EPD have taken the design forward from an initial feasibility study into improvements to the course and operational practices right through conceptual design, power / generation modelling, physical modelling to detailed design, construction supervision and commissioning of the whitewater itself.
See Main Completed Projects for information on completed project.
As part of the design process EPD produced a detailed feasibility report on the issues associated with the previous course and then went on to explore the possible avenues to improve the previous situation. EPD presented the innovative concept of utilising the tidal range to reverse the pumps and generate electricity. The use of fish friendly Archimedean screw pumps was also first developed by EPD for use in whitewater channels.
EPD then went on to model the operation of the screw pumps/ generators over a year long period to determine the feasibility of an overall sustainable operation of the whitewater course with a combined operational philosophy utilising both free gravity flows and pumped water conditions. Factors modelled were operational demands (kayaking, rafting and swift water rescue training) on a daily, weekly and seasonal basis, tidal data on a 15 minute basis and daily averaged river flows.
