The Lake District’s biggest hydro-electric project has been installed using a small weir on a tributary of the River Duddon. The £1.5 million scheme located at Logan Gill was one of the first renewable energy schemes in the UK to benefit from the feed-in tariff. The development has been undertaken by Ellergreen Hydro based in Kendal. Logan Gill – a 450kW scheme – was conceived and designed locally by specialist hydro consultants Inter Hydro, built by local contractors, and using a hydro-electric turbine made by Gilkes of Kendal, who have been global hydro industry leaders for over 150 years. It was financed by The Co-operative Bank, which has dedicated expertise in supporting small to medium scale renewable energy projects. Other schemes in Cumbria by Ellergreen Hydro include:
- Docker Nook – a 15kW Micro Hydro Scheme on a hill farm.
- Kilnstones – a 30kW project on a farm in Longsleddale.
- Kentmere Hall – a 60kW high head scheme on an historic hill farm.
- Burnside – a 100kW project on the River Kent using an Archimedes Screw to produce power for a paper mill.
- Broad Oak – a 100kW farm diversification scheme.
- Cunsey Beck – a 60kW scheme to revive an old water mill.