A SLAITHWAITE man wants to generate his own power – with a hydro-electric plant in his garden.

James Garside wants to use the water running down Crimble Clough to generate power for his home.

He is also hopeful of generating extra electricity to be sold to the National Grid.

Now experts from the West Yorkshire-based Alternative Technology Centre have submitted proposals to Kirklees Council on Mr Garside’s behalf.

He lives at Nab Farm, off Highfield Road, and plans to install a microhydro turbine and generator in his garden.

Water from the clough will be diverted through a pond and then back into the stream having passed through the generator.

Peter Hill, of the Alternative Technology Centre, said: “The proposal is to create a small impoundment in the clough to allow the flow to be maintained and flow to be directed to the pond and into the hydropower system.

“The turbine and generator will be placed in a small covered chamber adjacent to an existing stone and ornamental pond feature, and from the turbine site the water will be piped back down to the watercourse.

“The output from the generator will be connected to the grid at the main consumer unit at the property. It is planned that the electricity produced will be used on site, with any surplus exported to the National Grid.

“The power produced will vary gradually day to day, rather than minute to minute. It is long-lasting and robust – systems are engineered to last 50 years or more – and it is a technology which is more acceptable to people.

“In most cases it has little impact on the landscape and the environment.

“Electricity is produced when a flow of water is channelled through a turbine connected to a generator. Two factors are important: the head or height of the water fall and the amount of water. These will determine the amount of energy that can be produced.”

Mr Hill said water would continue to flow down the clough at all times and 100% of the water diverted to the turbine would be returned to the stream.