There are two hydroelectric energy generation schemes being planned by the council in Treforest and Aberdare. The council’s climate change cabinet sub-committee will consider two reports on Tuesday, December 6 on the proposed schemes at Treforest Weir on the River Taff and at Dare Valley Country Park.
The reports say that taking the projects to the next stage have the potential to make a positive contribution towards the council’s efforts to increase its renewable energy generation across its estate, and in turn, offset its carbon footprint in contribution towards achieving its carbon reduction targets. Treforest Weir lies approximately 100m south of the footbridge over the River Taff in the centre of Treforest.
It is estimated that this scheme here would produce a maximum power output of around 400 Kilowatts which would result in an annual saving of 395 tonnes of carbon dioxide and could generate a total annual income in the region of £250,000 if exported to the grid. It is expected that the simple payback period if it is exported will be less than 20 years.
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A topographical survey of key areas and a formal civil engineering survey will be needed as well as an assessment of infrastructure costs, the report said. The report said further investigation and appraisal will be needed to decide the best option for use of the energy generated, including an assessment into the viability of an possible private wires in the area of the site as an addition to or as an alternative to exporting to the National Grid.
Further work will also be needed to confirm and update the original estimates and assumptions in the preliminary feasibility report. The report said that a time line will be needed to allow for the process of getting a license from Natural Resources Wales, approval from CADW and to assess a realistic time line in getting the equipment that is needed.
The total budget likely to be required to take the project to the next stage, will be in the region of £40,000, and this can be covered from within existing budget, the report said. If it goes to the detailed design stage then there will be further funding issues to consider at that stage around the appointment of specialist advisers and designers.
At the moment, estimates are that the cost of these further requirements would be in the region of £65,000 but the report said this will need to be assessed and reviewed at the appropriate time and stage of proceedings, once other studies have been completed. The Dare Valley Country Park proposal would be to install an intake on the existing weir at the upper pond.
The powerhouse would be situated on the north west corner of the lower pond and house the turbine, generator, and control system and water would be returned to the lower pond from the powerhouse. The report estimates that a typical hydroelectric scheme, in these particular circumstances, will produce a peak power output of 38.3 Kilowatts and an average output of 19 Kilowatts.
This would give an estimated annual electrical power output of 167,879 Kilowatt hours and would produce a saving of 84 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. Assuming a 50/50 split between export potential and behind the meter usage, is estimated that over 20 years the project will generate almost £900,000 and will provide a financial payback period of less than 10 years.
The site was first assessed in 2014 for feasibility, however, the proposal did not meet the criteria to take it forward at that time. The report said that given the urgency of the current climate change agenda and the increasing cost of energy, particularly during 2022, there is now a greater need to implement renewable energy projects.
Further investigation and appraisal will be needed to decide the best option for use of the energy generated, including an assessment into the viability of a private wire arrangement, where all the energy will be used on site and export options will also be explored. Other studies are needed to assess the feasibility of using the electricity generated from the proposed hydro power scheme, on-site, possibly at the Dare Valley Country Park Hotel complex and other facilities which are council owned assets as well as the possibility of any unused energy being sold to the National Grid.
Further detailed survey work is needed and additional investigation is also needed into methods of getting the necessary equipment, should the scheme eventually go ahead. The report said it is also recommended that an internal project manager be appointed to oversee further development.
As this stage, indicative budgets have been provided but if the further assessment now recommended happens greater clarity will then be provided on the expected project costs. The procedure and time line of getting an abstraction license will need to be assessed and confirmed, the report said.
Discussions have taken place with colleagues, in other parts of the council, regarding flood mitigation proposals that may need to take place around the proposed hydro works and services should work together to ensure that works are not duplicated or contradictory in nature, particularly in relation to the redesign of the weir and the outlet that will be needed to feed the hydro works. To consider the development of a hydroelectric scheme at Dare Valley Country Park in greater detail, an in-depth design and cost study, by a specialist company would be needed together with specialist environmental studies, the report said.
The total budget likely to be required to take the Dare Valley project to the next stage will be around £35,000, and this can be covered from within existing budgets, the report said. At the final quarter of 2021/22, the estimated total budget costs of delivering the project were in the region of £390,000 but the overall budget figure will need to be reassessed and updated when a project manager is appointed and then looked at further at each stage of the process.
The committee will be asked to agree further spend on the development of both of the proposals towards further design studies to assess their full potential and develop detailed project proposals.
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