Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions -- Power generation

Qu:   What type of turbines will be used?

Ans:   Micro Hydro-electric Powerpal T16 Turgo generators.

Qu:   How many turbines?

Ans:   2.

Qu:   Will the turbines be installed in a secure building?

Ans:   Yes.

Qu:   How is the turbine house constructed?

Ans:   Stone with a slate roof.

Qu:   What is the operating life span for the turbines?

Ans:   40 years.

Qu:   What is the efficiency of the total installation?

Ans:   62%.

Qu:   Is the efficiency different at lower flows through the turbines?

Ans:   Yes.

Qu:   Where will the meters be installed?

Ans:   In the turbine house.

Qu:   How much electricity will be generated per year?

Ans:   145 Mwh.

Qu:   How will the electricity be distributed?

Ans:   Sold to the National grid.

Qu:   What level of noise will be created at intake, turbine house, Grid connections?

Ans:   Barely audible.

Qu:   How will the electricity be fed into the Grid?

Ans:   By underground cable to an existing post.

Qu:   Where is the access point to the Grid?

Ans:   Electricity pole above the Furnace Monument site.

Qu:   Will faults in the installation affect local electricity supply?

Ans:   No.

Qu:   How will TAP Ltd be notified if a fault occurs?

Ans:   Mobile phone call from Sender / Receiver installation. Daily check procedure. Auto shutdown if fault occurs.

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Frequently Asked Questions -- Pipe Installation

Qu:   What size pipe will transport the water to the turbines?

Ans:   450mm diameter by 1Km long.

Qu:   How is the pipe fabricated?

Ans:   Plastic extrusion.

Qu:   How deep is the pipe buried?

Ans:   At a depth of 3 to 5 feet.

Qu:   Will the pipe require any maintenance?

Ans:   No.

Qu:   What route does the pipe follow?

Ans:   Along paths running parallel to the Angiddy from the Beaufort Pond.

Qu:   How will the pipe trench be dug?

Ans:   With a 3 ton mini digger.

Qu:   How long will it take to install the pipe?

Ans:   16 weeks.

Qu:   Where will the spoil go from the trench?

Ans:   Will be put back on top of the pipe.

Qu:   How many trees will be damaged by digging the trench?

Ans:   Approximately 40.

Qu:   How will debris be prevented form entering the pipe?

Ans:   A coanda filter system will be installed.

Qu:   Has the route of the pipe had a civil engineering survey?

Ans:   No.

Qu:   Will the trench generate any landslips?

Ans:   No.

Qu:   Is the pipe to be bedded on sand or stone dust?

Ans:   On stone dust.

Qu:   What impact will the work have on the Furnace Pond?

Ans:   None.

Qu:   Will water drain along the route of the pipe?

Ans:   No.

Qu:   Is there sufficient room for the pipe welding equipment?

Ans:   Yes.

Qu:   Will the road be damaged by pipe laying?

Ans:   No.

Qu:   What is the visual impact of the intake, pipe, turbine house, Grid connections?

Ans:   Intake hidden within existing arch in the dam wall. Filter box at base of dam. Pipe buried. Turbine house 7 metre x 4 metre built of natural materials and masked by trees.

Qu:   Will any side streams be blocked or diverted?

Ans:   No.

Qu:   Will the banks of the Angiddy be destabilised?

Ans:   No.

Qu:   Will the public highway be destabilised?

Ans:   No.

Qu:   What if the water flow in the Angiddy reduces?

Ans:   Less power will be generated.

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Frequently Asked Questions -- Construction

Qu:   Is there a detailed plan of works for the complete installation?

Ans:   High level plan.

Qu:   Will the footpaths be closed during construction?

Ans:   Permissive paths and footpaths will be closed.

Qu:   Will the footpaths be reinstated?

Ans:   Yes.

Qu:   Will noise, dust and mud be controlled during construction?

Ans:   Yes.

Qu:   Where will plant and other vehicles be parked?

Ans:   Furnace Pond carpark.

Qu:   What toilet facilities will be available for construction teams?

Ans:   Portable toilets will be provided.

Qu:   Who will carry out the installation?

Ans:   Specified sub contractors.

Qu:   Will contracts be let by public tender?

Ans:   Competitive quotations will be sought.

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Frequently Asked Questions -- Maintenance

Qu:   What maintenance of the filter box will be required?

Ans:   Manual cleaning once per week.

Qu:   Who will carry out the maintenance?

Ans:   A TAP volunteer.

Qu:   What maintenance will be needed ? How often and by whom?

Ans:   Filter cleaning once per week by TAP volunteers. Annual shut down for turbine maintenance.

Qu:   How is it flagged up when a problem occurs? To whom?

Ans:   Daily inspection by TAP representative.

Qu:   Is there an inspection procedure? What is the Frequency?

Ans:   A procedure will be established.

Qu:   How will the equipment be dismantled / refurbished?

Ans:   Filter intake and turbines can be replaced. No pipe replacement needed.

Qu:   What access is required for maintenance?

Ans:   Foot access only.

Qu:   How much money will be retained for maintenance and plant replacement?

Ans:   £1000 maintenance. £3000 replacement per year.

Qu:   Does the project plan include the reinstatement of paths and banks and removal of knotweed and silt?

Ans:   Yes to paths and banks. TAP will attempt to remove knotweed which is near the pipe run. Silt in ponds will be removed annually.

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Frequently Asked Questions -- Finances

Qu:   How is the project to be funded? By whom?

Ans:   By funders with an environmental bias.

Qu:   Who will own the installations?

Ans:   TAP Ltd.

Qu:   Can TAP Ltd raise loans? Who would be responsible for repayments?

Ans:   It could but there are no plans to raise loans.

Qu:   Does the money have to be reimbursed if the scheme fails?

Ans:   No.

Qu:   Does any money have to be repaid to funders?

Ans:   No.

Qu:   What are the liabilities of TAP directors?

Ans:   £1.

Qu:   What insurance cover will be put in place?

Ans:   To cover legal requirements.

Qu:   What will the insurance policy cover?

Ans:   Third party liability.

Qu:   Are all elements of the system guaranteed for a period of time?

Ans:   Yes.

Qu:   What is the function of the annual £1 membership fee?

Ans:   To give interested people a sense of ownership.

Qu:   Why is membership not restricted to local residents?

Ans:   To widen the interest in renewable energy.

Qu:   Is the distribution of profits restricted to local resident groups?

Ans:   Yes.

Qu:   Who maintains the accounts? Who audits the accounts?

Ans:   TAP treasurer. An annual independent audit will be carried out.

Qu:   Is TAP a registered charity?

Ans:   No.

Qu:   Could TAP Ltd be declared bankrupt?

Ans:   Yes.

Qu:   Who are the beneficiaries of the scheme?

Ans:   Local resident groups.

Qu:   Who pays if TAP are unable to meet its financial commitments?

Ans:   Electricity sales will more than cover annual operating costs.

Qu:   What is the total cost of the scheme?

Ans:   £294,000.

Qu:   Are any directors paid a salary or a dividend?

Ans:   No.

Qu:   What selling price can be achieved for the electricity?

Ans:   Currently 9.0 pence per unit.

Qu:   What is the estimated value per year of the electricity sold?

Ans:   £13,000.

Qu:   How is the annual benefit calculated?

Ans:   Value generated minus costs.

Qu:   How much electricity has to be generated to cover annual costs?

Ans:   70Mwh.

Qu:   What is the realistic calculation of profit available for distribution?

Ans:   £7000 per year.

Qu:   Who decides on the distribution of profits?

Ans:   A local committee will be set up.

Qu:   How sensitive is the financial success to electricity selling price variations?

Ans:   Viable at 9.0 pence per unit. Expected to increase over time.

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Frequently Asked Questions -- Effects on the Angiddy

Qu:   How much water will be taken from the Angiddy?

Ans:   Up to 200 litres/sec .

Qu:   What is the minimum amount of water left in the Angiddy?

Ans:   Figure to be advised by the Environment Agency.

Qu:   How will the minimum flow in the Angiddy be controlled?

Ans:   Controlled exit from the input filter box.

Qu:   How will water be extracted from the Angiddy?

Ans:   A filter box installed in the Beaufort Pond dam.

Qu:   Will the extracted water be returned to the Angiddy?

Ans:   Yes. After passing through the turbines.

Qu:   Has the flow in the Angiddy been measured over a full year?

Ans:   Yes; please refer to the 'Flow Rates' page here.

Qu:   What head of water is available at the turbines?

Ans:   27 metres.

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Frequently Asked Questions -- Ecology

Qu:   Will any trees be damaged by the installation of the pipe?

Ans:   Approx 40 trees. None older than 40 years. Mainly poplar + alder.

Qu:   Has an environmental survey been carried out?

Ans:   Yes.

Qu:   Are any animals or plants liable to damage?

Ans:   No animals. Some plant damage will occur.

Qu:   Will the project contribute to the spread of Japanese knotweed?

Ans:   No.

Qu:   Will there be on going environmental checks?

Ans:   Yes.

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Frequently Asked Questions -- General Topics

Qu:   What is the complaints procedure?

Ans:   Complaints can be addressed to TAP chairman.

Qu:   Who is the point of contact in TAP for complaints?

Ans:   Chris Rastall.

Qu:   Has a risk assessment been written?

Ans:   Under review.

Qu:   How are directors of TAP appointed?

Ans:   Voted in at the Annual General Meeting.

Qu:   What if government policy changes?

Ans:   Impossible to predict government policy.

Qu:   Will local television and telephone reception be affected?

Ans:   No.

Qu:   What is the expected life of the project?

Ans:   40 years.

Qu:   How will the archaeology of the valley be affected?

Ans:   Minimally. The pipe will be buried in old leats.

Qu:   What is risk of damage to archaeological remains?

Ans:   Possibly some minor leat damage.

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