Daniele Novara
View of the farmhouse building
The 3.68 kW demonstration hydro site developed by the Dŵr Uisce project and National Trust Wales was put online in September 2019 after several months of design and construction.
Its main novelty with respect to a regular hydropower scheme lays in the use of a Pump As Turbine (PAT) device instead of a conventional custom-made hydro turbine, which allowed a significant cost reduction. As covered by several news outlets (https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-50474384), the electricity generated by the hydro is self-consumed within the premises of the property and helps to maintain the correct temperature and humidity necessary to the collection of rare bibles preserved in the historical farmhouse.
Unfortunately, though, the turbine and the powerhouse received repeated damaged by two different storms in 2020 and 2021 and therefore needed a general overhaul. Taking advantage of the lifting of travel restrictions in early 2022, the damaged intake level sensor has been repaired and the PAT has been upgraded to a more robust stainless steel unit which will offer a greater resistance to erosion and corrosion over the original cast iron unit.
PAT system
And power be!
Upon completing the performance and acceptance tests, Ty Mawr Wybrnant hydro is now ready to be brought back online for the years to come.