26th December 2009

No pictures today - but at last the snow is starting to melt, the river level is rising and we are generating electricity.

Spotted a very large salmon (Over 2ft long) in the inlet channel. It has presumably found it's way up the fish ladder and then had been sucked into the inlet channel when we turned the hydro on. The salmon stayed for about 5 minutes and then swam back into the river and made it's way upstream to the spawning grounds.

Also saw a kingfisher!

It's amazing how much rubbish we are having to drag off the inlet screen. We would expect there to be branches etc but who is throwing in the hub caps, paint tins, drain pipe and Cagoule that we have retrieved?

22nd December 2009

We've been down on site today to witness the final part of the commissioning programme and to receive training on the on-going maintenance requirements.

We are in the midst of the heaviest snowfall in Settle for many years and so conditions couldn't be more challenging!

The picture shows a marker that has been attached to the fishpass wall. This will enable us to visually monitor the level of water flowing down the fishpass and to ensure that it does not fall below the threshold specified by the Environment Agency.

A snowman looking after the bottle of champagne which will be cracked open to toast the future success of Settle Hydro.

Temporary dam being removed from the inlet screen to allow water to flow through the screw.

Manual sluice gate being opened to fill the inlet channel with water

Some final adjustments being made to the drive belts that link the gearbox to the generator

Debris being removed from the inlet screen. This will need to be done on a regular basis as part of the daily maintenance routine.

With the current level of water in the river, the weir almost dries up when water is diverted through the screw.

The flow of water through the fishpass is always maintained at a level which enables the fish to negotiate the ladder.

20th December 2009

It's 'Snowtime'

Sue (Steve's partner) posing on the walkway

Get that man out of the way!!

The green wellies are actually quite fetching!

The river is quite low at the moment - but wait and see what happens when the snow melts!

An iceberg hovering around the Screw outlet!

16th December 2009

The site is now fully, wheelchair accessible.

All the guards and railings are in place

It's looking really tidy!

Woodwork has been painted to match the Screw!

You can just about see the screw through the safety guards!

Steady flow of visitors already - even in the rain!

If all goes to plan we will be up and running on

23rd December

11th December 2009

We are now in the final stages of the build.

This picture shows the grills that cover the inlet channel.

Access for maintenance will be through the gate which will be padlocked shut under normal conditions.

The galvanised railing that spans the inlet channel is fitted directly above the coarse screen (which will stop large debis from entering the screw).

A ladder has been bolted to the far side of the inlet channel to enable access into the channel for screen cleaning.

All the grills have been installed over the screw. These are, unfortunately, necessary for health & safety reasons.

A ventilated cowl has been fitted over the generator on the front face of the Powerhouse.

Stan and his men inspect the small sluice gate which will be fitted in the inlet channel to control the flow of water to the Waterwheel.

The almost finished hydro viewed from the far side of the river.

We are very pleased with how the hydro fits into the surrounding landscape - it looks as if it has always been there!

Just a few small jobs to be finished off before the final commissioning, training and handover on 23rd December.

3rd December 2009

Stan and team have started to install the safety covers that will prevent anyone coming into contact with the screw.

The door to the Powerhouse is being given a coat of paint

The carpark has been surfaced with tarmac

These are some of the guards that will be fixed in place over the next few days.

Commencement of Geneneration is now scheduled for the week before Christmas. Before then, a few of us will be given some training on routine maintenance and fault finding.

19th November 2009

This picture shows the Screw with the 'stop logs' removed

The roof of the Powerhouse is almost complete.

The end of the generator can be seen poking out the front of the Powerhouse. This will eventually be covered by a louvred metal shroud.

Still plenty of water coming down the Fish-Pass

The stone wall on the car-park side of the screw is almost finished

18th November 2009

SCREW TURNS FOR THE FIRST TIME

We have been very busy commissioning the scheme this week and as part of this process the sluice gates were opened and water allowed to flow down the Screw and IT TURNED!!

The screw had been disconnected from the generator and so no electricity was generated - that's for another day.

You can see from the pictures below how high the river is following the recent heavy rain. These pictures were taken in the afternoon - apparently, this morning the river was about 18 inches higher.

The fish pass is submerged by the huge volume of water flowing down the river

The Stop Logs have been removed from the bottom of the Screw channel in readiness for the first trial.

Stan raises the sluice gate to let the water flow into the inlet channel

The Inlet Channel fills up with water

13th November 2009

The Screw Trough is now grouted in position and the ties holding

the Screw to the trough have been removed. A Splash Guard has been fixed in position

on the left hand side.

The sides of the Screw Channel are being braced with RSJs.

The Splash  Guard can be clearly seen in this picture

Switch Gear is being installed in the Powerhouse.

The Distribution Board on the left will supply the power for the

socket outlets and lighting within the Powerhouse.

The meter that will record the amount of power generated by the scheme

can be seen to the right of the Distribution Board.

Below and to the right of the Meter is the Isolating switch which will isolate the incoming supply.

This picture shows the control panel for the generated electricity.

There will be a cable linking the panel to the generator. The componentry within the unit will

ensure that the generated voltage is of the correct frequency, voltage and power factor.

10th November 2009

Roof has been built on the Powerhouse

and river-facing walls are almost complete.

Slates have been neatly stacked awaiting fixing

First slates are fixed to the roof

Automatic sluice gate has been installed

BBC Look North Reporter lines up a shots

Local bird life doesn't appear to have been disturbed

by all the construction work