Dane Valley Community Energy's story
Congleton Hydro is one of the first community-based generation schemes within Cheshire East. The project will produce enough clean, green energy to power the equivalent of 60 homes. The scheme will utilise the waterpower from the River Dane by installing a 65kW turbine. This installation will include a 2.5m diameter, 8m long Archimedes screw which will drive the 75kW electrical generator. Once generated, the power will be transported through a 1000m cable to the Siemens factory. It is hoped that this project will provide the necessary vehicle for other environmentally conscious local companies and institutions to get involved.
Dane Valley Community Energy (DVCE) is a not-for-profit organisation, consisting of professional, skilled and environmentally conscious volunteers. DVCE will install and operate the hydro-electric generation plant on the River Dane, at Havannah Weir. The weir, which has been in place for more than 250 years will now be used to generate energy from rainwater providing a renewable, greener form of energy generation. The project has successfully secured funding using a community shared ownership scheme organised by Shareenergy.
Useful learnings from Dane Valley Community Energy
The scheme produces 275kWh carbon-free electricity generation per year, which reduces Cheshire East's output of CO2 emissions and reliance on fossil fuels for energy generation.
The project has a projected surplus of approximately £5,000 per year which will be used to fund other local community projects.
The Hydro-electric generation plant maintains Congleton's industrial heritage and provides the opportunity to raise awareness of environmental issues and offer an exceptional educational resource for local schools.
A Rural Community Energy Fund government grant in 2020 supported the provision of evidence to approve the scheme.
More information can be found here: https://www.localenergynw.org/files/case_studies/energy-hub-case-study-congleton-hydro.pdf?57dd516501
Dane Valley Community Energy's metrics
Amount of carbon-free electricity generated per year (275kWh).
Amount of projected surplus per year (£5,000).
