The Project - Kentmere Hydro
The concept of a community-owned hydro scheme in the valley came out of a regular meeting of the community. At a subsequent special meeting called to explore the strength of feeling for this, it was agreed to set up a Steering Group of suitably qualified residents to investigate and report back. Their work is now embodied as Phase 1 and is nearly complete. The Steering Group reported back to the community on 11 th May 2009 that a scheme was viable. That Meeting gave its support to action that the Steering Group should conclude the setting up of a charitable company as soon as possible to enable it to continue its work in a formal setting.
The mission for Kentmere Hydro is twofold – initially, to construct and run a 360kW hydro-electric generating scheme to harness the power potential of the river Kent to help reduce the use of carbon fuelled power generation. This will provide a long-term renewable source of some 1,250MWh of electricity per year, whilst respecting the river's intrinsic beauty, environmental sensitivity and ecological value in an area of overall outstanding natural beauty.
The concept of a community-owned hydro scheme in the valley came out of a regular meeting of the community. At a subsequent special meeting called to explore the strength of feeling for this, it was agreed to set up a Steering Group of suitably qualified residents to investigate and report back. Their work is now embodied as Phase 1 and is nearly complete. The Steering Group reported back to the community on 11 th May 2009 that a scheme was viable. That Meeting gave its support to action that the Steering Group should conclude the setting up of a charitable company as soon as possible to enable it to continue its work in a formal setting.
The mission for Kentmere Hydro is twofold – initially, to construct and run a 360kW hydro-electric generating scheme to harness the power potential of the river Kent to help reduce the use of carbon fuelled power generation. This will provide a long-term renewable source of some 1,250MWh of electricity per year, whilst respecting the river's intrinsic beauty, environmental sensitivity and ecological value in an area of overall outstanding natural beauty.