How have hydro plans developed?
| 2004 | Coetir Mynydd completed purchase of Coed y Parc dam and surrounding woodland |
| 2005 | Scoping of dam repairs |
| 2006 | Failed to secure funds (£90,000) to undertake dam repairs from Aggregates Levy – decided to undertake repairs at same time as installing hydro to share costs and also to secure a long term income against maintenance costs. Installed level sensor at dam to estimate flow regime on river (funded by First Hydro) – early results suggested 10 kW possible from Coed y Parc dam. |
| 2007 | Initial approaches to The Environment Agency, Gwynedd Council etc. No specific grants available for community micro-hydro – unsuccessful applications for funding to E-On and First Hydro to support feasibility studies. |
| 2008 | No sources of funding for hydro development identified. |
| 2009 | Scoping report for restoring and using original waterwheels at Felin Fawr – general conclusion was the infrastructure is too derelict to restore and would only produce modest amounts of power (6-10 kW). |
| 2010 | Dulas pre-feasibility report funded by Environment Wales looked at two options: • Intake on Coed y Parc dam 12-15 kW • Intake on Llyn Pen Bont dam (above Amana bridge) 100 kW Decided to explore further options completely within Coetir Mynydd land to avoid problems locating and negotiating with neighbouring landowners. |
| 2011 | Dulas Feasibility study funded by Waterloo Foundation. This considered two options for intake at dam or inflow into the reservoir. Neither were considered financially viable Option of installing a domestic scale 5kW scheme at low cost to generate a low level income was outlined. |
| 2012 | Purchase of plot of land at bottom of woods – this is primarily for conservation but has a derelict garage which is ideally sited to serve as a turbine house for a hydro. |
| 2014 | Re-initiation of work on hydro as other community ventures shown to be viable. Funding from Ynni’r Fro to commission Ellergreen to conduct pre-feasibility study to reconsider the high head option proposed by Dulas in 2010. Pre-application enquiry for abstraction license (NRW) and initial planning enquiry (Gwynedd Council) made – no major objections raised, specific surveys requested to accompany applications. Obtained Grid connection offer from SPEN. |
| 2015 | Funding obtained from Community Investment Fund (Mantell Gwynedd) to conduct village consultation on hydro scheme and from Ynni Lleol for feasibility study. |
| 2016 | Funding released in October by Ynni Lleol and held over by Mantell Gwynedd. |
| 2017 | Community consultation |