After an exceptional summer of heatwaves and droughts, the Archimedes Screw in the Torrs has stood idle and silted up.
But now, after several weeks of heavy rain, and a maintenance visit by the volunteer crew, it's producing electricity once more.
At a rate of 49Kwh when I passed the other day.

Impressive footage Mr. B.    Great to see Archie back in action again.  The concept of the screw is basic but very effective.  Hard to believe that something that was in use prior to 3BC in Egypt would still be of beneficial use today but you can't beat basically free hydro power.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 12-1 03:10
Impressive footage Mr. B.    Great to see Archie back in action again.  The concept of the screw is basic but very effective.  Hard to believe that something that was in use prior to 3BC in Egypt would still be of beneficial use to day but you can't beat basically free hydro power.

It's a great concept, for sure. And still viable.  This one keeps getting silted up, unfortunately.

Interesting. And only using a fraction of the water.

Looks like a nice place!
Well captured.

Montfrooij Posted at 12-1 05:18
Looks like a nice place!
Well captured.

almost within sight of home

Depp Posted at 12-1 04:31
Interesting. And only using a fraction of the water.

Yes it's capable of producing 54Kwh maximum output, but after this week's repair and maintenance it's doing 49Kwh.

Blériot53 Posted at 12-1 04:06
It's a great concept, for sure. And still viable.  This one keeps getting silted up, unfortunately.

Good thing there are still volunteers available to do some cleaning and keep it operational.  

Blériot53 Posted at 12-1 09:54
almost within sight of home

I recognize the place. It's close to that tunnel right?

Montfrooij Posted at 12-1 23:43
I recognize the place. It's close to that tunnel right?

Yes, just a couple of hundred metres away

Blériot53 Posted at 12-1 23:53
Yes, just a couple of hundred metres away

I looked it up on Google.
Lovely area!

Montfrooij Posted at 12-2 00:13
I looked it up on Google.
Lovely area!

Quite hilly - not like the Netherlands

Blériot53 Posted at 12-2 00:30
Quite hilly - not like the Netherlands

Exactly.
Nice building style too!

Really interesting. I am glad that the power plant is working again

Montfrooij Posted at 12-2 00:31
Exactly.
Nice building style too!

We like these stone-built houses

VideoLife_FPV Posted at 12-2 00:32
Really interesting. I am glad that the power plant is working again

Thanks. That one small unit is sufficient to produce all the power required by the local supermarket a few hundred metres away.

Blériot53 Posted at 12-2 00:38
We like these stone-built houses

Me too.
We have a lot of bricks here.

Montfrooij Posted at 12-2 00:54
Me too.
We have a lot of bricks here.

Somewhat of a mixture around here.

Blériot53 Posted at 12-2 00:58
Somewhat of a mixture around here.

A bit of wood too. More often these days.

Blériot53 Posted at 12-2 00:39
Thanks. That one small unit is sufficient to produce all the power required by the local supermarket a few hundred metres away.

Very big savings and environmentally friendly.

Does the screw make any meaningful power or is it just for display?

Montfrooij Posted at 12-2 01:26
A bit of wood too. More often these days.

A medium that has not really taken off over here.

VideoLife_FPV Posted at 12-2 01:56
Very big savings and environmentally friendly.

A tourist attraction too.

DAFlys Posted at 12-2 04:53
Does the screw make any meaningful power or is it just for display?

It supplies the entire needs of the nearby Co-op supermarket. (They switch back to the National Grid when it's out of action)

Blériot53 Posted at 12-2 11:19
It supplies the entire needs of the nearby Co-op supermarket. (They switch back to the National Grid when it's out of action)

Oh.  Thats brilliant.   Did they pay for the installation?

Blériot53 Posted at 12-2 10:47
A medium that has not really taken off over here.

Some swear by it.

DAFlys Posted at 12-2 11:41
Oh.  Thats brilliant.   Did they pay for the installation?

I don't know. It was before I lived here.

Montfrooij Posted at 12-2 12:07
Some swear by it.

A lot of new houses in France are being built that way. But the plastic-clad siding sheets are quickly deteriorating.

Blériot53 Posted at 12-2 13:07
A lot of new houses in France are being built that way. But the plastic-clad siding sheets are quickly deteriorating.

Time will tell what is 'best'.

Scary but good shorts.

tjalex Posted at 12-2 14:53
Scary but good shorts.

Thanks. Not too scary though

Blériot53 Posted at 12-2 13:05
I don't know. It was before I lived here.

You mean there isn't a sign?

Blériot53 Posted at 12-2 13:05
I don't know. It was before I lived here.

Its community owned and they sell the electricity to the coop.   It can make a max of 63 kW of electricity..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torrs_Hydro

DAFlys Posted at 12-3 01:59
You mean there isn't a sign?

It says it was a Community Project ( in 2008 if memory serves)

https://torrshydro.org/

Blériot53 Posted at 12-3 02:23
It says it was a Community Project ( in 2008 if memory serves)

https://torrshydro.org/

That what the wiki said too.