COUNCIL PLAN FOR HYDRO WEIR MOVES FORWARD AS IT STRIVES TO MEET IT'S CLIMATE CHANGE COMMITMENT

Salford City Council is continuing to underline its commitment to tackling climate change in 2022 as plans for a new hydro weir move forward in an attempt to become carbon neutral by 2038.

Councillors on Salford City Council’s Procurement Board yesterday (Wednesday 16 February) gave permission for the council to go out to open tender to secure a contractor to start building the scheme at on the River Irwell at Charlestown Weir this summer.

Alongside the new state-of-the-art solar farm in Little Hulton, which is also currently open for tender, the two projects are the city’s leading green infrastructure projects in 2022 and combined will generate power equivalent to the amount required to run over 600 homes.

Councillor Mike McCusker, Lead Member for Planning and Sustainable Development said:

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“We are committed to taking the urgent action that is needed now to address the climate emergency and to deliver the infrastructure that will help make Salford a greener place to live and work.

“In 2022, we will deliver this ground-breaking scheme and build the new solar farm in Little Hulton. Together, they underline our commitment and determination to tackle climate change and deliver new sources of renewable energy to the city.”

 

The £1.5m hydroelectric scheme will be built off Riverside Drive. It will consist of a single Archimedes screw to generate renewable electricity and will allow fish and eels to swim further up the river with additional passes.

The scheme has been possible through funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and is part of the pioneering Unlocking Green Energy in Greater Manchester project that is delivering several renewable schemes across the region through Energy Systems Catapult, a not-for-profit centre of excellence that is helping the council make the most of clean growth opportunities.

Overall the council is investing £128m in green spaces across the city and delivering core new infrastructure such as the 5,000-panelled solar farm in Little Hulton and the hydro weir in Charlestown.