Two case studies with rather different headlines this week. The community ownership aspect of this is an interesting development.

Community-owned 50kW Archimedes screw generates electricity from River Esk 

wwtonline: ‘A community-owned 50kW Archimedes screw hydroelectric turbine has been installed on the River Esk at Ruswarp, near Whitby, North Yorkshire to generate electricity for local residents.The River Esk can send up to 4 tonnes of water down the Archimedean screw every second – forcing it to rotate whilst a generator extracts the energy made by the turning of the screw, converting it into electricity. As principal contractor, national engineering and construction company JN Bentley  was responsible for the design of the scheme, which has also included the refurbishment of the existing Environment Agency fish pass and its conversion to a Larinier-type fish pass to help increase the River Esk’s salmon and sea trout stocks. Click here to read more. 

Teddington project blocked by Shell club

Shell is involved in blocking the development of a renewable energy project in a legal battle between a private club owned by the company and a community hydropower scheme on the river Thames.

The scheme at Teddington lock and weirs has won planning permission and defeated a judicial review from the Lensbury club, but the club is now seeking to appeal against the judicial review decision. Click here to read more