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Hydro-electric plan for river to power 15 homes
A HYDRO-ELECTRIC generator capable of powering 15 homes could be built in the River Ryburn under an ambitious £150,000 scheme.
The mini power-plant would be created at Ripponden using weirs first planted in the waterway to help run a 19th-century factory.
Geoff Potts, the Ripponden Parish Council vice chairman behind the project, said: "It's a way of harnessing the area's history to help reduce its future carbon footprint and increase its renewable energy use."
Under the plans – which could be implemented as soon as 2011 – an upturned Archimedes screw would be dropped close to weirs in the river behind the village Co-op. Water running from the weirs will then turn the screw generating electricity.
The power would then be sold to the national grid with the money pumped back into local community projects such as improving playgrounds and providing meeting rooms.
The initial funding would come from a mixture of grants and community shares.
Councillor Potts said: "The idea is this would be a community interest company so it would be owned by the people of Ripponden and would benefit the people of Ripponden.
"It would create about 15 kilowatts of electricity which is a significant amount for what is essentially quite a small initial outlay."
He added a feasibility study had already been carried out while Calderdale councillors has offered support to the scheme.
John Mooney, an environmental consultant based in the district, said: "It's a superb idea.
"Harnessing the power of the water worked exceptionally well 100 years ago and there's no reason why it can't again today.
"Let's hope it's a success and it encourages other generators in Calder-dale."
A similar, although larger, project established earlier this year in Settle has already proved a success producing enough energy to power 50 homes.
Calderdale councillor Geraldine Carter (Con, Ryburn) said: "It's an excellent scheme and I'm all for it.
"The generator itself wouldn't impact on anyone while having a positive effect on the area's carbon footprint. I just can't see a downside."
Councillor Potts is now finalising land deeds before calling a public meeting to create a specialist group dedicated to overseeing the project.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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