River power a dam good idea

Torrs Hydro plant is owned by the community in New Mills

The floodgates are yet to open on the UK's renewable energy plans. But a small scale hydroelectric scheme near Stockport has shown what can be done on a local level.

The Torrs Hydro scheme in New Mills sits just above a weir on the River Goyt and has been producing green power for over a year.

As the UK's first community-owned hydroelectric plant, it harnesses the power of the river to turn a 'screw' which is connected to a turbine.

The electricity it generates now supplies up to 60% of the energy needed by the village Co-op store to power its lights, refrigerators and tills.

Community

Since switch-on in September 2008, Torrs Hydro New Mills Ltd. has produced 163,000kWh of renewable energy - the equivalent of 350 tonnes of CO2 or nearly 70 tonnes of coal.

Director and shareholder Richard Body said that, in the first 12 months, it had already proved its worth.

We just borrow the water for a little bit, it goes down our screw, and we're generating electricity. Richard Body, Torrs Hydro director

"Before this was here, this energy was being wasted going off down the river," he said. "Now, we just borrow the water for a little bit, it goes down our screw, and we're generating electricity."

But what's unique about the Torrs Hydro scheme is that it's wholly-owned by the community. Mr Body said local people stepped in to support the project after the town council refused to back it.

And although it's cost the shareholders £300,000 to get the plant up and running, it's now bringing in £24,000 a year.

It's even wildlife-friendly: the water falls in pockets as it flows through the 'screw' which means that fish are released unhurt at the bottom.

Now other parts of Greater Manchester which also enjoy a steady flow of rain off the hills are considering similar hydroelectric schemes of their own.

Green power

HYDROELECTRIC POWER is the most common form of renewable energy includes dams, tidal and wave power is pollution-free and safe can cause major disruption the environment in construction supplies about 20% of world electricity UK restricted due to lack of suitable sites

Hydroelectric power is the most widely used form of renewable energy around the world.

The UK has signed up to the EU Renewable Energy Directive, which includes a UK target of 15% of energy from renewables by 2020.

But there's still a long way to go.

In 2008, just 2% of our energy came from renewable energy sources such as wind, wave, solar and hydroelectric power.

By comparison, Norway, for instance, generates up to 99% of its power from hydroelectric sources.

China is the biggest producer of hydroelectric power with dozens of schemes including the mighty Three Gorges Dam, the biggest hydro scheme in the world.

But as New Mills has shown, you don't have to be big to make it work.