For the initial stages of the project, the group has been split into four pairs in order to work more efficiently across different areas. While the Civil Engineers are analysing the build site and taking any necessary measurements, the remaining six group members will be researching data on the electrical, management, and environmental aspects. The pairs will then exchange any information they have found in a few weeks time, in preparation for the technical design and poster presentation.

 

Pair 1 - Jon Bluh and James Evans:

• Searching for information regarding river flow rates.
• Studying geology, aerial photographs, and location maps for a potential build site.
• Site and river surveying.
• Estimating the size of the building needed to house any equipment and/or devices.

 

Pair 2 - Robert Boulton and Chris Hart:

• Researching into methods for connecting the project up to the local power supply or national grid, as well as the power connections to houses.
• Finding information on local amenities, such as street lights and traffic lights, which may be involved in the project.
• Obtain local power usage statistics (peak power use, hourly use rates, cost per unit of power, village size and number of houses).
• Investigate the cost:benefit ratio associated with setting up the micro-hydro scheme.

 

Pair 3 - Guy Parker-Dennison and Andrew Vallance:

• Considering the interests of the stakeholders (Landowner, Miller, Parish Council, local residents, etc)
• Working out how the interests of these stakeholders can be satisfied
• Finding out what legal requirements are, as well as any available grants
• Finding out about licensesand permissions for this scheme (for example, the Abstraction License)

Pair 4 - Peter Downes and James McLoughlin:

• Analyse the environmental impacts of the scheme, including any possible effects on flooding or fishing, as well as the ecology of the site.
• Brielfy look at the effects on global warming (whether positive or negative) which the scheme may have in the long-term (10, 20, 30 years on...).
• Calculate the carbon emission savings from implementing the scheme.
• Can we limit the environmental impact.
• Estimate the effect on nearby land owners, for example the local onion farmer.