Hydro Project

TUTBURY ECOPOWER

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Temporary site by Norris Management Ltd and with acknowledgement to River Design Graphics

BY THE COMMUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY

A Mini Hydro Scheme on the River Dove and Carbon Reduction for the community

An environmentally friendly way to create electricity

Our Mini Hydro Project

Scheme Overview

Tutbury Eco Power are working towards the siting of an Archimedean screw turbine, generator house and associated control systems alongside the weir close to the foot of Tutbury Castle on the River Dove.

Feasibility and Design

Through a series of iterations since the Project’s inception in 2008 by some far-sighted Tutbury residents, the Project has developed from a small 15 kW capacity scheme located on the Mill Fleam alongside the old Plaster Mill site and now the site of the Tutbury Playground, to a potentially much larger scheme taking its power directly from the River Dove. This latest scheme by-passes the Mill Fleam altogether. Early investigations showed that whilst the Fleam could be cleared to provide the 1 cumec (cubic metres per second) required for the original 15 kW scheme, subsequent work showed that the costs of doing so and the associated maintenance costs would make the whole scheme unviable.

Focus then moved to the Weir on the River Dove weir some 1 km to the west of the original location to provide potentially a good financial return for the local community in the years to come. In September 2010, a viability study was commissioned by Tutbury Eco Power in which, Water Power Enterprises (H2OPE) would establish the parameters for the Project in consultation with the Environmental Agency (EA) and other interested parties such as The Duchy of Lancaster, landowner,

fishing interests, East Staffs Borough Council, Staffordshire County Council, South Derbyshire District Council and EON Central Networks.

Whilst consultations continue, the Project looks set to provide a significant boost to local community funds, with a potential generation capacity of 75kW or more with a financial income of the order of £60,000 per annum.

As a footnote, some older Tutbury residents have memories of the operational Plaster Mill (which closed in 1968) that drew its power from the Mill Fleam water. Whilst these residents are supporters of this Project, they have expressed their relief when the scheme moved to the weir. They had first hand knowledge of the operation of the Mill and how much effort was required to keep the Fleam clear for flow requiring daily intervention. Nonetheless, it is one of TEP’s aims to re-establish the Fleam as a community recreational facility for angling, walking and the establishment of an attractive amenity.

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