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Clydach Vale Hydropower
The Cwmclydach Micro-Hydro project
is now in its final stages of development, having secured planning
permission to construct the building which will house the turbine. We have
now won a bid for a
£500,000 from the
Low Carbon Community Challenge
which means that we now have the relevant funds to purchase and install the
first turbine. We are also in the process of finding extra funding for the
second turbine and hope to hear something soon.
History of the Micro-Hydro
Project
In 2005, Cwmclydach Community
Development Trust commissioned Hydro Generation Limited to undertake a
feasibility study with a view to establishing the potential for renewable
electricity generation in Clydach Vale using micro hydropower. Two
potential sites on the Nant Clydach river were identified by the feasibility
study, the first in the Clydach Vale Countryside Park and the second in the
town of Tonypandy.
Since the study, the
Communities First team have worked hard to ensure the necessary permissions
are obtained. It has been a real eye opener for the team who can finally see
a light at the end of the tunnel after 3 years hard work.
How do hydro power systems work?
Hydro power systems use running water to turn
a small turbine which generates electricity. The
faster the water flows and the more water there
is, the more electricity can be generated.
The amount of electricity a system actually
generates depends on how efficiently it converts
the power of the moving water into electrical
power.
Hydro power systems convert
potential energy stored in water
held at height to kinetic energy
Feasibility Study &
Business Plan
The feasibility study
undertook to develop scheme designs for both locations and carry out an
analysis of the water flow and potential energy capture with the selected
equipment. The feasibility study concluded that both the Clydach and
Tonypandy schemes were capable of generating power as set out below:
|
Location |
Net head |
Power output |
Energy capture |
|
Site 1 –
Clydach Country Park |
47 m |
58.4 kW |
248,015 kWh |
|
Site 2 –
Tonypandy |
50 m |
86.3 kW |
437,557 kWh |
The feasibility study covered the following key areas:
Resource assessment. This process
involves a detailed survey of the water flow in the area.
Design and layout. This involves the
specification of a suitable design and layout for the proposed scheme(s).
Grid connection and sale of electricity.
A review of the implication of grid connection and the sale of electricity
including pricing.
Annual energy capture. An estimate
of the potential total number of electricity units which can be generated at
the site(s) over a year using specialist software.
Benefits of renewable energy. This
highlights the potential benefits of the proposed scheme in relation to CO2
emissions and number of homes which could be powered.
Economic development. Details of
forecast capital expenditure and simple payback analysis.
Planning, legal and environmental issues.
An outline of the requirements in
relation to a hydro site including Environment Agency Licence, planning
consent and land drainage consent.
For any more info on the micro hydro project, please
contact us.
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