A Midlands hydraulics specialist has designed, manufactured and handed over the first of four bespoke hydraulic operating systems to be installed into a hydropower plant on the River Trent, to generate enough electricity to power 700 homes.
MGR Fluid Power in Leamington has manufactured the bespoke system, which will be used to actuate a fully regulated axial flow turbine on Nottingham’s River Trent. Designed and manufactured to exact specifications, the 2 metre-diameter hydro system utilises an internet connection to communicate with the control panel, alerting operators if there is an operational issue. 1 The hydraulic system will play a key role in enabling the Holme Pierrepoint scheme to generate up to 500 kilowatts of electricity, offsetting 1,770 tonnes of CO2 per year.
The hydraulic operating system from MGR is an important component for a hydro power system, a technology that can support the wider UK manufacturing sector; the turbine itself is being manufactured by Newmills Engineering in Northern Ireland. Not only is the hydraulic system capable of remaining in operation for more than 50 years under the maintenance of MGR Fluid Power, it is also expected to help hydropower developers working with Newmills Engineering to boost profit levels significantly by selling the electricity back to the National Grid under existing Feed-In Tariffs.
“We only contacted MGR in the first instance for a replacement valve component, but after seeing some of the bespoke work they are capable of doing, we were keen to work with them on this project," said Simon Taylor, commercial director at Newmills Engineering. "As a UK manufacturing business, it is important to us that we work with UK-based suppliers and MGR quickly understood our unique specifications, and built us a solution in just a matter of months.”
Mike Retford, managing director at
MGR Fluid Power, added: “The implications of the project Newmills is involved with on the River Trent are huge, and we are really proud to be involved in it. Hydropower is an extremely reliable and durable source of renewable energy, so it is important that our hydraulic systems are equally as reliable and durable to ensure continued success of these projects.”
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Alarm data can be fed through to operators through their mobile phone, or tablet device, meaning that the system can be managed from anywhere in the world