Torrs Hydro in action - (31/08)

As we approach the handover of Torrs Hydro New Mills from project into production, all the hard work is just about completed, commissioning has been successful to date and the Archimedes screw has connectivity to the New Mills Co-op and the National Grid.

The picture below shows the screw running at approximately 30% of capacity - this is governed automatically by the river level with the sluice gate being adjusted to ensure that an agreed level of water goes over the weir - the more water (not unusual for New Mills) the more electricity is produced.




Also a quick glimpse inside the control room of Torrs Hydro - its hardly Star Trek, but the control systems ensure the correct amount of water is flowing at all times and will automatically shut down the screw and sluice gate if a problem should ever arise.

Shareholders update - (29/08)

All Torrs Hydro New Mills shareholders will be receiving their share certificates (and very smart they look too!) and also their first newsletter over the next few days - those living in New Mills will even have them hand delivered !

Project update - (28/08)

The picture above shows the recent installation of the screen which will stop large debris - branches mainly - getting through the intake to the screw.

A quick reminder to those that haven't had chance to sign the e-petition mentioned a couple of weeks ago that there is still plenty of time to do so - so far nearly 100 have been kind enough to do so - remember that the more we lobby for this change the more profitable this and other similar schemes will become and the more funds that will be available to local projects.

To sign the petition please click on the link below -

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Torrs-Hydro/

Full flow - (26/08)

Picture taken last week with the river in full flow showing completed stone walling and intake and tail race without any coffer dams.

Project update - (25/08)

Engine house completed

Well the blog Editor is now back from a well earned break (!) from cloudy and rainy New Mills after a few weeks of sunshine in the South of France and what a hectic time it has been.

More details in the next few posts but for the time being a couple of pictures and some brief highlights :

8 August engine house completed and intake work continues

15 August coffer dams removed, fish pass operational and site being cleared in readiness for grass seed to be sown.

21 August as part of the commissioning we produced our first couple of units of 'real' electricity.

26 August site continues to be cleared as the project nears completion.

Intake being covered

Petition to the Prime Minister - (08/08)

Not only are we installing a Hydro Electric scheme in New Mills we are also trying to assist other schemes around the country and companies who work in the sector (WPE, WRE for example) by lobbying Parliament for a change in current legislation around renewable energy.

We have set up an e-petition and kindly invite everyone to sign the petition to raise awareness on the current financial inbalance for renewable energy schemes that produce more than 50KWh.

To sign the petition please click on the link below - the wording of the petition is set out in full below the link :

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Torrs-Hydro/

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to please urgently review the current legislation of the Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) which will undoubtedly restrict the growth of medium sized hydro electricity projects in the UK.

Under the current legislation for ROCs, micro generators of renewable energy of less than 50kw would be eligible for double ROC payments.

The site we are developing in New Mills, Derbyshire is capable of generating 63-70kw of power.

If the benefit of the double ROCs is restricted to generating less than 50kw, it makes commercial sense for us to install a smaller scheme or to restrict our plant to 50kw generating less renewable energy in the fight against climate change and the move to a future using renewable energy.

We would appreciate it if you could consider that small generators of renewable energy will be eligible to claim double ROCs on a proportion of the renewable energy they generate (i.e. double ROCs on the first 50kW) and single ROCs on the remainder.

Your support would help the success of our scheme in New Mills (the first community run scheme in the UK) and assist in other like minded schemes throughout the UK.

For further background info on ROCs please view the governments OFGEM web site.

Thank you

Torrs Hydro New Mills Ltd

Water Power Enterprise - (07/08)

Water Power Enterprises with the Torrs Hydro Directors - all in good spirits on the day of the Big Lift

In the last of our series of 'whose who' we look at Water Power Enterprises.

The Torrs Hydro New Mills project was started back in 2006 by Water Power Enterprises, a social enterprise whose mission was to set up small-scale hydro plants and reducing carbon emissions.

Ask Steve and Helen from WPE what they are about and they'll enthusiastically tell you that they are a social enterprise - a community interest company.

We’re proud to be tackling climate change with them and engaging with and supporting our local communities.


WPE are social developers - not private developers - and they are proud of it.

Project update - (06/08)

Great picture showing the new arch in all its glory and the engine house complete with slated roof - with commisioning only a couple of weeks away the site continues to be a hive of activity.