07 October 2004

Alternative Energy Blog - Alternative-Energy-News.com: Alternative Energy Japan - Micro & Mini Hydroelectric

Alternative Energy Blog - Alternative-Energy-News.com: Alternative Energy Japan - Micro & Mini Hydroelectric: "Small-scale hydroelectric power plants have long been regarded as suitable for producing electricity in mountainous areas, but now they are increasingly used in cities as well."

Which is what got my atention. When I walk into Durham, I walk along the river bank into the city centre. I pass a huge weir and tend to wonder how much energy it could generate [there's an old water mill just a few hundred metres upriver too] and who would need to be lent on to investigate. I'm sure that a not insignificant power input to the city centre grid could be achieved ...



Anyway this article makes me think that I may not be dreaming.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I don't know if you have anything to do with the University, but you should ask this excellent question to the Engineering Department. I seem to vaguely recall that the weir was designed by them.

You obviously have a nice walk in to Durham! I remember that weir well from when I did my degree there.

"Spend and tax" not "tax and spend"

 I got a response from my MP which got me kind of mad. You'll see why as I reproduce it here. Apologies for the strange changes in types...