Community-owned hydro scheme generates power at Killington reservoir

The first community owned hydro scheme in Cumbria has been officially opened. Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron unveiled a plaque on the building at Killington reservoir near Sedbergh in south Cumbria.

The community raised £300,000 for the project, local people were employed in the construction and the profits will be pumped back into the community.

Other hydro schemes are up and running in the county, generating green electricity, but those behind this project say they hope to see more community owned ones.

The project was helped by Cumbria Action for Sustainability, a charity which aims to drive a shift towards a zero carbon Cumbria. It loaned £15,000 to Community Energy Cumbria to kickstart the project. Hannah McNulty spoke to Hazel Graham, the chief executive of Cumbria Action for Sustainability and Phil Davies, the Chairman of Community Energy Cumbria.