Monmouth New Hydro Scheme

The power station in March 2009

The Monmouth New Hydro Scheme, which incorporates the Osbaston fish pass, is a hydroelectric scheme in Osbaston, near Monmouth, in South-East Wales.

Description

The scheme produces 670,000 Kw hours of electricity per year, which is enough to power 152 homes.[1] It also provides heat for the landowner, Ronald Kear's, home.[1] The scheme is built around an Archimedes' screw, but operating in reverse, with water flowing down two large screws, and the resulting rotation used to power generators.[1] An earlier hydroelectric power station had been on the site from 1896 until 1953, which itself was built on the foundations of an even older forge.[1] Alongside the scheme is the Osbaston fish pass, built by the Environment Agency Wales at a cost of £600,000.[1] The fish pass allows river-spawning fish, such as salmon, to access an extra 125 miles of river - something which they had not been able to do since Osbaston Weir was put in place in the 18th century.[2]

Osbaston Weir

The power station was officially opened on 23 September 2009 by the Earl of Wessex.[2] Several months later, in June 2010, local schoolchildren released salmon into the River Monnow at the site of the power station - the salmon were initially reared at their school, Osbaston Primary School, as part of a class project. Once the salmon became fry, they were taken to Cynrig Hatchery, in Brecon.[3] The fish pass is not only used by salmon, but also larger creatures - in June 2010, a camera set up at the site of the fish trap caught footage of an otter swimming through the trap.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Dube, Steve (November 17, 2009). "New hydro-electric plant at Osbaston is a masterstroke of engineering". Western Mail. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Weir–D... What Ronald Kear Knows About Archimedes, The Royal Family And A Successful Fish Pass". Aberdaire Online. September 23, 2009. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Osbaston pupils send salmon on their way". Fishing Wales. June 16, 2010. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  4. ↑ Otter caught on film in fish pass. BBC News. June 22, 2010.

Coordinates: 51°49′13″N 2°43′27″W / 51.8203°N 2.7241°W / 51.8203; -2.7241

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