Electricity from river at biggest UK plant

THE LARGEST hydroelectric power plant ever to be built in England since the turn of the century will be officially unveiled today in Yorkshire.

Harnessing the flow of the River Aire, half a mile from Ferrybridge power station, the £7.5m Knottingley scheme will generate renewable electricity for a flour mill and the area’s electricity grid.

Barn Energy’s 500kW plant will generate electricity 24 hours a day for 11 to 12 months of the year over the next 100 years.

It will be launched today by Yorkshire cricketing legend Geoffrey Boycott.

Mark Simon, chief executive of Barn Energy, said: “Knottingley is our third significant and longterm investment in Yorkshire’s energy infrastructure and is providing secure and sustainable energy to a local flour mill and the local grid. The economic and environmental benefits that river hydro offers, and the goodwill shown towards this type of cleanenergy generation, are clear to see.

“However, given changes in government policy, and despite its Clean Growth Strategy that was published last month, it’s very likely that Knottingley will be the last scheme that we build in Yorkshire and possibly in the UK.”

In developing Knottingley, Barn Energy and the project team worked closely with the Environment Agency and the Canal and River Trust to ensure that there were no detrimental impacts from the project.

A major part of the scheme is a custom-designed fish passage and steel screen, which will help salmon, eels and other migratory fish to safely navigate the weir. The fish passage, which cost £2m, was manufactured in Yorkshire.

Allan Leighton, chairman of the Canal and River Trust, said: “We’re delighted to be part of this project, and it’s wonderful to see the historic Aire and Calder Navigation being used in this way. This project will help to protect the environment and bring clean energy to the local community for generations to come.”