Stockport Hydro
I hadn’t heard of Stockport Hydro, until there was a report about it on BBC Radio 5.
This is the introductory paragraph.
Stockport Hydro, a renewable energy scheme at Otterspool Weir on the river Goyt near Marple, Stockport, is Greater Manchester’s first community-owned hydro-electric project. Our two Archimedes screws, Thunder and Lightning, have been operational since October 2012, generating renewable electricity which is fed into the National Grid. We are accredited to earn the Government’s Feed-in-Tariff and the Environment Agency has approved our operation to ensure no damage to the river’s eco-system and wildlife.
This Google Map shows the location of the Stockport Hydro.
Note.
- The weir crosses the River Goyt
- The Stockport Hydro is at the West end of the weir.
- The green Archimedean screws can be seen on the South side of the building.
How many other weirs could host a small hydroelectric power station like this?
The Anonymous Widower 
there’s actually quite a few of these around. There’s a disused one on the weir here in Chester https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/The_Hydro_Electric_Station_on_the_River_Dee, and one that I have a small investment in on the Weaver in Church Minshull, commissioned in 2018 and producing some 310MWh/yr. I’ve also invested indirectly in a couple of small ones in Scotland.
Like other hydro schemes dependent on water flows and susceptible to drought.
Comment by Peter Robins | August 25, 2022 |
I’ve seen an old system in the middle of Chester.
Comment by AnonW | August 25, 2022 |
Having lived in Stockport for 34 years I had absolutely no idea that this existed. I think Neil and I will have to make a little foray up there to have a look at it. As you say, there are probably lots of places that they little plants could be built.
Comment by nosnikrapzil | August 25, 2022 |
A friend of mine was involved in the initial Sanford Hydro Community Interest Company that led to the construction of a 3-screw generator at Sanford on Thames.
Comment by fammorris | August 25, 2022 |