Final Report Water Power Enterprises
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Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council Hydro Feasibility Study Final Report Water Power Enterprises January 2008 1 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.software-partners.co.uk Contents Introduction 3 Feasibility Study – Brief and Methodology 4 Disclaimer 6 Location of Sites 7 Criteria for Selection 8 Technology 9 Environment Agency 12 Planning Requirements 14 Potential Hydro Sites: Location 1 - City Centre 15 Location 2 – Brinksway Weir 17 Location 3 – Brabyn’s Park, Marple Bridge 19 Location 4 – Chadkrik Weir 21 Location 5 – Otterspool Weir 24 Location 6 – Strawberry Hill, Roman Lakes 28 Location 7 – Brinnington Weir 32 Location 8 – Stringer’s Weir 37 Location 9 – Castle Hill Weir 41 Financial Analysis 46 Conclusion 48 Acknowledgements 49 Appendix 1 – Map of Sites 51 Appendix 2 – Archimedean Screw Cross Section 52 Appendix 3 – Project Timescale 53 Appendix 4.1 – Chadkirk Weir Sketch Plan 54 Appendix 5.1 – Otterspool Sketch Plan 55 Appendix 5.2 – Hydrological data 56 Appendix 5.3 – FDC and HDC 57 Appendix 5.4 – Power Curve 58 Appendix 6.1 – Strawberry Hill Sketch Plan 59 Appendix 6.2 – Hydrological data 60 Appendix 6.3 – FDC and HDC 61 Appendix 6.4 – Power Curve 62 Appendix 7.1 –Brinnington Weir Sketch Plan 63 Appendix 7.2 – Hydrological data 64 Appendix 7.3 – FDC and HDC 65 Appendix 7.4 – Power Curve 66 Appendix 8.1 –Stringer’s Weir Sketch Plan 67 Appendix 8.2 – Hydrological data 68 Appendix 8.3 – FDC and HDC 69 Appendix 8.4 – Power Curve 70 Appendix 9.1 –Castle Hill Sketch Plan 71 Appendix 9.2 – Hydrological data 72 Appendix 9.3 – FDC and HDC 73 Appendix 9.4 – Power Curve 74 Appendix 10 – Financial Analysis 75 2 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.software-partners.co.uk Introduction The threat of climate change and the role of renewable energy in helping to reduce carbon emissions are now very high on the government’s agenda. Renewable energy schemes such as Wind and Biomass – which have tremendous opportunities to tackle climate change because of the large scale of their operations – receive considerable publicity. However, small scale hydro also offers opportunities for tackling climate change. In its report published in 2002, Renewables Northwest stated that if all the river weirs in the UK were used to generate electricity, they could meet 3% of the country’s electricity needs. River weirs once powered the industrial revolution. They can be re- used to help power a new green revolution. Small scale hydro has now begun to receive a higher profile as communities, local authorities and other statutory bodies respond in positive fashion to the challenges of climate change. In December 2005 Stockport Council produced a Scoping report entitled ‘Renewable Energy in Stockport’. This report considered all renewable energy sources and their potential application in Stockport, including hydro power. The Stockport Scoping report tentatively suggested three hydro sites, namely Castle Hill, Compstall Mill and Stawberry Hill. The Council followed this report with a consultation exercise, the results of which were shown in March of 2006 in a report entitled ‘Feedback from the two Stockport Council Renewable Energy Study Workshops’. The consultation exercise gave strong and positive feedback to Stockport Council to continue exploring the potential for renewable energy within the Borough. Stockport Council is a signatory of the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change. The Council’s Unitary Development Plan, adopted on 31st May, 2006, sets the framework within which renewable energy schemes within Stockport will be considered. This report will help to provide a basis upon which Stockport Council can consider the question of how to develop what are at the moment only potential hydro sites into fully working hydro schemes that can contribute towards generating renewable energy whilst also reducing carbon emissions. 3 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.software-partners.co.uk Feasibility Study – Brief and methodology Stockport Council made a successful application to the Energy Saving Trust in late 2008, to fund a study into the potential for hydroelectricity within the Borough. This report is a result of that funding. Interestingly, two of the three potential sites mentioned in the original Scoping report, namely Castle Hill and Strawberry Hill, are also explored in this study. The brief for the study is shown below... There are 8 sites identified so far as being potential hydro electricity sites in Stockport, one of which has progressed to the stage that it may well be developed shortly. Of the other eight identified, two are not under SMBC direct ownership but we would like to investigate their potential. Other sites within SMBC that are discovered during this process may be added to the list at a later date. The contractor is required to visit each site and compile/estimate data and produce a written report for stage one and one for each site on stage two. Stage one: · Carry out detailed measurements of all structures and watercourses · Desktop estimation of flow data and initial assessment of potential energy capture. · Assessment of suitability of your site for the various types of available equipment. · Calculation of system outline cost, likely revenue and economic payback time. For any sites that have not been discounted at stage one, the following then should continue to take the scheme forward. · Revisit site and confirm access/environmental issues. · Initial discussions with Environment Agency and planners. · Procurement of flow data specific to your site to generate accurate energy capture information and to size equipment. · Budget quotations for the supply and installation of equipment. · Sketch drawing of scheme. · Likely project timescale. A ninth site was added to the list prior to work commencing. Each of the 9 sites was visited on 10th November 2008. Suitable measurements, photographs and on site data were recorded to enable a decision on narrowing the 9 sites down to 5 viable sites. A Preliminary Report was produced on 28th November 2008 which discussed the criteria for selecting the 5 sites and outlined the potential 4 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.software-partners.co.uk power outputs of the 5 sites. This report, the Final Report, will discuss in more detail the 9 sites considered and their potential for hydro electric generation. 5 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.software-partners.co.uk Disclaimer This report has been prepared by Water Power Enterprises (h2oPE) solely for use by Stockport Council. This report is a feasibility study and does not represent a detailed system design. Any systems or equipment proposed for installation should be investigated in greater detail. In producing this report, h2oPE has relied upon information provided by third parties. Neither h2oPE nor their directors, employees or affiliated companies give any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the contents of the report, nor accept any responsibility of liability for any loss, whether direct, indirect or consequential, arising from reliance on it. Any use of this report by any third party for whatever purpose is solely the responsibility of that party who should use such due diligence to verify the report’s contents and consult its own advisers as may be appropriate. H2oPE does not give investment advice and nothing in this report constitutes, or should be taken as a recommendation to enter into, or the giving of any advice in relation to, any investment. H2oPE and associates take no responsibility for decisions made or actions taken based upon findings of this study or the contents of this report. The work described in this report was carried out with support from the Energy Saving Trust’s local authority One to One support programme. The views and judgements expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Energy Saving Trust 6 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.software-partners.co.uk Location of Sites The following sites were listed in the brief... River Location Name TAME SJ 927 932 Castle Hill (Arden Mill) Goyt SJ 910 907 Vernon Park- Stringers Weir TAME SJ 906 919 Brinnington weir Goyt SJ 941 898 Chadkirk Weir Goyt SJ897 908 City Centre- Goyt at confluence with Tame Goyt SJ 967 867 Strawberry Hill (Roman Lakes) Mersey SJ 883 894 Brinksway Weir (the Co-op) Goyt SJ 93 89 Otterspool Weir Goyt SJ 96 89 Brabyns Park – Marple Bridge Appendix 1 illustrates the geographical location of each site in relation to Stockport. 7 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.software-partners.co.uk Criteria for Selection Each site was assessed according to a number of criteria. The criteria were applied to each of the sites visited. 1. Site Access – any potential site must be capable of being accessed by construction traffic and be capable of allowing delivery of the turbine itself. In addition, there must be sufficient space adjacent to the river weir to allow for a temporary construction site. An additional factor is the proximity of the nearest electrical substation. 2. Cost and ease of construction. 3. Potential power output – dependent upon the height and flow of the river. 8 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.software-partners.co.uk Technology The power that can be derived from a hydro site is a function of the head – or height – of the river weir and the volume of water in the river. The bigger the head and the bigger the height, the more power can be generated. Hydro turbines at any specific site are designed to capture the greatest possible head and the greatest possible volume of water – within the constraints of the specific site and the requirements of the Environment Agency.