Reading Hydro is helping reduce the use of fossil fuel by generating electricity from a sustainable source, the River Thames, and is therefore supporting the global efforts to minimise climate change. Surplus revenue from the sale of electricity will be put into a Community Benefit Fund which will be used to support local environmental projects.
Reading Hydro was established to supply energy from a renewable and low carbon sources. It has achieved this by raising funds, mainly from the local community, to build a small hydroelectricity scheme on the River Thames in Reading. Construction was completed in the summer of 2021 and sustainable electricity is now being generated from the power of the water by two Archimedes screw turbines and supplied to a local business. One of the organisations other objectives is to return a proportion of its income to the local community. Surplus revenue from the sale of electricity will be paid into a Community Benefit Fund which will be used to support local environmental projects. Reading Hydro is also developing educational materials relating to the scheme for local schools.
