Dommel stream (Hydroelectric power plant)

The hydroelectric power plant is a citizens' initiative financed by crowdfunding.

In 2011, father Jan and son Bram Taks walk along the Dommel and think 'why is nothing happening with the power of this water? They turn thinking into action and start calculating and organizing to get all the necessary permits and the construction and operation plans in place. Under the motto 'This gives us energy, do you?', the initiators raise funds, set up a cooperative and recruit members.

We started looking into the possibilities and different techniques for a hydroelectric power plant. The limited difference in height was leading, as was the fish-friendliness of the technique. Soon we arrived at the screw of Archimedes, or the auger of Landustrie. At the same time, we presented our initiative to the De Dommel water board and the municipality of Sint-Michielsgestel, who provided concrete support and took care of the necessary permits, among other things."

The national government and the municipality of Sint-Michielsgestel are both contributing to the project in the form of a subsidy. However, that is not enough to get the plant off the ground. Bram Taks: "In order to secure the necessary financing, we set up the Dommelstroom Energy Cooperative and started a crowdfunding campaign. Everyone who invests therefore becomes a co-owner of the plant. In addition, financial contributions have been made by the Doen Foundation, Rabobank, the municipality of Sint-Michielsgestel, Ahold and Het Groene Woud. Within a few months, the target amount of € 750,000 was reached and the financing credit made available by Landustrie turned out to be unnecessary."

Bomoto