A woman standing for Onchan Commissioners thinks an iconic water wheel could be a source of green energy.

Archeologist Fenella Logan has shared her synopsis online, which would see the Groudle Glen Water Wheel - also known as the Little Isabella - converted into a dynamo-style (electrical generator) function to power light bulbs throughout Groudle Glen.

The wheel would generate power from the rotating wheel, believed to be capable of producing between 1,500 to 2,000 watts per hour. 500w would be used in the summer months and energy would be stored within a battery bank of up to three to four hours of power, with timed sensors to operate lights.

Ms Logan explained: ’The Groudle Wheel is a very old Victorian piece, but the Onchan Heritage Society managed to get it completely refurbished and redeveloped, so it’s now a fully-functioning water wheel.

’Inside the wheel house, there’s lots of space for things like dynamos and battery storage. It’s something which could be retrofitted.

’I think we could fit about 100 to 400 metres of LED lighting on both sides, if we had four kilowatts of battery storage for the wheel. It would be around the water-wheel area.

’There’s also the upper part of the glen, from the old bandstand area to the public part of Molly Quirk’s Glen, then back-up the way possibly towards the old MER bridge.’

Onchan Heritage Society and Mining Machinery Developments Ltd support the potential for the Little Isabella to provide green energy.

The response to Ms Logan’s idea has received positive feedback so far on the social media page she has set up ahead of standing for election to Onchan Commissioners next month. She said she hopes to be able to spread the word in person once lockdown has been lifted.

Ms Logan said that the potential for the Laxey Wheel to also be a source of green energy could be something to look into: ’It was used to take water out of the mines, so there must be large capacity. It would be interesting to look into.’