As from November 1993, the old hydropower station at Nederweert in the south of the Netherlands, is running again. The Dutch parastatal Rijkswaterstaat constructed the hydroplant around the year 1917 at the intersection of three waterways : the "Noordervaart", the "Zuid-Willemsvaart" and the canal Wesem-Nederweert. The head between the "Zuid-Willemsvaart" and the "Noordervaart" is approximately 1.8 meters, and the flow 3 cubic metres a second. The Francis turbine installed rated 30 kW. The electricity generated powered the operation of the sluices, as well as the neighbouring houses and farms. After the Second World War, the hydroplant fell into disuse, as the national grid reached the sluices and the maintenance of the turbine became expensive.
On behalf of a specially dedicated association, local appropriate technology company "Buro Aangepaste Technologie", rehabilitated the power station The rated capacity has been increased to 35 kW, and power is fed into the national electricity grid. Total costs of the restoration was approximately 300,000 Dutch guilders (€ 135,000), and was paid for by Rijkswaterstaat, the local municipality, the provincial authorities and the national heritage trust.
(translated from an article in "Polytechnisch weekblad", 14 november 1993. Reproduced with permission.) More information on this hydroplant on the web site of BAT (Buro Aangepaste Technologie) (Dutch only) |