Shropshire village now producing its own electricity
A Shropshire village is now producing its own electricity straight from the river as a long-awaited water turbine has finally been turned on.
Installed on the site of an old water wheel, at the Tetsill Mill weir in Neen Sollars, near Cleobury Mortimer, the turbine will produce enough power for about 15 to 20 homes, and is entirely owned by the community.
The switch-on comes after a year-and-half of delays due to bad weather and severe flooding, and more than three years of work by the Neen Sollars Community Hydropwer Co-operative.
The co-operative was formed by 76 individuals, mostly residents from the surrounding area, who raised £150,000 to get the turbine up and running by buying shares - and they will see returns on those shares over the next 20 years as electricity is now being pumped into the National Grid.
Bill Duley, co-operative chairman, said the hard work had paid off.
He said: "It is quite rewarding to see water power being harnessed again at this old mill site. Now instead of grinding corn for flour we are using the same water flow to make electricity for the local population."
The weir on the river Rea is on the site of water wheel which has long since disappeared.
A modern efficient Kaplan turbine has been installed in its place which can generate up to 14.4kW of electricity and will produce about 50,000 kWh every year.
