Water Turbines

Hydro-Electric.

From initial site visit to commissioning and handover we offer a turn-key solution to hydro-electric (and micro/pico-hydro)  installations.

Grid connected and off-grid alike we design, build, install and commission systems.

We are proud to have installed the world renowned Gilkes systems (of Kendal) as well as our very own hydro turbines!

What's The Process?

1) What potential do you have?  this can be measured and calculated.

The formula for power is L x M x G (L=Litres, M=Meters, G=Gravity).

[e.g. a site with 10L/s and a head of 100M has 10x100x9.81=9.81kW of available power.  After losses, which is typically around 35% the expected electrical output would be around 6.3kW].

2)Environment Agency (SEPA in Scotland) needs to be consulted and an abstraction licence & impoundment licence issued.

3)Flood defence consent.  on smaller rivers and tributaries this is the job of the local council.  Larger (main) rivers are handled by the EA / SEPA.

4) Grid connection.  If you are planning to produce electricity that is going back into the mains supply then grid connection permission is required.  Your DNO (District Network Operator) needs to check that their lines can handle the power you plan on exporting to the grid.

5) Planning permission is required to excavate a pipe into the ground and build a small turbine house.

Micro Hydro Schemes

Specialising in small hydro schemes we tend to work in with the customer to advise on the system specification and supply our customer with the instructions that allows them to undertake as much of the civils work as they feel they can do.  Whether its simply excavating site, trenching pipe, casting concrete or building the turbine house we are happy to advise and supply components giving our customer more options.  For customers that have no interest in helping with the build we offer a turn-key solution.

Grid Connection

Grid connection permissions are sometimes difficult to get as most renewable energy sites are in the countryside.  Sometimes it is necessary to have a new connection installed to handle the additional power from your embedded generation source.  Alternatively it is now possible to have batteries installed to store the energy produced by the renewable energy source.

Turbine House

We have designed and built various turbine houses made from wood, blocks, stone face, tin sheets etc..  

This particular building has two rooms, a high Voltage room containing a substation and the main room containing the water turbine.

Turbine Manufacture

We design and build a variety of hydro-turbines to suit individual site.


Turbine Design

Sometimes our customers prefer to use their own civils company and so we are able to provide clear instructions to them on the infrastructure required prior to us installing the mechanical and electrical system.


Water Turbine

This turbine situated in the South Lakes is a Micro-Hydro, 5.5kW turbine connected to the mains.  It is designed to track to the available water and vary its power output accordingly.


Oak Weir & stainless steel intake

This weir was installed in a small stream by hand as no vehicle access was permitted due to the sensitivity of the area.  The oak beams were carried to site and glued together before being strapped using stainless steel flat.

The intake is a stainless steel construction with Coanda (self cleaning) screen on top.  Plastic wing-walls were bolted to the sides to catch more water.


Steel Weir & stainless steel intake

This weir was installed on top of a pre existing stone dam (built in the 60's).  Water is filtered through the large Coanda screen trash rack before entering the tank below.  Water is then channelled into a pipe/penstock supplying a 40kW turbine.



Concrete Weir & Coanda Screen

This weir was installed in Cumbria.  Water is filtered through the large Coanda screen trash rack before entering the tank below.  Water is then channelled into a pipe/penstock supplying a 100kW turbine.



Concrete Weir & Coanda Screen

This weir is the one above.  The client requested it to be hidden in the landscape so we concreted beck cobbles over the top leaving only the stainless steel intake and manhole cover visible.



Concrete Weir & Coanda Screen

This weir is the one above.  Almost invisible under water.  



Weir, Coanda Screen & stainless steel tanks.

This weir is constructed using a pre cast concrete panel to reduce the wet concrete required in the sensitive river..  

Shown on the left of the picture is a Coanda trash rack used to filter >1mm debris.  To the right of the picture can be seen the Q95 and 'hands-off' flow.  These two flows are a requirement by the Environment Agency, which ensures a small amount of water always continues to flow down the beck before the turbine intake can begin using it.



100kW Hydro Electric Generator (North Lakes).

Here we have a 100kW Gilkes water turbine in a stone turbine house with slate roof and cast iron guttering.



100kW Hydro Electric Generator (North Lakes).

Here we have a 100kW Gilkes water turbine in a stone turbine house with slate roof and cast iron guttering.



100kW Hydro Electric Generator (North Lakes).

Here can be seen the 355mm penstock entering the turbine house through the rear wall into a gate valve before branching off to the turbine and pigging pipe.



3kW Hydro Electric Scheme.

Here can be seen three ES&D turbines, each with a 1.5kW output.  Water supply is controlled onto the nozzles by use of six linear actuators controlling ball valves based on the intake water pressure up the hill.



6kW Hydro Electric Scheme.

Somewhere in Scotland!  a 6kW hydro electric installation with a Border Hydro Ltd permanent magnet generator suppling power to an off-grid property .