Minutes from January Transition Stroud Council meeting.
Erik Wilkinson
Minutes attached of our recent Transition Stroud meeting which 22 people attended. Lots happening. We now meet monthly at the Exchange with our next meeting being on Tuesday 7th February. Please forward to anyone you think would be interested. Apologies for cross posting.
Regards
Erik
Arun
Thanks for the minutes Erik
I was wondering whether there was a sustainable energy group as part of Stroud TT? I would have thought that sustainable energy would be a major focus of any TT group.
There is a lot of scope for hydropower in the Stroud valleys which also has an added benefit of flood control, biodiversity, fisheries etc .... was wondering if this had ever been explored?
Arun
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Martin Whiteside
Agreed - I think we could renew focus on this. We did have a group, but this was replaced by the group specifically attached to Bisley Parish Council, that has been pretty active. There are some hydro initiatives in the valleys (e.g. the District Council Offices and the Canals Trust) and expertise with Ozzy Goring and Julian - but not formally part of TS. Wind maybe has even more potential - I am trying to make community turbines easier in planning rules in the AONB in the new Council Core Strategy - a slow business!.
Maybe it would be good to see if there is sufficient interest for a TS energy group?
Martin
Martin Whiteside - Environment and Development Consultant & District Councillor Hillside, Claypits lane, Lypiatt, Stroud, GL6 7LU UK Landline: +44 (0)1453-757874 Mobile: +44(0) 7989335838 Skype: martinwhiteside
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Erik Wilkinson
Great idea. Is anyone interested in setting a meeting date to explore setting up a TS Energy Group? It could then be advertised via TS Announce, mail chimp; Discuss and the website.
Erik
Arun
Hi Martin
Im currently studying an MSc degree in renewable energy technologies at Loughborough University (http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/el/research/centres/crest/) and am working with both Julian and Ossie Goring on hydro projects, including the Canals trust project. There is a lot more potential in Stroud to expand on hydro and other forms of renewable if the community willingness is there to do so. I know Julian would welcome more engagement with TTS and has apparently been trying to engage for a while......
Cheers
Arun
From: tts-d...@googlegroups.com [mailto:tts-d...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Martin Whiteside
Sent: 17 January 2012 08:33
To: tts-d...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [TTS discuss:2257] TS Energy
Dear Arun and other enthusiasts
Arun
Hi Philip
I was wondering if we could put your filming skills to good use and make a short film about local hydro and the benefits it gives to local people for food, recreation, energy, biodiversity etc. Ossie Goring has an ideal site that has been operating for almost 50 years giving him free energy, and the fish and biodiversity is obviously in abundance because of it - maybe a short film there would help bring the issue and all the benefits for local energy and food to the minds of local people and may help TTS to move this issue forward? Maybe it could feature on Stroud TV along with the other film “When will the salmon return to salmon springs ?” below
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=2872086933036649343
If you would be willing to do this I’ll discuss it with Ossie and get back to you?
Cheers
Arun
From: Philip Booth [mailto:philip...@virgin.net]
Sent: 16 January 2012 16:23
To: Arun
Cc: erik wilkinson; Helen Royall
Subject: Fwd: [TTS discuss:2256] Minutes from January Transition Stroud Council meeting.
Yes would be wonderful to have a more active Energy Group - one did exist but I think it doesn't run now? In conjunction with that group we set up the Open Homes - now in it's fifth year and there is a team around that:
With a film that explains more at:
We also ran several other smaller projects and managed to get funding to have energy monitors in all libraries to borrow. However plans for larger projects I think slipped when the FIVE company started:
There is certainly room for some energy on energy!
All the best - Philip
Philip Booth,
2 The Laurels, Bread Street, Ruscombe, Stroud, GL6 6EL
Tel: 01453 755451 Email: philip...@virgin.net
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Arun" <ar...@gingernets.co.uk>
Date: 16 January 2012 14:01:00 GMT
Subject: RE: [TTS discuss:2256] Minutes from January Transition Stroud Council meeting.
Reply-To: tts-d...@googlegroups.com
Nicholas James
http://www.energyshare.com/dudbridge-locks-hydro
www.energyshare.com/dudbridge-locks-hydro/flyer/
http://www.cotswoldcanals.com/pages/posts/dudbridge-locks-hydro-october-update-339.php
http://www.cainscross-pc.gov.uk/general.asp?pid=6&pgid=2339
Nick
james
it, just have a memory...
There was a TS energy meeting back when the working group still
existed at which Dave Cockroft (I think) reported on a
document produced by SDC (I think) that had assessed the total
potential energy resource in the area (or something
approaching the total). It was the realisation that this was a small
fraction of the energy used, and considerably less than
could be obtained through large(r)-scale (as opposed to micro-gen)
that - I think - led partly to the Bisley-fication of this group
(who were pursuing a turbine as their main goal, for those not
aware... again only my at a distance understanding)
That doesn't mean its not worth pursuing further the potential and
available options for hydro power, but it would certainly
be worth talking to Dave C (or trying to make sure he is at a meeting
for a new TS energy group).
Just to avoid duplication of effort, and to put things in the context
of the need to reduce energy demand as priority...
(I absolutely agree that we need a TS Energy group!)
James
Arun
Hi James
Think you are referring to the 1994 Hebe/Water Power Engineering report, some info from it extracted below
This needs a lot of updating, verifying and expanding to make current and only includes run of river hydro and not pumped storage which is much more efficient and also provides other benefits needed in Stroud as a transition town
· Flood control
· Fisheries and other aquatic food production
· Drought prevention ( and therefore greatly increased local fertility and food production )
Quick back of the fag packet calculation based on the report:
Taking the report as it is, it suggests 9-14% of domestic energy in Stroud can be provided by Hydro ( at energy efficiency levels stated in 1994 – of course TTS is aiming for greatly reduced energy ussage than the ones in the report )
So, for the population stated in the report, 9% of energy (pessimistic figure ) at an average between 2500 and 4000 KWh/hh/year of 53.8 GWh per year would be 4.8 GWh/year
The cost for an everage 20 hydro stations would be approx £7m at todays prices
At current electricity costs ( say 13p per kWh ) 4.8GWh would cost about £630,000 per year, so at todays prices, without taking into account the feed in tarif the scheme would pay for itself in 12ish years. A good quality hydro system would last 50-100 years with few spares so would supply a free and abunbdant energy supply for over 80 years. Yes its only 9-14% but this report only concentrates on the main energy production sites, there are many other smaller scale sites that could increase supply and become viable as energy costs rise, as they will with peak oil.... and of course energy efficicy measures will reduce overall usage per household making this % supply even greater
Of course, a big oil shock would greatly increase energy costs, so having energy systems in place now would greatly reduce those shocks to Stroud and would greatly speed up the payback period of such a scheme.
And that doesnt even mention wind which gloucestershire has potential for 369% of the energy footprint of the county
Worth considering a little further?
Arun
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james
pursuing (we'll need every source possible as oil declines...), just
thought it important people were aware of that previous analysis.
Sounds like you're on top of it, and now others are informed too,
which is great.
Perhaps you'd like to come on the Transition Show sometime to talk
about this and advertise for people to get involved in a TS energy
group?
James
On Jan 19, 6:10 pm, "Arun" <a...@gingernets.co.uk> wrote:
> Hi James
>
> Think you are referring to the 1994 Hebe/Water Power Engineering report,
> some info from it extracted below
Arun
- which will have been completed at a different time to the world we live in
now, and therefore different possible conclusions, will see what I can find
out. Think alternate sources of energy are going to be critical when oil
demand exceeds supply
-----Original Message-----
From: tts-d...@googlegroups.com [mailto:tts-d...@googlegroups.com] On
Behalf Of james
Sent: 19 January 2012 19:04
To: Transition Stroud Discussions
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