London's first Archimedes Screw comes to Morden!

Work has finally begun this week on the long-awaited installation of our Archimedes Screw hydro electric turbine. The turbine is being installed in the River Wandle which flows through Morden Hall Park, and will contribute a huge amount to the park's energy needs - on top of the three different sorts of solar panels, air source heat pump and wood burning stove which are already generating energy in the newly renovated stable yard.

The Archimedes Screw will be installed behind the Grade II listed Snuff Mill and the original waterwheel which was conserved last year. The turbine will act as a modern waterwheel, harnessing the power of the river to generate electricity. It is estimated that it will generate 59,000 kWh a year – about 12 times as much electricity as an average household uses.

The Archimedes Screw turbine is being installed by Mackley Construction and Hallidays Hydropower. Mackleys have been setting up their site this week, moving their mobile office in and already starting to dig. BT and Southern Gas have also been here, diverting any essential cables and pipes that crossed the site, before digging began. Dave, Mackleys Site Manager, sets up the site in a nice safe way (NTPL/Caroline Pankhurst)

A few visitors wondered where their regular picnic site had gone, but were happy to discover that our kind gardening volunteers had moved the tables just round the corner into the new orchard. Paul and his team go for a walk with the picnic tables (NTPL/Caroline Pankhurst)

And the project team were happy to get their hard hats on again, after having to put them away for 6 months.

Caroline happy to be back in her hard hat (NTPL/Zoë Adams)

The Archimedes Screw turbine is being funded by City Bridge Trust and Thames Water, as well as the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). It is expected to be generating energy in September 2012 - watch this space for further developments over the summer.