Homes switch on to water power

Water power: Bill Edwards (left) and Mike Rooke, secretary of Greenfield and Grasscroft Residents’ Association, at the site of the planned water turbine at Dovestone

Dovestone go-ahead for hydro electric project 

UP to 100 homes could be powered by water in a groundbreaking hydro electricity project.

Landowners United Utilities, have given Saddleworth’s Community Hydro group permission to generate power from Dovestone reservoir using the height of its 100ft high dam.

The operation is the first of its kind in the UK to use the high heads of a reservoir to generate green energy.

The community-led project will see a turbine constructed on the northern end of the reservoir dam, where United Utilities releases a regular flow of “compensation” water into the River Tame to keep the local water course topped up.

The move will power up to 100 homes all year round and raise tens of thousands of pounds for local community projects though the sale of the electricity.

Tony Bywater, a former manager of Fletcher’s Mill at Greenfield, first conceived the idea which has been promoted by Greenfield and Grasscroft Residents’ Association.

Plans are now under way to set up an Industrial Provident Society (IPS), where local and regional investors committed to tackling climate change will buy shares and form a co-operative.

This will ensure the project is managed for the long-term benefit of the community, supporting local activities and could award interest to investors from surplus profits.

Bill Edwards, chairman of the Saddleworth Community Hydro steering group and Oldham Council’s strategic partnership environment forum said: “It will be a ground breaking project in terms of the high reservoir location and how it is financed and managed on behalf of the community.

“As well as generating clean energy, this project will fund other sustainable energy schemes in the area.

“There is still a long way to go, but we are all now feeling very optimistic that we can make this happen.”

The project will be managed by Water Power Enterprises, (H2OPE).

H2OPE’s Steve Welsh said: “This will be a very exciting project which will be obtaining the necessary permissions and finance during 2010, ready for construction in 2011.

“Dovestone will provide a regular and controlled flow of water to drive the turbine. We hope the venture paves the way for similar schemes around the country.”

Chris Matthews, head of sustainability for United Utilities, said: “This is a really imaginative proposal.

“We’ve been extremely impressed by the professionalism of the local residents.”