Renewable Energy

Our team of specialists manage renewable energy engineering contracts, incorporating biomass and hydroelectricity.

We regularly act Principal Contractor in engineering a variety of reinforced concrete structures associated with renewable energy projects. 

Projects have included installing a 3.5MW boiler within an existing building which required a reduced floor level along with ancillary concrete drying floors, and a 500kVa Archimedian hydro generation scheme on the Thames.

Often these projects are dependent on renewable energy tariffs and Government incentives and have a critical deadline. John Sheehan (Oxford) Limited have a proven track record in achieving these major engineering projects on time and within budget.

Case Study - Culham Lock 

John Sheehan (Oxford) Limited was contracted to install a 500 kVa Archimedian hydro generation site on what was dry land close to weirs in the River Thames near to Culham, Oxfordshire.

The scheme was required to generate hydroelectricity from the natural fall of water at this point. 

We acted as Principal Contractor working closely with the client, there was also an essential requirement to provide a consultative role throughout the duration of the project. The project included installation of a fish pass. 

Our team installed a new artificial stream around the hydroelectricity facility to enable species such as dace, roach and perch to get further upstream.  It is thought if other weirs downstream were to replicate the fish pass, it could even one day allow migrating salmon to leap upstream all the way into the centre of Oxford as they did centuries ago.

The scheme not only created renewable energy, but improved biodiversity in Oxfordshire. The scheme fitted entirely within Sheehan’s ethos of stewardship towards the environment.

We had to liaise with all of the stakeholders to ensure that all of the processes needed were completed on time. The short timescales from project award to completion required an organised and experienced approach, crucial to ensure that the connection date happened before the client tariff expired.