IT IS a mechanical problem that has troubled scientists since Archimedes and the ancient Greeks, but now a Scottish electrician has come up with the answer - and it could help consumers save thousands of pounds in energy bills.
Ian Gilmartin, 60, has invented a mini water wheel capable of supplying enough electricity to power a house - for free.
The contraption is designed to be used in small rivers or streams - ideal for potentially thousands of homes across Britain.
It is the first off-the-shelf water-wheel system that can generate a good supply of electricity from as little as an eight-inch water fall.
Ok, I am sitting here in front of the computer and I am thinking there is no water close enough to me to make this work. I am not even sure where it could work in Anderson. Certainly, along the White River and Killbuck Creek, but where else is there running water in this city? Well, we got a lot of running water in the streets whenever we get a hard rain.
Still, an interesting idea that might have application elsewhere in the state. Perhaps someone could leverage this into a possibility of a manufacturing facility in the state.
The prototype has been working successfully at St Catherine's, a National Trust site near Windermere, opening up previously untapped energy.
The water wheel produces one to two kilowatts of power and generates at least 24kw hours of sustainable green energy in a day - just under the average household's daily consumption of about 28kw hours.
It will cost some £2,000 to fully install - and pay for itself inside two years.
The Beck Mickle "low head" micro hydro generator could potentially provide electricity to more than 50,000 British homes and could be used industrially.
Mr Gilmartin said: "While we cannot say this provides free electricity, because of the initial cost of buying the machine, it is expected to pay for itself within two years and then greatly reduce the owner's electricity bills after then."
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