Tonight, Monday 8 January, local residents will have the chance to find out about the local hydro electric scheme growing in momentum in Congleton.

Come along tonight to hear from Paul Guymer, Director of Dane Valley Community Energy Ltd, about the Congleton hydroelectric scheme which has been generating renewable energy since 2021, and now involves 30 volunteers.

The project was born back in 2015 when a group of four recently retired or about to retire engineers were chatting about climate change in a Congleton pub.

Out of that conversation was born Dane Valley Community Energy (DVCE) Ltd with a mission hell-bent on building a renewable energy project within the town. 

Fast track forward to 2021, ground was finally broken next to Havannah Weir on the River Dane to begin the construction of the town's first new hydro-electric scheme for over 100 years. What happened between 2015 and 2021, you might ask - apart from much more drinking of beer?

Well. development grants and loans were obtained, feasibility studies were performed, numerous environmental assessments were commissioned, planning permission was sought and fought, detailed designs were undertaken, land was purchased or leased, 20 or so substantial trees were removed, £760,000 of investment capital was raised and a 400m access road was built requiring a 1 in 4 descent through the Antrobus ridge to reach the river bank. 

Since then, the Congleton hydro scheme, which uses 2000 year old Archimedes Screw technology, has generated over 410,000 kW-hours of green electricity, allowing DVCE to donate £9000 of surplus funds to charitable organisations and now involves 30 volunteers.

The success of the project has inspired the group to initiate new community renewable energy ventures including both solar and hydro. A share offer was launched in July 2023 to fund a roof-based solar scheme for schools allowing them to benefit from reduced energy costs and providing a valuable educational resource.

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Talk begins at 6.30pm, Monday 8 January at Bollington SciBar. All welcome are welcome to the free event.

Alternatively, for investment details visit www.congletonsolar.co.uk.