Stockport Hydro is a proposal to install and operate two hydro-electric plants.

The first at Otterspool Weir has a 54kW installed capacity and will generate approximately 209,000 kWh per year, enough to power around 50 houses, saving 90 tonnes of CO2 per year, or 3,500 tonnes over its estimated 40 year lifetime.

The second at Stringer Weir has a 76kW installed capacity and will generate approximately 330MWh per year, enough to power around 70 houses and will save around 142 tonnes of C02 per year, or 5,600 tonnes over its lifetime. Stockport Hydro will be Great Manchester’s first community-funded hydro electric scheme.

Stockport Hydro Ltd will launch a social share offer to fund the purchase of the power plant on 6th April 2010. Shares cost £1 each, with a minimum shareholding of 250 shares. Stockport Hydro Ltd is an Industrial and Provident Society for the Benefit of the Community and will be run on a one-member one-vote principle. Surplus monies from the sale of hydro electricity would fund local environmental and community projects. Stockport Hydro Ltd was established for the specific purpose of owning the Otterspool Weir Hydro Electric Scheme.

Planning permission and an abstraction licence has been applied for.

The original idea for the scheme came from h2oPE, a Social Enterprise whose aim is to set up small-scale hydropower projects that benefit both the environment and local communities. h2oPE instigated the UK’s first community-funded micro-hydro schemes; Torrs Hydro New Mills in Derbyshire, and Settle Hydro in North Yorkshire.

The Co-operative Group has backed h2oPE with a Co-operative Fund grant to develop three community-led renewable energy projects, including the Stockport Hydro project. This funding will enable the community to set themselves up as a Co-operative (or Industrial and Provident Society) for the benefit of the whole community.

http://www.h2ope.org.uk/images/stories/Stockprt-Otterspool-Hydro-i.jpg

From: http://www.communityshares.org.uk/news/stockport-hydro-back-stream

STOCKPORT HYDRO BACK ON STREAM
by pmorris | Tue, 14/12/2010 - 17:59

Stockport community-owned hydro is back on stream and is having a final push to raise funds via a share offer. The share offer gives individuals, businesses and social investors the opportunity to become members of a ground breaking renewable electricity project.

The hydroelectric scheme has already secured funds of £365,000 and needs to raise another £150K so that construction starts on site in spring 2011. The plant, at Otterspool Weir on the River Goyt, will be Greater Manchester’s first community-owned scheme. It will produce enough power to provide electricity for around 50 homes.

Steve Welsh, MD of H2oPE, who are managing the development of the scheme on behalf of Stockport Hydro, is passionate about alternative energy and is amazed that the UK has underestimated the untapped potential of hydroelectricity.

“Here in the UK, river weirs were constructed in their thousands and generated the mechanical power which fuelled the industrial revolution. Elements of the infrastructure are still there and I want to reclaim them for their original purpose of generating power, only this time round, we’ll be generating electrical energy instead of the mechanical energy that used to run water wheels.” said Steve. “Hydro sites last for decades. Ours have an expected lifespan of 40 years and will probably be around for much longer.” Having been responsible for the UK’s first two community-owned hydro sites, with a third under construction at Bainbridge in the Yorkshire Dales National Park Steve wants to see a site up and running in Greater Manchester. “The technology we use - a reverse Archimedean screw - is simple and has a life expectancy of around 40 years. It’s low maintenance and we’re just borrowing the down flowing water to create electricity and then returning it to the river with no adverse environmental impact. Our aim is simple” says Steve, “We want to work with communities to generate green electricity, reduce carbon emissions and provide a tangible benefit for local projects for years to come.

The Share Offer Prospectus will be on-line at www.h2ope.org.uk from December 16. Shares cost £1 with a minimum shareholding of £250. Stockport Hydro will be run as a co-operative for the benefit of the community on a one-member, one-vote basis.

Press contact: Clare Walker, 0161 374 5868/07595 873221 claremwalker@hotmail.co.uk

For further information/interviews contact Steve Welsh, 07964 106037
Note to Editors:

1. H2oPE is a Community Interest Company - a social enterprise - limited by shares. As a social enterprise, H2oPE’s aim is to set up small-scale hydropower projects that benefit both the environment and local communities.

2. H2oPE is supported by the Co-operative Group, the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and Key Fund Yorkshire.

3. H2oPE were joint winners, with the Co-operative Group, of the Renewables Innovation Award at the NEMEX Environment and Energy Awards 2009

4. H2oPE have been shortlisted for the Ashden Awards

Here is a pdf with more info:

http://interactive.stockport.gov.uk/edrms/onlinemvm/getimage.asp?DocumentNumber=134950

I am pretty sure the Goyt has another Archimedean screw turbine at New Mills, as well. I would have thought the weir at the Roman Lakes in Marple would offer a good candidate as well.

thats gonna upset the rogue fishermen. not sure I want that eco thingummy at the bottom of the hill from me - tis bad enough they're building a poncy eco-footbridge to nowhere just down the river

Perhaps they should use 'official' facilities then. It has no adverse environmental impact. Could it be likely to oxygenate the water further, and thus lead to an increase in fish/wildlife?

As for the poncey useless eco-footbridge, as you put it, are you referring to Goyt Valley Connection (the Connect2 scheme)?

This proposal came about due to massive public support. Fact is that some local roads (such as the A627) do not have footpaths alongside, so communties are isolated, for those without vehicular transport.

yes I am and I did vote for it too BUT there is nowhere particular to go on the Marple side you just end up at Dale Road - the main 'walking route' is actually on the Romiley side to the Aqueduct and beyond. To make it work I think it needs another bridge back over the river nearer Aqueduct.

From: http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/politics/council_meetings/s/1411180_replay_stockport_council_meeting_discusses_hydro_scheme

Stockport council met on Thursday evening with highlights of the agenda including a presentation on the community funded hydro scheme in Stockport.

...

Hydro power is never going to be a particularly significant component of our electricity supply, but the region is a very wet one with many smaller rivers and lakes. Has any research been done into the potential of these small scale schemes in the Greater Manchester/North West area?