Hydroelectric generation

[Smiffy]

I have recently moved into a 19th century water mill biulding. There is a lake and water fall that used to serve the mill. Does anyone have experience of generating electricity from water? I'd like to investigate micro hydroelectric generation on-site. I'd also like to invetsigate putting a 20 foot diameter wheel back on the mill just cosmetically.

 

[Nemesis]

Is this mill listed?

 

[chuckey]

I think you should approach the NRA, I think they get sniffy about people fiddling about with their(?) rivers and you have to pay them for the privilege.

Frank

 

[Nemesis]

I think if this is a mill there may already be some rights, and a dedicated watercourse? To supply the mill? As described above?

Not much fiddling really.

If there is existing machinery though, that needs to be respected.

 

[NT]

Let us know how you get on. I might be worth asking on the electrical side, but not the water end of things.


NT

 

[Nemesis]

The water end of things?

One of the country's leading mill experts posts here.

 

[NT]

Will be interesting to see how the project goes then.


NT

 

[biffvernon]

The British Hydropower Association is the organization for you. They will tell you everything you need to know, along with the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, Mills Section, of course.

 

[Nemesis]

Well, the Mills Section may be able to help, it all depends...

But I am sure Gareth will be interested.

 

[Jane Smith]

There are two issues here: the conservation issues you have to deal with in regard to your property, and the issue of hydroelectric power.

I can't help you with the first, but can make a few points with the second.

You need one of two things to use a hydroelectric system: a good volume of water, or a good fall of water. If you've got both, you're really in luck.

Hydro systems are usually hidden and will not depend on you putting back the mill wheel--they're completely separate. They look like chunky sections of pipe, with a propellor fitted inside them, which is the bit that generates electricty when the water flows through them. Last time I looked, the installation costs were about £10,000 for a decent system (but you might want a smaller system than we were considering, so costs could be lower). You will need to obtain the relevant permissions before installing, including planning permission, a license from the waterways to run such a system, and perhaps listed building consent, if appropriate. You'll be able to run the power generated back into the mains and get paid for it, too, under the ROCs scheme.

Good luck!

 

[Smiffy]

Thanks for the replies. It seems that commercial companies offering generators want quite a high price for initial survey (been quoted £2k). That makes it difficult to take further steps although I do believe I've got reasonable flow and quite a drop that used to accomodate a 20' dia wheel. I'll follow some of the suggeted contacts and see what I can turn up.

 

[Jane Smith]

I can't remember what the Clear Skies scheme has been replaced with, but what ever it is, it's run by the Energy Savings Trust. Find them, and you should also find a list of accredited installers of renewable energy systems. The highest survey fee I've ever heard of from any of them is £250, and most should do it for free. Remember, you're after a domestic system, not a big commercial one, which would involve higher costs.

 

[Nemesis]

In this case, much higher:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7021835.stm

 

[Gareth Hughes]

I have recently moved into a 19th century water mill biulding. There is a lake and water fall that used to serve the mill. Does anyone have experience of generating electricity from water? I'd like to investigate micro hydroelectric generation on-site. I'd also like to invetsigate putting a 20 foot diameter wheel back on the mill just cosmetically.

replica wheel:

http://www.spab.org.uk/downloads/mills/Millwrights_directory_for_e_mail.pdf?PHPSESSID=2c514b3df205.

 

[Nemesis]

Thank you Leading Expert...

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Thank you Leading Expert...

I have a profound dislike of the word "expert" which goes back an incident involving two other mill "experts" - one of them self-described as such, the other modest enough not to need the term, both well-known figures in the world of mills and industrial archaeology generally and therefore unable to be named here.

Self-described expert (turning up unannounced at remote Peak District mill accompanied by younger, non-self-described expert, after long drive): "Hello, we're mill experts and we've come to look at your mill"

Harassed old dung-covered farmer: "You can bogger off"

Self-described expert: "Fine, fine, cheerybye"

Non-Self-described-Expert accompanying him reckons that without the pomposity of the word "expert", they'd have got in.

 

[Nemesis]

My tongue was firmly in my cheek.

Or someone's cheek... :wink:

 

[Jane Smith]

Harassed old dung-covered farmer

I didn't realise you'd met my husband....

 

[skier-hughes]

I still shower six times a day, as I have :lol:

 

[Stephen]

Gareth

I was rceently talking to a friend of my parents who was telling me that his dream was to buy a run down water mill and restore it. I have not come across any in my neck of the woods (Essex, etc), but said I would keep him informed if I heard of anything.

He is a member of SPAB and I told him to contact the mills section, but if you know of any other sources would you be good enough to let me know.

Thanks

Stephen