Clean energy by the community, for the community February 2012
Slide 2 Questions..... Who is Ham Hydro and where do they come
from? What are their objectives and what are they doing? What are
the benefits for the community? How do they want to achieve this?
What are the impacts going to be? What do the numbers look like?
What is the overall timing? How can I get involved? Slide 3 Ham
Hydro CIC is Created by members of Ham United Group (HUG) in early
2010 the objectives of the company are to generate electricity from
renewable sources and use the income generated to promote and
develop low- carbon solutions in the local area, and support the
local community We want to act locally. We believe renewable energy
is part of the solution. We want to have ownership of the project.
We want to see the benefits retained locally. Slide 4 And these are
the members of the team Slide 5 The Ham Hydro Journey 2006: members
of HUG looked into the possibility of developing hydro power at
Teddington Weir. Mid-2009: steering group formed and feasibility
study commissioned. Summer 2009: feasibility study completed;
discussions begin over structure of company and members commitment
to project. Supporters of HH Slide 6 The Ham Hydro Journey April
2010: Ham Hydro CIC formed - develops a submission in response to
call for expression of interest by Environment Agency (EA). Slide 7
The Ham Hydro Journey August 2010: Shortlisted, then selected as
the developer by the EA. Obligation to work with the EAs preferred
civil engineering firm, Morrison Construction. January 2011: signed
an exclusivity agreement with the EA we are now exclusively
permitted to develop the project. We won the exclusive rights to
develop this Slide 8 The Ham Hydro Journey Spring 2011:
Environmental Impact Assessment initial screening accepted by
Richmond Council. Autumn 2011: Environmental Site Audit and Flood
Risk Assessment undertaken. December 2011: submit application for
planning permission. Slide 9 Concept is based on Archimedean Screws
Archimedean Screws have been used for 1,000s of years but until
recently their purpose has always been to raise water. By reverse
engineering the screws and installing it on a river it is possible
to utilise the energy generated by the flow of the river. This is
amplified when sited at a weir as the drop in water level can also
be exploited. Water passes from upstream of the installation into
the screw channel. It then passes through the screw and the force
from the flow turns the screw. The turning of the screw is used to
generate clean electricity which can then be used or sold on. Slide
10 Positioned on Teddington Side of the Weir Section of weir to be
replaced Slide 11 Slide 12 Power Generation depends on several
factors Water flow 0-300 m 3 /s - 50% of time 35 m 3 /s and more
Capacity 27 m 3 /s Head 0.3-2.2 m Tide Residual flow 5 m 3 /s Peak
Power 492 kW and total annual production 1.9 million kW/h = 600
homes Slide 13 Slide 14 Flow Slide 15 Flow & Head For the
project to break even requires a minimum average flow of 21 m 3 /s
over the weir. The minimum average flow over the last 10 years has
been 21 m 3 /s - over the last 40 years, 18 m 3 /s. The mean flow
since records began (1883) is 56 m 3 /s. The maximum capacity of
our turbines is 27 m 3 /s. Our recent modelling of the flow and
head data in 2010 collected every 15 minutes shows that, had our
scheme been installed, the yield would have been 1,933,000 kWh.
Slide 16 Fish Friendliness Archimedean screws are the preferred
technology of the EA due to their minimal impact on downstream
migration of fish. Multiple studies have concluded fish can pass
unhindered through the screws and suffer minimal damage if hit.
Slide 17 Fish passage through screw Slide 18 Fish passage via fish
pass The 2 existing fish passes will be replaced by a much larger
double gradient Larinier pass, as recommended by the Environment
Agency. This will improve upstream migration for all fish species
recorded in the Thames region. Slide 19 Noise impact The noise
impact assessment we conducted for our planning application was
carried out according to Richmond Councils specifications. Further
background noise survey has been carried out by the Council.
Further research is being carried out by us and the screw
manufacturers to model the possible noise impact. We will implement
appropriate noise mitigation as required. Slide 20 Benefits of the
project Community ownership The community decides what to do with
the community fund The community earns interest on their investment
Environmental impact Clean energy production (CO2 neutral) equals
600 homes or 80% of the boroughs secondary schools 1,000 tons CO2
savings compared to conventional energy generation Community fund
Re-invest in further renewable energy projects Support those who
suffer from fuel poverty Any other ideas the community will decide
Slide 21 Further benefits of the project Raise awareness and speed
up roll-out of low carbon projects in the area more carbon savings
Educational benefits: research/school projects Sustainability
Workshops Connect with Kingston University graduate project to
analyse flow data already undertaken St. Marys University plans to
develop a sustainability display w. link to project Newland House
School building hydro model and learning about renewable energy
Grey Court School Science department very interested in the project
Real time display of output and description of scheme Slide 22
Licences & Planning Permission All hydropower schemes in the UK
require licences issued by the EA. Ham Hydro has submitted an
application for an impoundment licence and will also submit
applications for flood defence consents. Must meet flood risk,
fisheries and other environmental criteria. Our planning
application is under consideration by Richmond council and is
available for viewing at
http://idoxwam.richmond.gov.uk/WAM/showCaseFile.do?&
appNumber=11/3908/FUL Slide 23 Environment Agency & the Gateway
Process The Environment Agency (EA) has set out a framework to
guide the development process. This framework is called the Gateway
Process and lays down certain requirements of the developer (us):
environmental monitoring must be carried out before granting the
necessary licences post-construction monitoring must be carried out
The EA also has set out its own Good Practice Guidelines for hydro
power developers Slide 24 Project & construction timeline
(provisional) March 2012: planning approval granted April 2012:
share issue launched June 2012: weir pool survey conducted
July/August 2012: licences granted October 2012: preparatory civil
works begin January 2013: civil works begin in earnest March/April
2013: delivery of screws June 2013: commissioning NB this process
involves many procedures being run in parallel Slide 25 Carbon
Leapfrog Huge hurdles to overcome when you start out. Bridges gap
between getting project up and running and being able to secure
significant finance, bank loans etc. Independent project management
advice. Design assistance from HLM Legal support Norton Rose.
Accounting support Grant Thornton. HLM Architects Slide 26 The
legal framework The CIC (Community Interest Company) adds an
ethical dimension to corporate law: Specified community benefit An
asset lock, which is inexpensive and easy to set up Transparency of
directors remuneration and use of assets Legal protection from
demutualisation and windfall profits being paid to directors and
members The IPS (Industry and Provident Society) is the next step:
Typical Company Structure of Co-operatives Is able to issue shares
to members Slide 27 Financials Total Investment (net) Annual
Revenue (net) m Current estimate, based on construction cost with
all risks included. k 12.1p/kWh index-linked for 20 years Slide 28
December 2011 Short-term finance, pre- planning, high- risk,
confirmed financial plan: Business Sponsorship (10k and 30k+)
Patrons (500- 1,000 public) Gifts Loans (e.g. Pure Trust) April
2012 Long-term finance, post- planning, low risk: share issue (1m+)
will open after having achieved planning permission, currently
scheduled for March June 2012 Complementary finance European loan
funding via council Bank finance Finance options Source required
funds in time to keep project running and ensure risk is kept at
required level Slide 29 What is the share issue? Will commence
after having achieved planning permission You can invest from 500
up to 20,000. Youll become a member of the IPS and will have equal
voting rights on decisions at the annual general meeting. We are
aiming for an interest rate of 5% which is comparable to an ISA but
comes with a risk as it depends on profits. We will finalise our
proposals and mitigate risks as far as we possibly can, by
January/February 2012. Sign-up and well keep you informed! Slide 30
For how long can you invest? You can leave the funds in over 20
years and get regular interest, depending on the financial
situation of the company. You wont be able to withdraw within the
first three years so please consider this as a long-term investment
afterwards you can apply to withdraw the funds, and subject to
approval you can take your money out of the company. You can
provide risk capital or other financial support from now on, please
contact us [email protected] Slide 31 Community contact and
Support Ham Hydro has run stalls at Richmond Fair and Ham Fair, as
well as taking part in the HUG stall at Ham House Sow & Grow
day Several public meetings have taken place in Ham and Teddington
and many other presentations Over 600 people have pledged their
support for the project, either on sign-up sheets at these events
or online via our energyshare page Slide 32 Public meetings Around
70 people at Ham meeting Over 100 in Teddington Slide 33 Support us
and tell your friends Website: www.hamhydro.orgwww.hamhydro.org
Email: [email protected]@hamhydro.org.uk Facebook Page
Twitter: @hamhydro This is a really imaginative, practical
initiative that will provide environmental benefits with community
gain... They have my full support. Vince Cable MP This is a hugely
exciting local project, but it is also important nationally.
Small-scale, decentralised clean energy is the future, and Ham is
right at the cutting edge. Zac Goldsmith, MP
