Transition Keynsham Energy Group

A Hydroelectric Power Scheme for Keynsham. Is it possible? Introduction 3 Fesibilty Study 13 Why do we need a Hydroelectric 4 Environmental consent 15 Power scheme in Keynsham? The planning process 16 Consulting the local community 16 Where can it be built? 5 and other fiver users Memorial Park Weir 5 Summary of your route to approval 17 Keynsham Weir 6 The feed-in tariff 18 Other potential sites 6 Conditions that need to be meet 18 What type of Hydropower scheme 8 Case study 20 could we have? Torrs Hydro 20 Turbine options 8 Dyffryn Crawnon 21 Energy output - Initial calculations 10 Iyford Manor 22 Potential usage 11

Summary 12 Further reading 23 The next steps 13

2 Transition Keynsham Hydroelecric: version 1.0 September 2012 Introduction

In April 2011 Transition Keynsham published This report will concentrate only on the Keynsham’s Sustainable Energy Plan Hydroelectric Power Scheme as one of the (baseline study), supported by The Converging options for renewable energy in Keynsham. World. This plan was the first overall look into From the sustainable plan it was found that alternative options for energy generation in the there are currently two possible sites in town. These options included biomass, solar Keynsham for such a scheme. This report is hot water, solar photovoltaic, wind and the Transition Keynsham Energy Groups first hydroelectric power. investigation into the potential of the scheme in All these alternatives have good and bad points the town and will give a broad outline as and none are the ultimate answer to our energy to what work is needed to realise this within problem. They need to be used in conjunction the town. with each other as an overall energy solution. There are other options not discussed in this plan due to keynsham’s geographical location.

Transition Keynsham Hydroelectric Report: version 1.0 September 2012 3 Why do we need a Hydroelectric Power Scheme in Keynsham?

Looking at the sustainability of a town There are a number of ways of producing like Keynsham, alternative ways of producing renewable energy and using the power of water energy is vital to the future of its people and is just part of the solution. Our ancestors used community. Without energy Keynsham would water wheels to drive mills and our idea is to use be a very different place to work and live. turbines to dive a generator. So the thinking is not so different! With the Earth’s fossil fuel resources running out it is important to find alternative ways of There is no quick fix but with the help of the producing electricity, otherwise there will be community and each other we can achieve our no TV’s, video games, computers, washing goal of making Keynsham a sustainable town. machines, dishwashers or even being able The sustainable energy plan suggested to turn a light on. that the two possible sites for a scheme in Keynsham could produce up to 1,340,280 kWh per year.

4 Transition Keynsham Hydroelecric: version 1.0 September 2012 Where can it be built?

Keynsham sits at the junction of two rivers, Cllr Charles Gerrish. They looked at 3 weirs: the river Avon and the river Chew. Both these Memorial Park, Keynsham Weir (next to The rivers have weirs within Keynsham. Brass mill and The lock keepers pubs) and another unnamed site. Bath and West Community Energy (BWCE) group have already conducted a small search of The unnamed site was dismissed straight away possible sites for a Hydroelectric Power Scheme as it was too near a new housing estate and in the Keynsham area in conjunction with access would be very difficult.

Memorial Park Weir The Memorial Park Weir sits on the River Chew There is a good 4 - 5 metre drop (head), a and is in the middle of the park very close to positive for the scheme however the volume of both a children’s play area and also the band water that passes over the weir is relatively small stand. With its location and the fact that compared to the Keynsham Weir. potentially a proportion of this area of the park Appendix A shows a scheme at Torrs Hydro in New Mills, will have to be taken up by the power station Derbyshire where a 63kW Archimedes Screw was part of the scheme, this could mean it is not installed on a similar size weir so we can’t rule an ideal weir to use. this out as an option just yet.

Memorial Park Weir Memorial Park Weir

Transition Keynsham Hydroelectric Report: version 1.0 September 2012 5 Where can it be built?

Keynsham Weir The Keynsham Weir sits on the river Avon and To the north of the weir The Lock Keeper beer its location is between The Brassmill pub to the garden stretches to the edge of the river/weir south and The Lock Keeper pub to the north. and also with the permanent moorings also nearby, this side of the weir may not be suitable The weir was suggested as an option in both the at the moment. Sustainable Energy Plan and the BWCE group. On the Brassmill (south) side of the weir there is At the time of this suggestion the owner of a small overgrown wooded area, an ideal place the weir was unknown which caused a for the power house part of the scheme. It is stumbling block for a way forward. Information this spot which will initially be put forward for has now come to light that British Waterways the position of the scheme, with the consent of own the weir. Since 2nd July 2012 the British The Canal and River trust and the owner of the waterways ceased to exist in England and Wales, wooded area (to be confirmed) In it’s place the Canal and river trust was set up. There is also currently what we believe to The weir itself is very wide and therefore any be a fish pass on the north side of the weir. hydropower scheme would have minimal This should not cause an issue with our impact. However the it has a smaller head than planned scheme. the Memorial Park wier, 3 - 4 metres (this needs to be confirmed).

Keynsham Weir North side Keynsham Weir South side

6 Transition Keynsham Hydroelecric: version 1.0 September 2012 Where can it be built?

Keynsham Weir fish pass Potential site for weir

Woodland area on south side of Keynsham Weir

Other potential sites There are 4 other weirs outside of the Ferry Road, Hanham River Avon boundaries of the town have also been The Oak house, Bath Road, Bitton River Avon suggested and these need to be looked Jolly Sailor, Saltford River Avon at in more detai, they are: Saltford Marina River Avon

Transition Keynsham Hydroelectric Report: version 1.0 September 2012 7 What type of Hydropower Scheme could we have?

There are three main types of hydropower schemes:

• Storage schemes - where a dam impounds • Run of river schemes - use the natural water into a reservoir that feeds a turbine flow of a river and divert water to a remote and generator. powerhouse containing the turbine and generator to generate electricity. • Pumped storage schemes - which incorporate two reservoirs. At times of Our potential scheme is a Run of river (ROR) low demand, normally at night, electricity and is the simplest scheme to have with minimal is used to pump water from the lower to disruption to the existing river and environment. the upper basin. This is realised through As our scheme is also relatively small, turbines to generate electricity when less than 50 kW (see 1.3.5), it is classed demand is high. as a micro hydro scheme.

Turbine options There are several options available for types of the amount of debris in the river, available funds turbines that could be used. The choice is often and amount of electricity to be generated. determined by the location of the scheme, The following are the current available turbines:

Reverse Archimedes Screw Gorlov helical turbine Francis and propeller turbines

8 Transition Keynsham Hydroelecric: version 1.0 September 2012 What type of Hydropower Scheme could we have?

The energy output of a ROR hydropower scheme depends on 3 main factors.

1. The flow rate of the river.

2. The height of the weir - also known as the head

3. Capacity of the turbine

The current favoured type of turbine for a ROR scheme is the Reverse Archimedes Screw and there are several examples of these in the UK.

Kaplan turbine Water wheel Gravitational water vortex

Transition Keynsham Hydroelectric Report: version 1.0 September 2012 9 Energy output - initial calulations

Calculations are based on initial flow rate Capacity factor calculations, actual flow rates would be ‘Capacity factor’ is a ratio summarising how hard established as part of our feasibility study a turbine is working and can be expressed as: Flow rate Capacity factor (%) = Previous studies of the flow rates of Energy generated per year (kWh/year) Keynsham Weir have shown: Installed capacity (kW) x 8760 hours/year Normal flow rate = 0.5 m3/s A first estimate of how a Capacity factor varies Peak flow rate = 3.5 to 5 m3/s with design flow (flow rate) is given: estimated head of weir = 4 m Design flow, Q0 Capacity Factor Q mean 40% Design flow 0.75 Q mean 50% The turbine design flow for a ROR scheme 0.50 Q mean 60% cannot be greater than the maximum flow 0.33 Q mean 70% rate unless a small reservoir is used. For this the maximum design flow (Qmean) will be Peak Power equal to the flow rate. The peak power, P, of the scheme can be It is important to consider design flow as the estimated from the design flow, Q0, and the greater the chosen flow value, the smaller the head, H, as follows: proportion of the year that the system will be P(kW) = 7 x Q0(m3/s) x H(m) operating on full power, for example it will have a lower capacity factor.

10 Transition Keynsham Hydroelecric: version 1.0 September 2012 Energy output - initial calulations

Energy output

The annual energy output of the scheme can To give an overview of the potential energy now be estimated using the Capacity Factor output of a scheme at the Keynsham Weir (CF) as follows: we’ve calculated the estimated energy outputs at normal and peak flow rates with a high and Energy (kWh/year) = P(kW) x CF x 8760 low capacity turbine.

Flow Rate Peak Power Energy output Turbine Capacity Factor (m3/5) (kw) (kWh/year) High Capacity 40% 0.5 (normal) 14 49,056 High Capacity 40% 3.5 (peak) 98 343,392 Low Capacity 70% 0.5 (normal) 4.62 28,330 Low Capacity 70% 3.5 (peak) 32.34 198,309

Potential usage There is always a balance between choosing 50%-70% to give a satisfactory return a larger, more expensive turbine which takes on the investment. a high flow but operates at a low capacity From the Sustainable Energy Plan the average factor and selecting a smaller turbine which will household in Keynsham uses 3,787 kWh generate less energy over the year but will be of electricity. working flat out more of the time. The table below shows the potential usage The capacity factor of most mirco hydropower for the scheme: schemes would normally fall within the range of

Energy output Turbine Flow Rate No. of households (kw/year) High Capacity normal 49,056 13 High Capacity peak 343,392 91 Low Capacity normal 28,330 7.5 Low Capacity peak 198,309 52

Transition Keynsham Hydroelectric Report: version 1.0 September 2012 11 Summary

This may not seem very much in terms of It is important to note that we have only amount of electricity generate but combined considered sites that already have a weir with other renewable energy schemes and a and natural drop in river height. Other options reduction in the amount of energy we consume could be available in the future by they could it can make a big difference. involve more disruption to the local and surrounding environments and will not be Overall we currently have two potential sites for considered at this time. a hydropower scheme in Keynsham. The most promising is at Keynsham Weir and it is this site On initial estimates the hydropower scheme has that we should concentrate our effects into for the potential to produce enough electricity to the time being. If this site is found not to be power up to 91 homes on current electricity suitable then we can look into other sites, consumptions. such as Memorial Park.

12 Transition Keynsham Hydroelecric: version 1.0 September 2012 The next steps

1. Decide on a suitable site. 7. Check access to local and national grid, contact local network operator 2. Consult with BANES as to the possibility of to permission to connect. a hydropower scheme. 8. Pre-application planning consolations. 3. Find out who owns the weir/river and Talk to the Environment Agency, Local right access to the river and any land Planning Authority, local community and surrounding it. other river users. 4. Talk to an approved installer to discuss the 9. Submit full applications. This will scheme in more detail. include abstraction licence, impoundment 5. Raise funds for a pre-feasibility, licence, flood defence consent and fish feasibility study. pass requirements.

6. Carry out a feasibility study to determine 10. Once all the necessary permits and whether the scheme is viable. permissions have been granted the scheme can be developed.

Information source: River Power Ltd.

Feasibility Study A feasibility study uses accurate data and looks For a domestic-scale scheme (for example, less closely at costs. It can take the project forward than 30kW) a detailed feasibility study may not from the initial idea to a final design that will be affordable and a less detailed Pre-feasibility support the applications for project finance and study may prove sufficient. the necessary licenses. It is therefore always This would cover the same basic ground but use wise to employ a professional to conduct the approximate data analysed less extensively. It feasibility study and the detailed design work. should be possible to commission a The full cost of a feasibility study carried out by pre-feasibility study for less than £3,000. an independent consultant depends on its scope and on the specific characterisitics of the site but would typically be £5,000 to £10,000.

Transition Keynsham Hydroelectric Report: version 1.0 September 2012 13 The next steps

The following essential tasks should form The feasibility study will not include: components of a feasibility study: • Detailed designs • Historical overview • On site flow analysis • Topographic site analysis • Sub-soil analysis • Flow analysis • Land and structural surveys • Environmental permissions • Detailed drawings • Planning permissions • Quotations from suppliers or negotiations • Additional permissions with agencies or authorities.

• Turbines and Ancillary Equipment

• Health and Safety The feasibilty sudy will not provide a solution but a viability. • Revenue and Cost analysis

• Funding

• Project Management

• Recommendations

14 Transition Keynsham Hydroelecric: version 1.0 September 2012 The next steps

Environmental consent Hydroelectric schemes can be complex and need Impoundment to be designed and managed carefully to avoid Any new or raised weir will change the water unacceptable impacts on communities and the levels and flows in the river by impounding river environment. more water above it. This needs to be agreed upon. Probably won’t affect us. The Environment Agency regulates the installation and operation of hydropower Flood risk schemes in England and Wales. Permission The Environment Agency’s agreement will will need to be granted from the Environment be needed for any works in or near rivers Agency to operate your scheme. that have the potential to increase flood risk. This will include both construction Before applying for formal permission a and the finished scheme. pre-application form must be completed. During this process their guidance will Fish passage inform of which permits will be required for For most schemes, the Environment Agency the full application. These will consider the will require a fish pass to allow fish to pass following factors: safely up and down the river. Keynsham weir already has a fish pass. Abstraction The Environment Agency’s agreement is Information from the environmant agency: needed as to the amount of water your Hydropower: a guide for you and your community scheme can take from the river to flow through a hydropower turbine.

Transition Keynsham Hydroelectric Report: version 1.0 September 2012 15 The next steps

The planning process Along with the environmental consent most Impacts can be seen as positive or negative so hydropower schemes also need planning it is very important to involve other river users permission from the local planning authority. in your plans. The best schemes offer multiple Early consultation is important. They will benefits. As every hydropower scheme is very consider issues such as flood risk, physical different there is not a standard list of people to appearance of any buildings, ecology, contact. The following would be a good idea to landscape, amenity and archaeology. involve:

A Design and Access Statement will need to • Adjacent landowners and riparian (river be provided. If the potential impact on the or river bank) owners environment is considered significant enough • Local angling clubs and associations an Environmental Statement will need to support your planning application. • Local Rivers Trust (or Association of Rivers Trusts) This has to be complied by a technically competent person and needs to include • Local Wildlife Trust information the Environment Agency used to • Recreation interests (for example local determine which permits to issue. The local boating, canoeing and rowing clubs) planning authority will consult with other people who may be affected by the scheme and The following organisations should also be the application may be decided by a Planning consulted as there may be extra requirements Committee of elected Councillors. in certain areas:

• Natural England Consulting the local community • English Heritage and other river users The planning and permitting systems will Harnessing the power of rivers through ensure that those affected by a scheme have an hydropower schemes is just one of many river opportunity to comment, but contacting them useages. These schemes have an impact on early will reduce the risk of subsequent delays other users which include water abstractors, during the planning process. anglers, canoeists or those who enjoy the natural beauty of an area.

Information from E.A - Hydropower

16 Transition Keynsham Hydroelecric: version 1.0 September 2012 The next steps

Summary of your route to approval • Carry out preliminary work to assess the • Consult the local electricity network feasibility of a hydropower scheme. Seek operator for details of their requirements advice from the Energy Saving Trust. for connecting the scheme to the grid. www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/ • Submit a full application to the Environment • Discuss the scheme with a Agency, including information to help Microgeneration Certification obtain an abstraction licence, impoundment Scheme (MSC) installer to make sure licence, flood defence consent and fish pass it is eligible for Feed-in Tariffs decision as necessary. (see next section) • At the same time an application for planning • Contact the Environment Agency to permission to the Local Planning Authority indicate interest in developing a should be submitted. hydropower scheme. • The applications will be considered and • Complete a pre-application form and the outcome given in good time. Good Practice Guidelines checklists and submit them to the Environment Agency. During this process an Environment Agency account manager will be allocated to the scheme

• Consult the Local Planning Authority for advice about planning requirements at the site and consult the local community and other river users.

Information from E.A - Hydropower

Transition Keynsham Hydroelectric Report: version 1.0 September 2012 17 The next steps

The feed-in Tariff Conditions that need to be meet Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) are available from energy To be eligible for FITs it is important to ensure suppliers, who make regular payments to that an approved installer companies and householders and communities who products are used, which are listed on generate their own electricity from renewable www.microgenerationcertification.org. or low carbon sources such as micro Approved installer companies are members of hydropower schemes. a consumer code of practice which meets Office of Fair Trading requirements. The scheme guarantees: Some parts of a micro hydro installation, such as • A fixed payment per kilowatt hour for all civil engineering works, can be undertaken by electricity generated by the system, whether developers, communities or other companies. you use it for yourself or sell it to an But to be eligible for FITs, the turbines, controls electricity supplier and electrical parts must be installed by an • A separate payment for any electricity approved company. exported to the National Grid The turbine must also be listed as approved. For • In addition to these payments, you will also list of products and installation save money by reducing your electricity bills companies eligible for FITs, see www.microgenerationcertification.org. FITs are designed so that the income from your installation over its lifetime will be sufficient Schemes above 50kW and below 5MW can to cover the cost of the system and provide a be eligible for FITs or Renewable Obligation reasonable return. Certificates (ROCs) without requiring MCS accreditation.

Eligibility for accreditation is determined by applying to Ofgem through their Renewable and CHP Register www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/ Environment/RCHPreg.

18 Transition Keynsham Hydroelecric: version 1.0 September 2012 The next steps

MCS is an independent scheme that approves Grants and funding products and installation companies against In England there are currently no national energy consistent standards to protect consumers. related grants for micro hydropower schemes. The MCS micro hydro standards are published Financial support is now provided solely by FITs. on the MCS website where approved installer However local grant assistance may be available companies and products are listed. for related work such as that on feasibility How to register for FITs studies, water course improvement, fish passes or biodiversity. To be eligible for FITs, the approved installer will register the installation details and It is important to note that UK aid policy and commissioning date on the MCS database. This European state aid regulations need to be provides the verification required by Ofgem and observed. Your installation may not be eligible your chosen energy supplier. This is a new UK for FITs if you receive certain grant funding, or law so it is advised to check the current payment you may be asked to pay back grant assistance process before signing contracts with any in order to benefit from tariffs. You should particular energy supplier. establish the eligibility of the funding sources for your scheme before proceeding. Further information on FITs and grants can be found at www.decc.gov.uk/FITs.

Transition Keynsham Hydroelectric Report: version 1.0 September 2012 19 Case study Torrs Hydro New Mills, Derbyshire

Torrs Hydro is the firstcommunity-owned The scheme is located on an existing weir on hydropower scheme. The corporate objectives the site of Torr Mill, a textile mill built in 1790 of Torrs Hydro are to help to regenerate which was destroyed in a fire in 1912. the community, improve the environmental The turbine actually sits in the same location as sustainability of the New Mills area, and to the original mill pit, where the water wheel promote community development. would have been. Some of the original stones Members of the local community have formed from the mill pit now line the surroundings of an Industrial and Provident Society to manage the turbine. the project and 230 members have invested A 63Kw Archimedes screw turbine aims to over £125,000 towards the hydropower generate over 240,000 kWh each year. Torrs scheme’s total cost of £330,000. Loans and Hydro worked closely with the developer and the grant funding made up the difference Environment Agency to ensure that the scheme This scheme was completed before Feed-in was environmentally sustainable. Tariffs started so Torrs Hydro was registered in This included installing a fish pass to allow the this way so that the community could own safe movement and migration of fish up and the hydro electric scheme and operate it for down the river. their benefit. To find out more please visit Torrs Hydro is open to the public and offer open www.torrshydro.org days for visitors to come and see the scheme as well as offering school visits and private visits to others concidering a scheme.

Information from E.A - Hydropower

20 Transition Keynsham Hydroelecric: version 1.0 September 2012 Case study Dyffryn Crawnon Llangynidr Powys

Dyffryn Crawnon is a community of 23 to developing and financing small scale homes in a quiet valley in the Brecon Beacons hydropower schemes in Wales. National Park. The community-owned micro- The Green Valleys has been helping with the hydropower scheme. Dyffryn Crawnon Green Environment Agency licensing procedure and Energy is part shared by each home in the working with the local authority planning community and was expected to cost less than department to ensure that the scheme meets £50,000 to build. the highest environmental standards. The Dyffryn Crawnon scheme is a typical high The turbine house will be partially buried, made head (over 20 metre) system. As little as 17 from local stone, and topped with a turf roof. litres per second will be diverted from the Nant y Wenynen stream. The water will then be The scheme has been funded by grants, loans piped down the hill to drive the turgo wheel in and capital provided by The Green Valleys. the turbine house 130m below, before being Income from the scheme will be used to support returned to the stream. activities in the valley to save energy and generate the energy that is used from renewable Once it is up and running, the scheme will sources, the community’s aim is to make be able to generate more than 65,000 kWh Dyffryn Crawnon a carbon negative valley each year. The scheme is being developed in partnership with The Green Valleys - itself To find out more please visit a community interest company dedicated www.thegreenvalleys.org

Transition Keynsham Hydroelectric Report: version 1.0 September 2012 21 Case study Iford Manor Bradford - on - Avon

In December 2011 the Archimedes screw 10-15 homes. Currently the electricity is sold to turned for the first time at the Iford Manor the national grid via FIT with Good Energy. Hydropower scheme. The scheme was built at The scheme was paid for by the estate, costing the site of an old eel trap next to a very old clay approximately £330,000 and it is hoped this weir on the river Frome which runs through the will be paid back over a 10 year period. Iford Estate. The installation was contracted to a local firm, It was the brain child of the owner of Iford Potential Energy of Shepton Mallet. Iford Manor to use the power of the river to Manor also worked closely with the local generate electricity without impacting on community and Environment Agency before, the local environment. during and after installation to ensure the “It has always seemed daft to us that we scheme is fully sustainable. have this powerful resource running through the valley which is essentially unharnessed.” Transition Keynsham Energy Group recently visited the scheme, which gave an insight The head of the weir is 1.75m with a max flow into what we could have in Keynsham. rate of 4.0m3/sec and the single screw can generate up to 44 kW of energy. To find out more please visit

Even at low river levels it generates 15-20 kW www.ifordians.blogspot.co.uk of energy which is enough electricity to power www.potenergy.co.uk/iford_manor.php

22 Transition Keynsham Hydroelecric: version 1.0 September 2012 Further reading

www.therenewableenergycentre.co.uk/hydroelectric-power www.renewables-map.co.uk/default.asp www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Hydroelectricity www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT3Gwp1SXvc&feature=related www.goodenergy.co.uk www.tvakids.com/electricity/hydro.htm www.reuk.co.uk/UK-Hydro-Power-Stations.htm www.transitionnetwork.org

Notes

Transition Keynsham Hydroelectric Report: version 1.0 September 2012 23 Thanks,

This report has been produced by Keynsham Transistion energy group, part of the Global Transition movement.

To find out more about transition in Keynsham or get involved visit: www.keynshamt.wordpress.com www.transitionnetwork.org