WRE has recently started construction of a 28kW hydro plant at Tipton St John in East Devon.  After a long licensing process, including a successful appeal a license was issued in June 2009.  Unfortunately, due to the tight restrictions on timing it was not possible to start construction until 2010.  However, after receiving the necessary Flood Defence Consent, Planning Permission, and carrying out the necessary ecological work, fish rescue and agreeing to the archaeological conditions, preparatory work finally got underway this week.  The undergrowth has been cleared, and the leat dredged, and with good ground conditions and weather concrete will be poured in the next couple of weeks.  Commissioning is anticipated to be in August, water flow permitting.

Electro fishing the leat

Feed in Tariff update

 

The Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) is close to becoming law, and it is likely that it will be a requirement of all systems that they will need to be designed and installed by Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) approved installers, using approved equipment. 

 

The aim of the MCS is to provide consumer protection for schemes under 50kW output, in what is a fast developing market.  There has been some degree of resistance within the hydro community since many schemes are typically built with some owner input, but if approached carefully this can still be the case. 

 

WRE expects to enter the MCS scheme at its launch in the next few weeks, and has been accepted onto the REAL assurance scheme, which is a requirement.  We are expecting to be installing approved schemes from the start of April.

 

We believe that the MCS scheme should provide consumer confidence, and it will be important that when looking at designing a hydro system you use an approved, professional firm from feasibility study onwards. 

 

Screening

 

WRE is now offering more high quality screening equipment.  In addition to the automatic screeners which are being used increasingly for old mill sites, we are now manufacturing ‘Coanda’ type wedge wire screens, for high head schemes with small flows.  These are ideal as they require no power, are robust and long lasting.  Prices start from £1250 (+ VAT) for a 20 l/s version.

 

We are also manufacturing interface equipment to work with the popular SCS HGP hydro controller.  This is typically used to operate hydraulic systems where large flow control equipment is needed, such as in low head systems.  Email us for a quote.

 

Installations

 

WRE has completed work at a site in Devon where a single jet Pelton machine has been installed.  It is operating as expected, and producing absolutely at the top end of the design expectations of energy capture.

 

WRE has recently placed orders for two more hydro systems for installation in 2010, a Screw turbine for a site in East Devon and a crossflow machine for another old mill site in Mid-Devon. 

 

The screw turbine system has been under development for some time, owing to difficulties in licensing, but this will now be delivered in June.  The system is a conventional concrete-trough screw turbine, with a number of design tweaks to boost efficiency.  WRE is the largest installer of Screw turbines in the UK, and is not tied to any manufacturer, meaning we are free to recommend the best machine for the job.

 

The crossflow turbine is our first order from UK manufacturer Ecowave, who have been able to commit to an MCS approved machine in a short lead time.  The system will use 85 l/s on a 5 metre head, and should also be operating by mid-summer.

WRE completed work at Dartington Tweed Mill last year; recently the BBC reported briefly on the site, which shows the simple nature of the adaptations.  The reporter talking to Dr Jon Rae from the Dartington Hall Trust is able to carry out his interview with almost no need to raise his voice, despite being right alongside to gearbox with the machine in operation.  The report is found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/8539076.stm , with the video at the bottom.

 

We have also confirmed the start of installation work at two further sites, a crossflow turbine for the National Trust, and a screw turbine for a private client, both to be running by mid 2010. 

2010 has started briskly for WRE, with many projects progressing.  WRE has recently been appointed to carry out detailed design on a number of sizable and high profile hydro systems and has a further 7 abstraction applications submitted, ranging from 70 l/s to nearly 7000 l/s, and many schemes either formally submitted to planning or close to being so.  WRE has recently commissioned a community hydro scheme for Settle Hydro, via our ongoing relationship with Water Power Enterprises.  In addition to the planned installation work for the year, which will cover Pelton, Crossflow and Screw Turbine systems, WRE has taken on work for upgrade and maintenance work on a number of existing hydro schemes in the South West of England. 

WRE continues to contribute to industry panels on the Feed In Tariff, and looks forward to the formal announcements on the level of support in the next few weeks.

The WRE office will be closed from 5pm on Wednesday 23^rd December

and re-opens on Monday 4^th January.

 

We wish you a very happy Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.