Operator to be sought to run hydro generator at the Weir in Shrewsbury

Shropshire Council and Shrewsbury Town Council are to seek a commercial operator to develop and run a hydro generator at the Weir in Shrewsbury – with Shropshire Council leading on the procurement work.

Shropshire Council has been working in partnership with Shrewsbury Town Council to explore the feasibility of hydro generation on the Weir in Shrewsbury, and each council has committed £20,000 towards this work.

The results of a feasibility study carried out by Thames Renewables on behalf of Shrewsbury Town Council, Shropshire Council and the Environment Agency have recently been published, and found that the electricity likely to be generated is not as much as originally projected.

However, their report found that a smaller scheme may be viable.

The procurement exercise is due to begin in late July and details will be published on the Shropshire Council website.

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member, said:

“Unfortunately the feasibility study is not as positive as we anticipated, but we are still hopeful that a commercial operator will come forward to develop a smaller scheme.

“Establishing a hydro electricity scheme would demonstrate our commitment to renewable energy, and also demonstrate that in these hard times, Shropshire Council and Shrewsbury Town Council are ambitious and forward thinking.

“It would also complement our investment in Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery, and the future potential of a University in the town.”

The brief for Thames Renewables was to report on the options for generating hydro-electricity at the weir, including most appropriate technology, potential output, economic viability, environmental impact and long term sustainability of any project.