Exmoor land owners generate hydro power (From This is The West Country)

Exmoor land owners generate hydro power

4:45pm Friday 31st August 2007

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OWNERS of Exmoor sites that have water flowing across them will be sharing their experiences of trying to harness the power to generate electricity at a short and informative seminar.

The event is being held at Simonsbath Sawmill on Monday, September 10 at 6pm and aims to provide advice and information on how people could potentially generate renewable energy from water that flows over their land.

Attendees with potential hydro electric sites will be able to talk to a hydro engineer and arrange visits to their stream or river.

The event will include presentations from the Environment Agency and members of the Exmoor Renewable Energy Group, plus there will be an opportunity to see the turbine that is in place at the Sawmill, and speak to the hydro-engineer who installed it.

Exmoor Renewable Energy Group was formed in 2005 by a group of local micro-hydropower enthusiasts with support from Exmoor National Park Authority's Sustainable Development Fund, and the aim of helping to inspire and install renewable energy using the power of water.

Once completely up and running it is expected that five of the sites owned by EREG members will generate 230,000KWh, which is enough to power 50 local homes and reduce carbon emission by about 100 tonnes.

It is estimated that there are a further 90 sites on Exmoor that have the potential to generate micro-hydropower, which has huge implications for landowners and the area at large.

Phil Cookson, Sustainability and Economy Manager with Exmoor National Park Authority said: "This seminar is one part of the management plan journey to make Exmoor carbon neutral."

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