A pioneering, community hydroelectric scheme generati funds for local community projects by generating 'green' electricity from the River Ribble in Settle. Settle Hydro was formally registered as an ‘Industrial & Provident Society for the Benefit of the Community’ on 24th June 2008. The Hydro Electric Scheme was built during 2009 and the first electricity was generated in January 2010.

Settle Hydro was one of the first community-owned hydro-electric schemes to be commissioned in the United Kingdom. The company was an innovator both in its use of Archimedean screw technology to generate electricity from a low head of water (Bridge End Weir) and in its adoption of an ‘Industrial and Provident Society for the Benefit of the Community’ as the structure for running the enterprise. Both the technology and the company structure have subsequently been copied and developed by the many schemes that have followed in our footsteps.

Settle Hydro delivers ‘benefit to the community’ in a number of ways:

It generates clean, green, renewable energy thus making a positive local contribution to reducing carbon emissions.

It has the potential to raise significant funds which can be used to support local community organisations.

It provides the town with an additional attraction which makes Settle more appealing to visitors who support the local economy by spending money with local businesses.

It provides an invaluable educational resource which can be used by local schools for raising awareness of renewable energy, industrial heritage, salmon migration, community businesses etc.

It provides an innovative means for local community members to work together to achieve positive benefits for the area.