Fuelling Greater Manchester goes to Stockport Hydro!

Join us on Saturday 11th July when we will visit Stockport Hydro for a guided tour of this incredible Community Energy project.

Stockport Hydro is the first community-owned hydroelectric scheme in Greater Manchester. Construction was completed in May 2012 and by March 2013, it had already produced 100,000 units (kWh).

It is a real success story in terms of Community Energy and is a leading example of what communities can do when they come together to generate renewable energy.

We will be welcomed by Stockport Hydro volunteers at 11am outside the Hydro. In four groups we will then visit:

• The powerhouse - to see the operation of the plant
• The decking - to see the river flow, debris collected and wildlife
• The bank downstream - history, ownership and community involvement
• The car park - green energy, the water cycle, future plans.

The visit takes approx 90 minutes, allowing time for questions.

The visit will be followed by an optional picnic in the beautiful grounds of Chadkirk Chapel. Bring your own food and drinks for the picnic. If the weather is inclement, we will retreat to Dobbies Garden Centre that has a lovely cafe.

Who should attend
We welcome anyone interested in community energy, those interested in setting up or running similar community energy projects, those with an interest in tackling climate change and creating new local energy assets or anyone interested in the engineering challenges of small scale hydro and seeing how energy is generated from the power of the River Mersey.

Additional information:

Parking: There is no visitor parking on the site. It is possible to park at the Vale Road Car Park - 5 minutes’ walk away and safest place to cross the road. See https://carparkmaps.co.uk/carparks/view/13143 Parking is also available at Dobbies Garden Centre, across Dooley Lane.
Address: Stockport Hydro at Otterspool Weir, Mill Lane, Romiley, Stockport SK6 3LQ

Arriving by train: It is possible to reach Stockport Hydro by train, arriving at Rose Hill Marple followed by a gentle walk of about 30 minutes (distance is approx 1.3 miles). Email Lorenza at [lorenza@carbon.coop](mailto:lorenza@carbon.coop) if you want to learn more about this option as we will coordinate a group walking from Rose Hill Marple station to the Hydro leaving Rose Hill Marple at 10.30am.

Comfort: Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes. It's an exposed site on the river, it can be muddy and cold/wet.

Toilets: The nearest toilets are inside Dobbies Garden Centre.

This 2026 series of Fuelling GM events is supported by the Energy Learning Network. Events are organised by Carbon Coop and Greater Manchester Community Renewables.

Learn more about Stockport Hydro: https://stockport-hydro.co.uk/