Posted on April 6th 2013

Dudbridge Hydro Update

Phase 1A

From Project Manager Keith Tibbitts Turbine manufacture is now well advanced with all major components ready for final assembly at the Ecowave workshop in Crewkerne, Somerset.

Local businesses benefit

The five valleys of Stroud have long been a cradle of engineering expertise. Renewables First, a Brimscombe based company, carried out the original feasibility study and advised on the mechanical and electrical aspects of the project.

Location of the Hydro Plant Structural steelwork and the galvanized steel turbine chamber roof has been fabricated by de Havilland Engineering of Stonehouse. The roof will be fitted with insulation panels before installation and then fixed into place when the turbine arrives on site. The generator support plinth was supplied by STB Engineering of Brimscombe. The plinth will withstand the drive belt tension of almost 1 tonne. The cable installation contract has been placed with another local company Hampton Electrical Services of Minchinhampton.

Volunteers working on the generator housing Trust volunteers involved The CCT hydro team now consists of ten willing volunteers who have been working extremely hard on site each Tuesday since the first week in March. The volunteers recently fixed the generator plinth support steelwork and encased it in concrete. Big businesses now play their part The purchase order has been placed with Western Power Distribution (WPD) for the main 3 phase power cable connection at the canalside. WPD intend to connect the system to the National Grid in late April. This will involve digging a trench along the footpath. Good Energy has been chosen as our preferred feed-in-tariff licensee. OFGEM has also been been notified about the project. Switched on Students Marling School Y12 students are still involved in various mini hydro projects, including the installation of an electronic public display panel giving kW and kWh output readings. The turbine will be probably be commissioned in May 2013 due to the Environment Agency rules regarding the fish-spawning season. You can keep up to date with Dudbridge Hydro on Twitter & Facebook Renewable First STB Engineering Hampton Electrical Services de Havilland Engineering Click on the company names above or the logos below, to find out about the companies involved in this scheme.