydro & Marine News

Friday 12 February 2010

Saddleworth Community Hydro hopes to place a 50kW turbine on the north side of Dove Stone Reservoir

Water company United Utilities has given a residents' group permission to place a 50kW turbine on the north side of Dove Stone Reservoir in Saddleworth, Oldham, to generate hydro-electricity.

The community-led scheme, which is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK, is being led by residents' group Saddleworth Community Hydro, which has been working on the proposal for two years.

The group now plans to set up a social enterprise company which will raise funds from private investors and public bodies to get the scheme off the ground. If successful, the company will be owned and run by the community, with all profits ploughed back into local neighbourhoods.

According to United Utilities, the move could power up to 100 homes all year round and raise tens of thousands of pounds for local community projects though sale of the electricity.

Chris Matthews, head of sustainability for United Utilities, said: "This is a really imaginative proposal and a first for the region. Tapping into the water flow at Dove Stone could generate green energy that will power homes for years to come.

"We've been extremely impressed by the professionalism of the local residents, who came to us with a well researched and thought out plan. We're now looking forward to helping them make the scheme a reality."

Bill Edwards, chair of Saddleworth Community Hydro, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to get the green light from United Utilities. As well as generating clean energy, this project will fund other sustainable energy schemes in the area.

"There is still a long way to go, but we are all now feeling very optimistic that we can make this happen."

Potential

Water Power Enterprises, a social enterprise company based in Yorkshire, has been working with the Saddleworth residents on the scheme.

Steve Welsh, managing director of Water Power Enterprises, said: "Hydro-electricity accounts for half of the country's sustainable energy, but there is still massive untapped potential out there.

"This is the first time a UK water company has teamed up with a local community to harness a reservoir for energy production."

He added that Dove Stone is an ideal venue, providing a regular and controlled flow of water to drive the turbine.

It is hoped that the project will be up and running by the end of 2011.