A good read - (04/05)

A book by the David MacKay, a physics professor at the University of Cambridge, setting out our climate change / energy needs options based on a clear scientific analysis.

The book has gained rave reviews (The Guardian, The Economist etc) and it can be accessed for free too; I have downloaded a copy and am very impressed.

David JC McKay Sustainable Energy - without the hot air

Turning the screw - (24/04)

After a lengthy dry period it looks like our wait for rain will soon be over and by by late Saturday/overnight Saturday night the rains shall fall and Archie shall resume service again.

A reminder also that Sunday sees our latest open day so if you'd like to see 'behind the scenes' or ask some questions then please join us on Sunday afternoon at 1:00pm

Phew what a scorcher ! - (20/04)

Its not often we get more than a few days without rain in April in the UK (and usually not more than a few hours in New Mills). But once again today brought beautiful sunshine to our wonderful part of Derbyshire and once again no rain.

The downside of the fine weather is that the rivers Sett and Goyt are extremely low and mean that to keep within the boundaries of our abstraction licence agreement with the Environment Agency Archie is having a coupe of days rest until the rains start which looking at the long range weather forecast is likely to be Saturday.

So enjoy the sunshine for the next few days as it wont last !

Open days - (8 April)

Torrs Hydro are now opening up the site regularly once a month on alternating Saturdays and Sundays to show you what happens inside the engine house.

Sunday 26 April is the next scheduled opening where you can take a look behind the scenes with one of the team and find out more about how 'Archie' works, what a fish pass is for and ask all those questions you've always wanted answering - we're not promising we will know the answers to them all but we will try !

Also later in the year on the following dates Sat 30th May, Sun 28th June, Sat 25th July, Sun 30th August and Sat 26th September.

So that's Sunday 26 April at 1:00pm and 2:30pm - put it in your diary.

Invitation to invest - (16/03)

Well maybe not a wartime your country needs you - although the renewable energy New Mills is creating is helping reduce the amount needing to be created by carbon fuels.

Many visitors to New Mills and to Torrs Hydro have asked how do they become more involved with this ground breaking scheme - well there are two ways :

If you wish to become a shareholder in the UK's first community owned renewable energy scheme or increase your current shareholding in Torrs Hydro New Mills so that you take advantage of the 20% tax break that will be active this year for our scheme then please email secretary@torrshydro.co.uk , Richard will then send you a copy of our 'Invitation to Invest' which details the options currently open to you

Alternatively if you don't wish to be involved by owning part of the scheme and want to get your hands wet (literally at some times of the year) then please send an email to sean@torrshydro.co.uk - volunteers will sometimes be required to help 'tidy up' after we have sever deluges of rain (probably 3-4 times a years based on experiences from the last 6 months) or to perform adhoc maintenance work (e.g. replace a roof tile on the engine house for example!) - the pay is poor (zero) but the rewards are plentiful in being part of the UK's first community owned renewable energy scheme

Output display - (13/03)

Radius UK have today re-installed the output display meter on Archie so we can all see 'real time' how much renewable energy is being produced.

This afternoon it was around the 44 kwH mark !

Waterways provide renewable energy - (11/03)

British Waterways has today announced an agreement with The Small Hydro Company Ltd to generate 210,000 mega watt hours of renewable energy per annum using the public corporation’s 2,200 mile waterway network.

The initiative will:
- invest around c.£120 million of private capital over the next three years; - develop approximately 25 small-scale hydro electricity schemes generating enough power for c.40,000 homes; - create 150 construction jobs; - save an annual 110,000 tonnes of CO2.

Backed by Climate Change Capital’s Ventus Fund, the process of gaining consents for the first five hydro schemes alongside river weirs will begin later this month. The proposals will enhance waterway biodiversity as well as providing improved flood mitigation for local communities.

The partnership with The Small Hydro Company follows British Waterways’ announcement in October 2008, of an agreement with Partnerships for Renewables to bring forward wind turbines on canal-side land over the next five years – with annual capacity to generate 219,000 mega watt hours of renewable energy. Income that British Waterways generates from both initiatives will be reinvested towards maintaining the nation’s historic waterways.

Income re-invested into historic waterways
Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Ed Miliband MP said: "By committing to build small hydro power stations and wind turbines, British Waterways is playing an important role in generating renewable energy from the UK’s natural resources. This will help cut carbon emissions and further secure energy supplies. We want even more homes, communities, businesses and public sector organisations to take action and play their part in tackling climate change. The Renewables Obligation already supports renewable electricity generation and from 2010 we'll be introducing a feed-in tariff which will reward projects like this with guaranteed cash payments."

Hilary Benn, Environment Secretary said: "Britain’s waterways were the arteries of our economy, providing transport and power. This scheme shows how with ingenuity and innovation they can once again deliver real economic, social, and environmental benefits, especially in tackling and adapting to climate change."

"Economic, social and environmental benefits"
The Small Hydro Company will now start a programme of community engagement alongside the process of seeking the necessary environmental and planning consents, with the aim of having the first schemes up and running in 2010 to help meet the government’s 2010 hydro renewable targets.