Although we are the only community hydro project in London there are a number of others which I have had the pleasure of meeting and sharing knowledge with.  These groups are very hard working and all share our passion for utilising community energy for the benifit of the local community. As such I would like to share what they are doing with you.

The Goring and Streatley Sustainability group have a hydro project to be implemented on a weir at the Goring Gap. Following the completion of the Feasibility Study (July 2006) and outline Design Study (March 2008), the plan is to replace the overfall weirs next to the lock-keeper’s house with three 3.6m Archimedes Spirals generating a combined 250Kw, which is equivalent to the average daily consumption of 500 homes. The electricity produced will be connected to the national grid at Streatley via an underground cable. Following meetings and agreement with the Nike Group - owners of the Swan Hotel -the hotel will draw as much electricity as it needs. In the early hours when the hotel demand is low, the electricity will go toward powering fridges, freezers and street lights locally through the grid. By generating electricity nearby there is no loss in power lines resulting in total CO2 emission savings of over 500 tonnes per year.  More can be found at: 

http://www.gssg.org.uk

Transition Bath have a project which aims to install a micro hydro electricity generator at the Bathampton Weir to raise awareness of alternative sources of energy. The involvement of the wider community in the creation of a Community Company is paramount and the project will generate a small income which will enable Transition Bath to expand its activities.

The project, based at Bathampton Mill is likely to generate 50Kw daily subject to planning and generate 400 Megawatt Hours of green energy annually. The preliminary studies have been completed and the project has received a 75% grant for a Detailed Study, with the remainder of the money being financed by site owners, Mitchells & Butlers. The Study is now underway and is expected to be completed by late December 2009.

The project aims to have all planning procedures in place by June of next year and will be inviting building tenders in August. The building work is expected to be complete and the project up and running by August 2011.

More info at : http://www.transitionbath.org

Further up the Thames at Sandford a community group have been looking to site three hydro-electric turbines at the site has been drawn up that could generate enough electricity to power 340 homes. here is the link to an article in the Oxford mail about them: 

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/8792983.___River_weir_could_power_our_village___/