Hydro electricity generation

After a major refurbishment programme early in 2010, the Francis water turbine from the 1970’s, which was installed at Kilnsey Park in 2001, is finally reaching its full potential.  Indeed Kilnsey Park is now self-sufficient in electricity and in fact selling electricity back to the National Grid.   We are now able to generate enough power to supply the whole site including the shop, restaurant and fish farm. The only time when we may need to buy electricity back is if we have a particularly hot, dry summer and the spring supply drops off.

Water from Sykes Beck spring that is used to generate the power serves a dual purpose.   As it emerges at the top of the Kilnsey Park site, the spring water goes through the trout fingerling raceways where the tiny trout are reared.  It is then channelled back into a header tank, and then travels down a pipe to the turbine and generates the electricity.   This water is re-aerated by the action of the Francis Turbine, and then flows back into the fattening raceways (where the mature trout live) at the bottom of the site.  It is of course this clear spring water from Kilnsey’s limestone rocks that give Kilnsey Park trout its very distinctive flavour. 

At the beginning of 2010 the system was modernised and refurbished by Derwent Hydroelectric Power Ltd, who installed a sophisticated electronic control panel.  This enables the electricity generated to be used anywhere on site, and when there is surplus, to be diverted into the Grid and used elsewhere.

This is the latest addition to Kilnsey Park’s supply of green energy.   We already have a water heat pump to produce warmth for Sykes Barn (now home of the Angel Retreat Spa) and we are currently looking into a second water heat pump for the main building where the restaurant and farm shop are located.  We hope that this will be fully operational by 2011.

Locally produced energy it isn’t new to Kilnsey Park.  Back in 1933 Kilnsey Park had its own hydro-electric generator. The original Turgo Impulse Turbine was commissioned by Mr W.D.Roberts,  father of the present owner of the Park. The power output was relatively small at 25.7 horse power at a speed of 600 RPM. The old turbine house and dam are all that remain of the original scheme.