Wakefield Hydro power station (A.K.A Kirkthorpe Hydro)
Let me tell you a little bit about Wakefield Hydroelectrical Power station, or Kirkthorpe Hydro).
Located in the heart of Wakefield, a small town in the United Kingdom, the waterfall was built in the early 1900s with the power station added in 2017 and has been producing renewable energy ever since.
Kirkthorpe Hydro is a small hydroelectric power station located in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. It was built in 2017 with the aim of generating clean, renewable energy for the local area.
The power station is situated on the River Calder, a major river that runs through the county of Yorkshire. The River Calder has been used for power generation for centuries, and Kirkthorpe Hydro is the latest addition to this long tradition.
The hydroelectric power station works by harnessing the power of the river's flow to turn a turbine. As the water flows over the turbine, it spins, generating electricity that can be used to power homes and businesses in the local area. The power generated by Kirkthorpe Hydro is fed into the local grid, and any excess power is sold back to the National Grid, helping to reduce the UK's carbon emissions.
The power station has a 'Fish Pass'. The Fish Pass is a specially designed channel that allows fish to swim upstream past the hydroelectric dam, which would otherwise be an obstacle to their migration. The Fish Pass has been a huge success, with a wide range of fish species now able to navigate past the dam and up the River Calder.
Kirkthorpe Hydro has been a great success since it was built in 2014. It generates enough electricity to power around 200 homes, and has helped to reduce the UK's carbon emissions by around 200 tonnes per year. But it's more than just a power station - it's a community project that's bringing people together to promote renewable energy and sustainability in the local area.
Location
This is just 3 miles away from Wakefield city centre, there is parking close by but about a 15 minute walk along good paths to get to this.
Some fun facts about Wakefield Hydroelectric Power Station
- The power station generates electricity using the River Calder, which runs through Wakefield.
- The station was originally built to supply electricity to local homes and businesses, but now it generates enough power to supply up to 800 homes.
- The station's mascot, Wattie the rubber duck, was originally placed in the river by some of the plant workers as a joke. Now he's a beloved symbol of the power station and even has his own social media following.
- The power station has a series of fish ladders that allow fish to safely swim upstream to spawn.
- In 2018, the power station hosted a "Power Up!" party, where local residents and visitors were invited to tour the facility and enjoy live music, food trucks, and even a bouncy castle.
- The power station has a unique cooling system that uses water from the river to cool the turbines, then returns the heated water back to the river at a safe temperature.
- Wakefield Hydroelectric Power Station is one of the oldest hydroelectric power stations in the United Kingdom.
- The power station's staff are known for their sense of humour and love of pranks. In the past, they've replaced office chairs with exercise balls and installed a fake vending machine that dispensed nothing but carrots and celery.
- Wakefield Hydroelectric Power Station is an important part of the community and helps to promote renewable energy and environmental sustainability.
Drone Video of Wakefield Hydro Electric Power Station
I was lucky to get a calm day, so the water was mirror-like.
Some photos
Here are some photographs that I took of the Wakefield hydro electric power station
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