Renewables First win North West Institute of Civil Engineers Award 2015.
On the 6th February 2015, at the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly hotel, Professor David Balmforth, President of ICE, awarded Renewables First the North West Civil Engineering Community Project Award 2015, for their work on the Saddleworth Community Hydro scheme.
The Dove Stone Hydro Scheme involved a partnership between the Saddleworth Community Hydro group, United Utilities and Renewables First. The hydro scheme – which was funded jointly by Defra and 160 shareholders – will generate £20,000 revenue a year as well as enough electricity for 75 houses, using water which would otherwise have gone to waste.
The Saddleworth Community Hydro Project consists of a 55 kW medium-head Crossflow turbine operating on the compensation flow from the United Utilities Dove Stone reservoir. Renewables First did everything from feasibility to commissioning on this highly innovative project that draws its water from the compensation flow pipe work within the dam structure. As a drinking water supply reservoir to Manchester the reservoir is a highly important asset so design integrity and Health & Safety on site were key concerns for United Utilities. The end result is an attractive hydro system which gets a great deal of local attention in a picturesque spot on Saddleworth Moor.