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Pictures from a current H2OPE Archimedean Screw Project at Howsham.

RENEWABLE ENERGY FROM THE RIBBLE
Halifax based company Water Power Enterprises (h2ope) have been investigating the possibility of installing an Archimedean Screw hydro power site at one of 3 locations in Settle, the current favourite being Settle Weir. h2oPE propose to remove the two biggest barriers to the involvement of the local community in renewable energy by providing both the finance and capacity to develop and install small scale hydroelectric schemes.

Here they explain their approach to the project.

THE MARKET
We shall sell the electricity direct to energy providers via the grid, achieving, at current quotations, a price of approx 9p per unit (including wholesale price and the renewable obligation certificate). We will endeavour to sell the electricity direct to a local end user such as a School, Co-op, Leisure Centre or Health Centre at a beneficial price to both parties.
Energy providers must now supply 10% of energy from renewable sources by 2010. This figure rises to 20% by 2020. Energy providers need to source renewable suppliers.

MARKETING
We aim to develop a partnership with the ocal community and to capture their interest, we have two unique selling points
Our main aim is to reduce carbon emissions rather than achieve the quickest payback for shareholders or stakeholders. Therefore, we can install larger capacity hydroelectric schemes, generating more revenue for local communities.
We remove the barriers to community engagement in renewable energy by providing both the finance and capacity to develop hydro power schemes.

WHY SMALL SCALE HYDRO?
Renewable energy is high on the government’s agenda. Hydroelectricity is a tried and tested technology. Water Power Enterprises intends to use a new patented technology, the hydrodynamic screw (the Archimedes Screw, working in reverse), designed to produce electricity from low head sites such as river weirs, and sell the electricity so produced direct to the grid.

Hydrodynamic screws cost less per kilowatt to purchase, install and run than the nearest traditional water turbine technology, the Kaplan turbine.
Hydroelectric sites capture between 35 and 60% of the energy from water and run for over 40 years, whereas wind turbines capture only 25% of wind energy and last for 25 years.

NEXT STEPS
The Going Green Team are now taking the project forward and, working with h2ope, have created Settle Hydro Limited, which will be the company that manages the project.

For more information click here.

Click the logo to visit the h2ope web site