In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Steve Heaven <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes >On Fri, 2008-10-10 at 07:03 +0000, chris potter wrote: > >> >> There was a working hydro power station at Linton Lock is anything >>left of it? and why was it taken out of use? CKP >> > > >These people have plans for hydro power on the Severn. > >http://www.severnhydronav.com/
The G&S & River Severn User Forum had an interesting talk from the Severn Hydro & Nav company this week. They seem to be getting positive interest from some of the local authorities on the upper reaches (above the limit of nav), and appear to have a good product. The inflatable dam has been installed in around 4000 places in mainland Eu, but not in the UK. They have backing from some big civil engineering organisations. The intention for electricity generation is to use a Kaplan turbine <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaplan_turbine> which is compact and efficient in low-head applications. I didn't make a note of their expected total generation but have a vague memory of 4 MW being mentioned. The main benefit being pushed was perhaps more about making the river more user-friendly by maintaining water levels during the summer, plus enhanced flood control. I'm not wholly sure that the inflatable dams will make a huge contribution to the latter, given the vast amounts of water flowing in extreme conditions, but it won't make matters worse. BW were slightly sniffy I thought about their proposals, but apparently there are several companies with similar schemes pushing their wares. Wassail! -- Martin E Phillips http://www.g4cio.demon.co.uk Homebrewing, black pudding, boats, morris dancing, ham radio and more! The Gloucester-Sharpness canal web page http://www.glos-sharpness.org.uk
