River Bain Hydro

The River Bain Hydro is a hydroelectric generator on the River Bain in the village of Bainbridge, North Yorkshire, England. Its screw turbine powers most of the properties in the village, with excess electricity being sold off to the National Grid. It was opened in 2011 with an installed capacity of 45 kW,[1] and is expected to last 40 years. It is a low-demand ecofriendly scheme.

River Bain Hydro
The hydro plant on the River Bain at Bainbridge, North Yorkshire
CountryEngland
LocationNorth Yorkshire
Coordinates54°18′21.5″N 2°06′04.6″W
StatusOperational
Construction began2010
Commission dateMay 2011
Construction cost£450,000
Owner(s)River Bain Hydro
Power generation
Nameplate capacity45 kW

History

A hydro-power plant had been in existence on the site since the late 19th century. Like the new scheme, this was locally run but was wound up (as Bainbridge Electricity Supply) in 1953 when the National Grid took over supplying power to the area.[2] The new plant was built between 2010 and 2011, with the 26 feet (7.9 m) long Archimedes screw being brought in from a specialist engineering firm in Germany.[3]

The plant, which was funded by a grant, a bank loan and a public share issue and cost £450,000 to build, opened in May 2011 and supplies enough power for 40 homes in the village of Bainbridge.[4][5] The plant is expected to save more than 3,000 tonnes (3,300 tons) of carbon dioxide over its 40-year life.[6]

In February 2023, the plant recorded its millionth Kilowatt Hour unit supplied to the national grid. However, an over-estimation in the original feasibility study rated the plant able to operate in waterflow for 290 days per year. The lower water levels, particularly during the dry summers, meant that the plant only operated on average 196 days per year, at an average of 224 KwH per day of operation, which equated to enough to power 28 homes, rather than the intended 40.[7]

See also

References
  1. "Official Switch On for River Bain Hydro - Resonance". Resonance. 17 May 2011. Archived from the original on 22 February 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  2. "John 'Peter' Leyland". The Yorkshire Post. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  3. Guy-Jobson, Tamasyn (24 March 2011). "Giant screw in place for river hydro project". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  4. "A grand vision for future of Elgar's waterfall". The Yorkshire Post. 19 August 2011. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  5. "Village's hydro site launched". Darlington and Stockton Times. 14 May 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  6. "Green electricity from River Bain Hydro". Friends of the Earth. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  7. Chapman, Hannah (7 April 2023). "Milestone for village Hydroelectricity plant". Darlington and Stockton Times. No. 14–2023. p. 16. ISSN 2516-5348.
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