Hydro-electric plant planned for River Don

An eco-friendly power plant could be built on the banks of the River Don if ambitious plans to generate “green” electricity get off the ground.Councillors were expected yesterday to back an application by the Small Hydro Company for a hydro-ele

An eco-friendly power plant could be built on the banks of the River Don if ambitious plans to generate “green” electricity get off the ground.

Councillors were expected yesterday to back an application by the Small Hydro Company for a hydro-electric plant at the Aldwarke Weir, which could provide power for up to 1,000 homes.

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The scheme, believed to be the first of its kind in the borough, could generate up to 250 kilowatts of energy at its peak, according to planning documents.

Any fears of the proposed plant being a blot on the landscape have been allayed by the news that just a 10ft cabin would be visible on the far side of the weir from Aldwarke Lane.

Small Hydro, who are based in Oxfordshire, are proposing to build a concrete channel on a piece of land connecting two sections of the river which are on different levels.

The underground channel would contain a turbine with a diameter of 4.5 metres (15ft), which would be driven by the flow of the river and produce renewable electricity.

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The possible 250 kilowatts of energy generated is expected to be linked to the National Grid and would amount to 2.5 per cent of the hydro-energy target set out for Yorkshire and the Humber in Government guidance.

The area is prone to flooding, but planning officers have concluded that the hydro plant would not cause any extra problems.

Measures to ensure fish and eels are not caught in the machinery would also be included.

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