Hydro celebrates 10 successful years

An incredible community initiative run by volunteers has received special praise at its tenth anniversary celebration.

The Saddleworth Community Hydro, operating from unassuming brick building at Greenfield, has given more than £98,000 in grants to environmental projects since its inception - including £76,000 in the last financial year.

Speaking at the celebration attended by dignitaries and representatives from renewable energy and carbon reduction projects, Diane Hawkins, Greater Manchester’s Lord Lieutenant, said: "I am impressed by this imaginative community initiative and that it is run entirely by volunteers."

The event took place at the Hydro Turbine House at Dovestone Reservoir then to a well-attended gathering at Lydgate Parish Hall. 

The Lord Lieutenant was joined by the Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Zahid Chauhan and MP Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, Hydro volunteers and shareholders at the event.

And representatives of organisations which have received funding for renewable energy and carbon reduction projects also attended.

They included: St Barnabas FoodCo-operative for solar panels above their food store; the Vale, Mossley, for solar panels, Dobcross Band Club for improved lighting for the bowling green; Incredible Edibles for community food growth and Holy Family School, Oldham for facilities for children to grow food. 

At the Parish Hall, screens showed the Hydro group achievements with a slideshow telling the story of the Hydro being built and running under various weather conditions.

It revealed the successful functioning of projects funded by the Hydro and captured the delight of the many adults and children groups who have visited the Hydro for educational purposes over the past year.

Another screen displayed live data from the Hydro Turbine House which showed current power being generated.

Live music was provided by the very versatile Mike Hindson. 

Rachal's provided a delicious buffet giving everyone a chance to reminisce and discuss what might be achieved going forward. 

Over the past ten years, Hydro volunteers have taken compensation water flowing down from Dovestone Reservoir and converted its energy into electricity to sell into the National Grid then put many thousands of pounds’ worth of funding into local groups’ green projects.

Grants are allocated to lower carbon emissions, to fund biodiversity, to combat climate change or to promote repair and recycling.

In a decade, hundreds of tonnes of CO2 have been saved and over three gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity generated. 

The volunteers are committed to continuing this work and stepping up to the challenges an unstable energy market presents. 

Potential volunteers, particularly those with appropriate skills and interests, are very welcome to get in touch via the website: www.saddleworthhydro.co.uk

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