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Current Status of Goring and Streatley Hydro-Power Scheme
Interested? Register your interest in investing in the scheme.
On average five million tons of water flows through the Goring Gap every day. This is an enormous amount of energy that has been totally untapped since the closing of the two mills. Now, however, there is a project to harness a good proportion of this energy and convert it into electricity to benefit the local communities. The Goring & Streatley Sustainability Group (GSSG) has been working on this scheme for over four years with support from the two Parish Councils, the Goring Amenity Association, South Oxon District Council, the Chilterns and North Wessex Downs Sustainable Development Funds, the Goring Volunteer Fire Brigade Trust and the Environment Agency (EA). New MP John Howell and European MP James Elles have both sent strong letters of support following their site visits in 2008, adding to that received from Boris Johnston, when he was our MP.
The Scheme
Following the completion of the Feasibility Study (July 2006) and outline Design Study (March 2008), the plan is to replace the overfall weirs next to the lock-keeper’s house with three 3.6m Archimedes Spirals generating a combined 250Kw, which is equivalent to the average daily consumption of 500 homes. The electricity produced will be connected to the national grid at Streatley via an underground cable. Following meetings and agreement with the Nike Group - owners of the Swan Hotel -the hotel will draw as much electricity as it needs. In the early hours when the hotel demand is low, the electricity will go toward powering fridges, freezers and street lights locally through the grid. By generating electricity nearby there is no loss in power lines resulting in total CO2 emission savings of over 800 tonnes per year.
What about increased flood risk?
The EA have responsibility for the health and control of the river and all facilities on it. Their main concern is flood risk and the safety of flora and fauna on and in the river. On behalf of GSSG they have funded and completed a preliminary flood risk assessment with the three spirals in situ, indicating a very slight increase in flood levels only when the river is in full spate. Further flood risk modelling has begun and is expected to show that the existing meadows and flood plains can absorb this small increase. Interestingly, in normal conditions the spirals allow more water through (20 tons per second) than the existing weir, thereby improving the flow upstream.
What about the environment?
Specialist consultants commissioned by GSSG have completed the environmental survey to ascertain the type and extent of flora and fauna in the river and no legally protected exotic species have been found. Note that no flood risk analysis or environmental survey was performed before the major refurbishment of the weirs and sluices 20 years ago.
What about noise?
Archimedes Spirals rotate at just 1 revolution every two seconds creating a relaxing splashing sound that will be lower in volume than the current overfall weirs. The electrical equipment will be housed in a sound proofed sealed building near the lock-keeper’s house eliminating the whine of rotating machinery.
The technology
Archimedes Spirals (or screws) originated in the Near/Middle East and have been used for millennia to lift fluids uphill. Just a few years ago German engineers ascertained that by reversing the flow, energy could be produced efficiently by the weight of water rotating the spirals. They are endorsed by the EA because fish and eels simply swim through them without harm. They are within 4% as efficient as the latest Kaplan technology and maintain their performance over a wider range of flows, which is an important consideration for a 'run of river' scheme such as at Goring. They represent ‘intermediate technology’, as they are low cost and simple to construct thereby minimising CO2 output during manufacture. The top and bottom bearings will need to be replaced every 11 years and this can be accomplished in situ as both are above the river level during normal flow conditions.
The benefits
The immediate benefit is significant clean, sustainable electricity production with no CO2 emissions for at least 50 years. The scheme will also generate income of around £120,000 per year at today’s prices. The project will be set up as a not-for-profit community owned entity, so apart from any dividends which have to be paid to the local share owners, all profits will be returned to the community for further sustainable development projects with the aim of making Goring & Streatley self-sufficient in non-polluting electricity. These include environmental, economic and social projects with a particular emphasis on creating ‘public goods’ from agricultural and open spaces and enhancing the diversity of rural business in this community.
In addition, GSSG believe there will be greater tourism as this will be the first scheme on the river that is very visible to the public and river users. More people visiting G&S should benefit local businesses, improving their viability. GSSG also expect coaches and trainloads of school children travelling from all over the South to see this example of sustainable engineering. Visual displays will be installed explaining the scheme and showing in real-time how much electricity is being produced.
How YOU can get involved
Thus far GSSG has raised money to fund the multiple studies through grants from the organisations cited above. For the actual manufacture and construction phase upwards of £1 million will be required. GSSG is investigating UK and EU funding sources for this capital project but it is expected that there will be a shortfall. The preferred funding option is a local share issue enabling every parishioner of G&S to buy a stake in the project to a maximum of £20,000. A cursory glance at the income shows that the rate of return will be very competitive and through the Enterprise Investment Scheme no tax will have to be paid on the income for the life of the project.
If you think you might wish to invest please register your interest and likely investment amount. We don’t need names at this stage just ‘tick the box’ and enter the amount.
If you would like to join GSSG and get more involved with this and other projects please contact us.
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daveholt |
Latest page update: made by daveholt
, Dec 13 2009, 2:03 PM EST
(about this update
About This Update
Update on hydro project details Dec09
- daveholt
37 words added 6 words deleted view changes - complete history) |
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Keyword tags:
electricity generation
goring
hydro-electric
hydro-power
investment
streatley
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
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| Anonymous | hydropower scheme vs leisure | 0 | Friday, 12:49 PM EST by Anonymous | ||
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Thread started: Friday, 12:49 PM EST
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Excuse my ignorance, but as you do not state exactly where this project is to be constructed, it would be of interest to know how it would effect leisure boating.
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