Micro hydro scheme shares on sale

A community-based micro-hydro power scheme in rural Derbyshire is aiming to spark a revival in small-scale projects across the country.

A share offer for the prototype 70-kilowatt plant in New Mills is being launched on Friday in the High Peak town of High Mills.

Environmentalists hope the concept will eventually spread across neighbouring Lancashire and Yorkshire.

The plant will produce enough energy to power 70 homes.

Torrs Hydro New Mills spokesman Richard Body said similar initiatives are planned for Sheffield, Stockport, Halifax and Kirklees.

There is a huge potential for renewable energy in the UK which is going to waste Nick Rau, Friends of the Earth

The scheme aims to eventually supply power to 18,000 homes.

The hydro project will be run by Water Power Enterprises (h2oPE), who will manage the project and hope to raise £126,000 from the share offer.

Shares cost £1 each, with a minimum shareholding of 250 shares.

It will use a modern version of the Archimedes Screw which harnesses water power using a water wheel installed on a weir.

The weight of the river's water turns the screw which in turn generates electricity.

"The profit from the sale of the electricity is going to go back into regeneration projects in the community," Friends of the Earth climate campaigner Nick Rau said.

"This project is just the tip of the iceberg.

"There is a huge potential for renewable energy in the UK which is going to waste."