Halton Lune Hydro

Author: halton

  • Halton Carbon Positive project gets grant of £432,900

    Published on the BBC website in February 2012.

    A renewable energy project near Lancaster has been awarded a government grant of £432,900.

    The Halton Carbon Positive project involves more environmentally-friendly housing and a new hydro-electric system using water from the River Lune.

    The schemes are part of larger ambitions by the village to reduce its carbon footprint.

    “We want to show what can be achieved by a community working together,” said project spokesman Brian Jefferson.

    “We want a thriving and sustainable local community, with local jobs that don’t harm the environment.”

    The money has come from the Rural Carbon Challenge Fund, a scheme managed by Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

    It will pay for adaptations to ensure the Halton Lune Hydro’s turbine does not harm the salmon, sea trout and eels in the River Lune, and help fund the installation of a heating system for 40 houses by Lancaster Cohousing.

    The hydro scheme is expected to save 530 tonnes of carbon a year and produce enough electricity for an estimated 264 homes

    It will allow workspace in a disused mill building, which is being renovated.

    Huw Johnson, a director of Lancaster Cohousing, said: “The philosophy of cohousing is based on using the resources available within the community to build a more sustainable, supportive and better way of living.

    “We are delighted to be working with the village, and the hydro project, to help us achieve our aim of having zero carbon homes by sourcing energy from local, renewable sources.”

  • Lune to power new eco homes

    Lune to power new eco homes

    Published in the Lancaster Guardian 11/2/2010

    THE River Lune could provide Halton with more than a third of its electricity needs under a new scheme.

    Lancaster Cohousing, in partnership with Local and Effective Sustainable Solutions (LESS) and Halton Community Association (HCA), has won a 500,000 grant to develop a community owned hydro-electric scheme at Halton Gorge.

    The money will also be spent on converting the former Luneside Engineering factory at Halton Mills into eco-housing, and installing new solar panels. The Halton project is one of just 22 across the country to be granted funds from the Government’s Low Carbon Community Challenge.

    Jon Sear, Lancaster Cohousing project manager said: “It’s fantastic the Government has recognised that we are planning something really special.

    “But our project won’t just be a national example of low carbon living.

    It will deal with the dereliction of the former Luneside Engineering factory so that the whole of Halton Gorge is a more pleasant place to visit.”

    Lancaster Cohousing plans to build around 30 zero-carbon homes within some of the existing factory walls, to be ready by early 2012. Already, 20 have been reserved.

    A Victorian mill, which forms part of the site, will be refurbished to provide office space, workshop areas and studios for local businesses. A detailed planning application will be submitted in March.

    Work is expected to start in the summer with a proposed opening date of next year.

    HCA will install the hydro turbine, with power being sold locally and profits going towards developing new environmental projects in the village.

    Maureen Richardson, community association fundraiser, said the turbine could supply electricity to 300 houses, and when the river is flowing faster.