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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 26 2011, 4:34 AM EST (current) | daveholt | |
| Nov 26 2011, 4:32 AM EST | daveholt | 4 words added, 3 words deleted |
Changes
Key: Additions Deletions
GSSG is making steady progress to installing hydro-electric generation on the weir adjacent to the Goring Lock. This is what it might look like.
October 2011: Our Impoundment License application is now in process again with a minimum four months for a decision including one month advertised to the public for comment etc..
April to September 2011: Five contractors, approved by the EA to work on the Thames, were invited to estimate the cost of the Civils - removal of overfall weir and old fish-pass, construction of the coffer dam, installation of the screws, new fish-pass and additional 3m sluice gate etc. - with four responding with estimates. These will be refined when we produce detailed design drawings. South Oxfordshire District Council were sounded out regarding the project (the first time was in 2007) and once again their verbal response was very positive.
April 2011: The Environment Agency express concerns of the higher performing 4 and 5 flight screws as the fish safety testing was performed on a 3 flight screw in 2007. A number of screw manufacturers and other parties proceeded to fund another range of tests performed by Fishtek on the newer screws and EA Bristol approved these screws, with provisos, in September 2011.
March 2011: Began the formal process of selecting our Archimedes Screw supplier. After receiving responses from our Invitation To Tender and meeting with three UK Agents and site visits, GSSG has selected Spaans-Babcock Ltd to supply three 3.6m diameter 4-flight screws.
February 2011: With the invaluable assistance of two EA officers specialising in fish passages, we submitted our Impoundment License application to EA offices in Sheffield. In addition we made first contact with the local DNO (Distribution Network Operator) regarding connection to the National Grid and after a number of months and meetings on-site we plan to connect to the sub-station at Thames Bank which requires just 50 metres underwater from the lock-island to the river bank and then some 150 metres under the grass to the sub-station which will have to be upgraded to handle the maximum output of 270kW.
November 2010: The Environment Agency (EA) has approved out Pre-Application for the license to install three Archimedes Screws on the weir at Goring. We now move onto producing the Impoundment License application.
October 2010:
September 2010: GSSG began the process of obtaining planning permission from the Environment Agency (EA) and SODC (South Oxfordshire District Council).
2010: After a 12 month process, the Environment Agency has approved our Flood Risk mitigation which includes an addiitonal 3 metre sluice gate next to the screws. Peter Brett Associates of Reading performed extensive computer modelling and analysis, producing an excellent report that satisfied the EA regarding flooding.
2009: We are now contacting design and construction firms to work with to produce design drawings, construction methodology etc. 2009: The Environment Study was completed in June 2009 and the report is with the Environment Agency (EA). 2008: Baseline Flood Risk Analysis was commissioned by the EA to ascertain potential flooding issues with the introduction of three Archimedes Screw.
2008: Outline Design Study was completed in March giving us valuable information on the design, costs, equipment requirements and timescales.
We are also looking at all potential funding sources including a local share issue. Please register your interest in investing on our Registration page.
More about the current status of the project can by following the link. Also read the background story in the Oxford Mail (26 Apr 07), the Reading Evening Post (9 Jan 08), Henley Standard (8 Sep 08) and the Goring Gap News (Sept 08, Oct 08, Dec09 and Dec10).
The preferred technology is the Archimedes Spiral as they allow fish and eels to pass through without harm, are low maintenance, relatively easy to install, visually entrancing and audibly relaxing. (see thread below). One has been installed on the River Dart, which is the UK's third operational Archimedes Spiral in operation. A picture of the Archimedes Screw that is used in the River Dart Country Park Hydro-electric Plant is shown below.
The Screws on our weir would be less than half this length because the weir head is less, but the diameter of ours will be 3.6 metres to generate the power we want. We won't have a housing at the top, but each generator will be enclosed in a small housing ontop of a gantry. Each housing will keep out the elements, minimise noise and ensure the generators stay above the flood levels experienced in the past, the worst recorded being 1894, followed by 1947 and 2003.
Click to see a video of the Spiral in operation
At least three more of these turbines will become operational in the UK over the course of 2009.
Further technical information about the operation of these type of schemes has been produced by the British Hydropower Association. We are now contacting design and construction firms to work with to produce design drawings, construction methodology and obtain all permissions from the EA.
October 2011: Our Impoundment License application is now in process again with a minimum four months for a decision including one month advertised to the public for comment etc..
April to September 2011: Five contractors, approved by the EA to work on the Thames, were invited to estimate the cost of the Civils - removal of overfall weir and old fish-pass, construction of the coffer dam, installation of the screws, new fish-pass and additional 3m sluice gate etc. - with four responding with estimates. These will be refined when we produce detailed design drawings. South Oxfordshire District Council were sounded out regarding the project (the first time was in 2007) and once again their verbal response was very positive.
April 2011: The Environment Agency express concerns of the higher performing 4 and 5 flight screws as the fish safety testing was performed on a 3 flight screw in 2007. A number of screw manufacturers and other parties proceeded to fund another range of tests performed by Fishtek on the newer screws and EA Bristol approved these screws, with provisos, in September 2011.
March 2011: Began the formal process of selecting our Archimedes Screw supplier. After receiving responses from our Invitation To Tender and meeting with three UK Agents and site visits, GSSG has selected Spaans-Babcock Ltd to supply three 3.6m diameter 4-flight screws.
February 2011: With the invaluable assistance of two EA officers specialising in fish passages, we submitted our Impoundment License application to EA offices in Sheffield. In addition we made first contact with the local DNO (Distribution Network Operator) regarding connection to the National Grid and after a number of months and meetings on-site we plan to connect to the sub-station at Thames Bank which requires just 50 metres underwater from the lock-island to the river bank and then some 150 metres under the grass to the sub-station which will have to be upgraded to handle the maximum output of 270kW.
November 2010: The Environment Agency (EA) has approved out Pre-Application for the license to install three Archimedes Screws on the weir at Goring. We now move onto producing the Impoundment License application.
October 2010:
Pro-bono support secured from ‘Carbon Leapfrog’
Carbon Leapfrog (www.carbonleapfrog.org) is a new business-led charity that channels free professional advice from leading service providers across a range of disciplines into UK and international carbon reduction projects such as ours. GSSG endured a one hour ‘Dragon’s Den’ type interview in the City and our hydro-electricity project has been accepted into the programme. We’re now working with them to identify the outstanding tasks that will most benefit from their supportSeptember 2010: GSSG began the process of obtaining planning permission from the Environment Agency (EA) and SODC (South Oxfordshire District Council).
2010: After a 12 month process, the Environment Agency has approved our Flood Risk mitigation which includes an addiitonal 3 metre sluice gate next to the screws. Peter Brett Associates of Reading performed extensive computer modelling and analysis, producing an excellent report that satisfied the EA regarding flooding.
2009: We are now contacting design and construction firms to work with to produce design drawings, construction methodology etc. 2009: The Environment Study was completed in June 2009 and the report is with the Environment Agency (EA). 2008: Baseline Flood Risk Analysis was commissioned by the EA to ascertain potential flooding issues with the introduction of three Archimedes Screw.
2008: Outline Design Study was completed in March giving us valuable information on the design, costs, equipment requirements and timescales.
We are also looking at all potential funding sources including a local share issue. Please register your interest in investing on our Registration page.
More about the current status of the project can by following the link. Also read the background story in the Oxford Mail (26 Apr 07), the Reading Evening Post (9 Jan 08), Henley Standard (8 Sep 08) and the Goring Gap News (Sept 08, Oct 08, Dec09 and Dec10).
The preferred technology is the Archimedes Spiral as they allow fish and eels to pass through without harm, are low maintenance, relatively easy to install, visually entrancing and audibly relaxing. (see thread below). One has been installed on the River Dart, which is the UK's third operational Archimedes Spiral in operation. A picture of the Archimedes Screw that is used in the River Dart Country Park Hydro-electric Plant is shown below.
The Screws on our weir would be less than half this length because the weir head is less, but the diameter of ours will be 3.6 metres to generate the power we want. We won't have a housing at the top, but each generator will be enclosed in a small housing ontop of a gantry. Each housing will keep out the elements, minimise noise and ensure the generators stay above the flood levels experienced in the past, the worst recorded being 1894, followed by 1947 and 2003.
Click to see a video of the Spiral in operation
At least three more of these turbines will become operational in the UK over the course of 2009.
Further technical information about the operation of these type of schemes has been produced by the British Hydropower Association.
