Tuesday, 15 November 2016

Waste of energy

As my regular reader will know, we are looking for a mill to buy, the idea being to put it back into use, specifically to generate electricity.   We looked at a pretty mill not long ago.  It's on a small river not all that far from its source, so I thought that it wouldn't generate very much power.  On the other hand, the wheel is fed from above, which makes for more efficient operation.

I had a look at the diversion of water from the main stream that would feed it; it was a bit overgrown with reeds and rushes, and perhaps on a neighbouring property but nothing that couldn't be worked with.  The wheel itself has been restored by a group of local enthusiasts, and there is a little plaque on it to this effect.


So I asked the agent to ask the owner about the water, its access from the river and what power the wheel might produce.  It turns out that the wheel is not powered by the river any more but by water that is pumped back up above it using an electric pump, just to turn the wheel for decoration.

*sigh*


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6 comments:

  1. helen devries15 November 2016 at 14:21

    Oh, crumbs!
    Are there any projects for removing or 'improving' weirs, mills etc., in your area? My old area is about to be ruined by same.

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  2. CherryPie15 November 2016 at 17:12

    And a sad waste of your time...

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  3. Mark In Mayenne15 November 2016 at 22:59

    A general project to remove all the dams from the river Erve was defeated by local protests. However there is a nationwide effort at the government level to eradicate them.

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  4. Mark In Mayenne16 November 2016 at 01:09

    Cherry - yes, hence the post title; a waste of my energy, a waste of the river's energy, and a waste of the electricity.

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  5. James Higham16 November 2016 at 12:33

    Probably just need to find one, rip it out and put it in at your place. If anyone complains, just ask what is this, Manon des Sources?

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  6. Tim Newman1 December 2016 at 06:12

    I know this one is for sale in Normandy. The wheel is not installed, but all the sluices are intact. I have stayed in the property a few times, it's nice.

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