Who Melissa and Richard Kendall

Where Wiltshire

What Hydro

Size 27.5kW

Makes 145 MWh per year

Customer equivalent 36 homes per year

Average equivalent saving 62 tonnes per year

THE KENDALLS’ STORY

At Littleton Mill in Wiltshire, owners Melissa and Richard Kendall have brought the 17th century mill back to life and are generating hydro electricity. The Kendalls are undertaking a total refurbishment of the original 17th century Mill House, incorporating high levels of insulation and a biomass heating system. They’ve also reinstated the hydro power generator - though the new one is far more effective than that used when the mill was originally converted for electricity generation in the 1920s. The majority of the power the Kendalls generate is exported to the local grid and is paid for by Good Energy.

Melissa said: “We chose Good Energy for three reasons. Firstly, they offered a very attractive deal for the export of our power and when the double ROCs come into force later this year we will earn even more. Secondly, as a company they understand small scale generators and actively support us. This is reassuring in what could otherwise be quite a complex operation. Thirdly, I admire Good Energy’s approach to doing business and its pioneering work in the clean energy sector. Richard and I try to live our lives in an environmentally friendly way and as Good Energy is the only UK company to supply 100% renewable electricity, we wanted to support this.”

The Kendalls are aiming to complete the refurbishment of the Mill in 2009 to enable Melissa to run yoga and detox retreats through her company, Jiva Healing. Check out the website here.