sharenergy

Woolhope News: Work starts on site

Woolhope Woodheat — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:15:59 +0000

Well after a number of false starts we are underway and it’s great to see things happening at what suddenly seems like incredible speed! More photos will be posted as work progresses on site – here is a first taster:

The boiler house is now in place and the trenches for the district heating dug. Next steps are the chip store, the boiler itself, and the laying of pipes in the trenches.

A lot of work has also been going on behind the scenes in tweaking the design to make sure the system will be as efficient as possible. Completion date is now set for late July – in time for the hottest August in living memory no doubt!

Neen Sollars News: First parts of turbine in place

Neen Sollars Community Hydro — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:47:53 +0000

The turbine house is finished and the capture ring is in place – this is the interface between the turbine and its housing. The draft tube will be next – this is the outflow of the turbine – we have agreed a slight shape modification which will increase efficiency. After that the propellor itself and the generator will go in – this should take a couple more weeks and we will be ready to make power from the rain now falling!

Met mast for sale or rent

eithne — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:45:45 +0000

We have a 40 metre met mast with instrumentation to collect data on wind speeds and direction for sale or for rent. Please contact eithne@sharenergy.coop if you are interested or call 01743 277119

Neen Sollars News: Ready for the turbine

Neen Sollars Community Hydro — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 08:53:08 +0000

Some great pictures from site showing the sluice gate in place and the precision concrete housings for the turbine – you can clearly see the hole in which it will sit. We are expecting the first parts of the turbine to go in shortly.

The project has nearly spent the 70% of its share capital required to apply for the SEED EIS forms and will be doing so soon – members in the habit of filling in tax forms early may wish to wait for these!

Neen Sollars News: Coverage on the BBC website

Neen Sollars Community Hydro — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:21:09 +0000

A story covering the delays with some good pictures of the installation in progress is here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-22101702

Neen Sollars News: Nearly ready for the turbine

Neen Sollars Community Hydro — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:14:50 +0000

A lot of work has been going on at Tetstill – perhaps not spectacular but necessary work to prepare the wheel pit for the turbine enclosure. Some redesign of the enclosure itself has been necessary to make sure the generator and control gear are adequately protected from floods. All this has meant that we are slightly behind schedule – still on for April turbine installation however. The pictures show the underpinning and strengthening of both wheel pits. We think the stone facing looks excellent – we are creating the heritage of the future after all…

Neen Sollars News: Steady progress through the floods at Neen Sollars

Neen Sollars Community Hydro — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 11:36:03 +0000

Installation work continues at a good pace, despite inevitable delays caused by the near-constant floods for the last few months, now alternating with periods of low temperatures which mean concrete work cannot be carried out.

The cofferdam upstream and downstream is holding well despite the River Rea flowing fast over the last two months, the tailrace is now largely completed with gabion baskets, and work has started in the original wheel pit strengthening walls and making the concrete structure for housing turbine and generator. NSCH has already contracted a local electrician to prepare for the generator installation and dovetail the necessary work connecting to grid. We reckon to be generating around Easter at this rate.

Neen Sollars News: Steady progress through the floods at Neen Sollars

Neen Sollars Community Hydro — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 11:36:03 +0000

Leominster Solar News: Award winning progress

lcscboard — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 21:29:51 +0000

Though it is hard to believe, we have just reached the end of our first whole year of solar electricity generation. We have made great progress. Our prediction was to produce 42,000 kWh per annum. As of 10-12-12 I can confirm that we have reached over 47,000 kWh and therefore expect to meet our financial projections for the year. To add some further perspective, 47,000 kWh is the equivalent of 26.5 tonnes of carbon saved! (For those with any further interest carbon calculation, have a look at http://realtimecarbon.org.) Of course, we will share full details of our performance at the next AGM. Until then we hope you enjoy taking a look at the performance data from time to time and seeing the system in action!

We have another piece of good news to share. On Friday 12^th of October, Leominster Community Solar received the Robert Owen Sustainable Communities prize. The Robert Owen Group has three core elements of education, training and regeneration. You can find out more at www.robertowen.org. As a cooperative organisation the group re-invests surplus income in projects based in our communities in the UK and overseas. It is wonderful to have been recognized for such an award and we have received a handsome trophy which we hope to display in some way at the Sports Centre.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and look forward to seeing you at the AGM in June.

Neen Sollars News: The digger turns around

Neen Sollars Community Hydro — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 19:04:07 +0000

After completing work on the tailrace and a break to allow completion of the salmon run, we are now working on the sluice area – removing silt from the floods and preparing to excavate the turbine tailrace and prepare the concrete box in which the turbine will sit. In the New Year we will be getting to the high-tech bit!