Community power station planned

A renewable energy company plans to build hydro electric power plants on the River Goyt near Stockport.

H2oPE, a community interest company, is trying to raise £250,000 from a share offering to finance the project at the Otterspool and Stringer weirs near Marple.

The company, which already runs the UK’s first community-owned hydro scheme in New Mills, has set up Stockport Hydro Ltd and says the two schemes will be the first of their kind in Greater Manchester.

Managing director Steve Welsh said Otterspool would have a 54kW installed capacity and will generate approximately 209,000 kWh per year, enough to power around 50 houses, saving 90 tonnes of CO2 per year or 3,500 tonnes over its estimated 40 year lifetime, while Stringer has a 76kW installed capacity and will generate approximately 330MWh per year, enough to power around 70 houses and will save around142 tonnes of CO2 per year or 5,600 tonnes over its lifetime.