Power to the people...

Stockport Friends of the Earth are supporting Greater Manchester's first community-owned hydroelectric scheme, which is to be situated in Stockport on the River Goyt at Otterspool, Bredbury.

Stockport Hydro Ltd is run as a co-operative for the benefit of the community on a one-member, one-vote basis. The share offer remains open. In addition to generating electricity using Archimedes Screw technology, the scheme will donate any surplus income to local environmental and community projects.

h2ope, who are managing the development of the scheme on behalf of Stockport Hydro, have worked closely with Stockport Borough Council to make the project a reality. The River Bain Hydro featured in the BBC Look North video above uses the same technology.

Progress...

The project remains in budget and the funding is in place, but additional investment is welcomed.

Civil engineering work has started and the Archimedes Screws are on order.

Louise Fowler, one of the scheme's directors, said "It's really great news. As a local resident it's exciting to think that in a few months Stockport will be generating its own renewable energy."