Hydro Water Wheel
The largest water wheel electrical generator in Europe and the cutting edge of rural innovation blending in harmony with the beautiful countryside.
Europes Largest Hydro Wheel - Europes Largest Hydro Wheel - Europes Largest Hydro Wheel - Europes Largest Hydro Wheel - Europes Largest Hydro Wheel - Europes Largest Hydro Wheel - Europes Largest Hydro Wheel - Europes Largest Hydro Wheel - Europes Largest Hydro Wheel -
How the wheel started
Hydro Power
In 2012 Martin Perrett gained planning permission to raise the level of an existing lake at Court Farm, in a row of other existing lakes to install a sustainable and renewable hydro scheme to generate electricity for the farm. This was a well thought out plan, years in the making and on the back of experience gained as Buckland Newton Hire worked on other projects installing hydro schemes for others including notable very successful projects in Alton and Gillingham as well as other renewable electricity installations including wind turbines and many solar panel farms at the time.
It was decided, mainly due to the challenge of doing it and the aesthetic presence so close to Martin’s house that a traditional water wheel installation would be used. Martin had always wanted to see a water wheel turning from his bedroom window! A more boring, modern crossflow turbine could have been installed under the ground to generate the same electric perhaps, but where would be the fun in that? All of the works to raise the lakes would have been the same but the project would have been no where near as interesting and fun! Instead it has created a local landmark!
The Pitchback Wheel
The system started, generated and connected to the grid and exported our first electricity on 12th December 2023!
From December 2023 to May 2024 we produced over 10 mega watt hours! And we are hoping it will do better than this going forward as we continue to tweak it to improve it’s efficiency.
Final levelling and topsoiling and landscaping of the lake banks and surrounding gradients was all totally completed and seeded by the end of 2024. Ready for final planting scheme installations in the planting season.
The system makes between 120 and 170kwh per 24 hour period during peak flow in the winter. It is capable of generating up to 11kw per hour given enough flow, which it can do albeit for a short period given enough water storage but it generally sits between 5 and 7 kw per hour in the winter with water flow peaking at around 150 litres per second. In the summer it sits at between 3 and 5 kw per hour which whilst not a huge amount, it is 24 hours a day non stop. Unlike solar that is only generating during daylight hours of course and even them only when it is really sunny. We have also now got a 40kw solar array on one of our large industrial units at the farm, so these two renewable energy schemes sit very nicely with the hydro producing it’s maximum in the winter when the solar is at it’s worst and vice versus!
This electric produced is going a long way to supplying what we need in order to satisfy the use of around 20 industrial units, 4 residential houses, some offices and workshops and around 50 stables across Court Farm.
Energy /24hrs
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Water Reused / sec
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The Hyrdo Wheels Gallery
FAQs
Here's our most frequently asked questions
Looking for quick answers to common questions about water wheel hydro power? You’re in the right place! Explore our FAQ section below to find insights on everything from how water wheels work to their environmental impact and more. If you don’t see your question answered, feel free to reach out to us directly, and we’ll be happy to provide further clarification.
The water wheel generates between 120 and 170 kWh per 24-hour period during peak flow in the winter. It is capable of producing up to 11 kW per hour with sufficient flow, but generally produces between 5 and 7 kW per hour in the winter. In the summer, it typically produces between 3 and 5 kW per hour.
Yes, the water wheel will generate electricity all year round. In winter, it produces between 120 and 170 kWh per 24-hour period, with peak generation reaching up to 11 kW per hour. In summer, it generates between 3 and 5 kW per hour.
Yes, the water wheel at Court Farm is the largest diameter electric-generating water wheel in Europe. It has a diameter of 9.0 meters, surpassing the Aberdulais Wheel in Wales, which has an 8.2-meter diameter.
Planning permission for the water wheel project at Court Farm was obtained by Martin Perrett in 2012. This involved raising the level of an existing lake to install the hydro scheme. The process likely included detailed planning and environmental assessments, leveraging Martin’s experience with hydro schemes and other renewable energy projects, as well as meeting local regulatory requirements and addressing any potential concerns related to the project's impact on the environment and surrounding community.
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Have Questions?
We are happy to answer
We’re here to help! Whether you’re curious about the technology, its applications, or how it can benefit your project, our team is ready to provide answers. Simply fill out the form below, and we’ll get back to you promptly with the information you need. Let’s harness the power of water together!
Phone
01300 345378
info@courtfarmdorset.com
We will do our best to get back to you within 48 hours.