River Energy Networks

Mendip Power Group - a group of owners of watermill sites who are harnessing the potential energy of rivers in the Mendip area of Somerset - is developing a network to help others to install water turbines to generate electricity.

The River Energy Networks project will provide essential information on setting up micro-hydroelectric projects as well as access to connections with sites that are already up and running.

Getting off to a good start

"We want to help people who are interested in developing micro-hydropower sites on their land or in their community to get their projects off to a good start," comments Rachel Feilden, Secretary of Mendip Power Group. "Everyone involved in River Energy Networks has already been through the process themselves and our aim is to provide access to the information and expertise that would have been valuable to us when we were developing our own schemes."

One of the central resources on the network's website will be a 'diagnostic tree' to help with decision-making. "The diagnostic tree covers all of the areas that people need to explore in order to establish whether they have a viable site for micro-hydropower generation," says Rachel. "For example, if the volume of water at the site is below a certain level, then a hydro-electric turbine may not be suitable. In those cases, we can provide information on alternative forms of energy capture, such as closed-loop heat pumps."

Making connections

Anyone interested in developing a hydropower scheme will be able to join the River Energy Networks online community, the aim of which is to build connections and share good practice between projects in different parts of the country. "Each member of the network will have a profile containing information about their project," explains Rachel. "Network members will be able to browse these profiles and if they want to know more about a particular project, they can submit a request to be put in contact with the relevant member." 

The River Energy Networks website will launch in spring 2010. Rachel says that the project team hopes that it will help more watermill site owners recognise the potential energy held in rivers and other water sources, and to take responsibility for harnessing this potential.

Lobbying for change

Another area of the network's activity is lobbying organisations and individuals involved in making decisions about run-of-river hydropower. Working with the British Hydropower Association, the Renewable Energy Association and several micro-hydro companies, River Energy Networks has recently responded to consultations on the renewable energy feed-in tariff and proposed changes to fish-pass legislation.