A riverside mill site which dates back to the Domesday Book will become the home of the Peak District's first micro-hydropower scheme.
Haddon Estate has been granted permission to build a hydropower system at Alport Mill, which will power 70 per cent of homes in Alport village.
The estate's head riverkeeper Warren Slayney was excited by the prospect of the historic mill site produc
ing electricity.
Mr Slayney said: "The water on this site has been used for milling for nearly a 1,000 years.
"More recently the mill housed a fish farm which we shut down in 2003, leaving the mill standing idle.
"It is great to see this little corner of Derbyshire contributing again and in such a modern and efficient way," he said.
The mill's historical importance and listed-building status raised some issues during Lord Edward Manners' application.
But planning conditions have been agreed to control the mill's appearance and effect on the area's ecology, fish and archaeology.
And it is hoped the project, which will produce 140,000 kWh of electricity a year for Alport residents, will be completed by the summer.
Mr Slayney said: "The site's very old so we had to make sure the archaeologists were happy and we are digging round the mill, not affecting it at all.
"Lord Edward's very interested in sustainable energy and has been down regularly to have a look – in many ways it's his baby.
"Everybody seems to be chuffed with it and I'm really pleased it's so efficient. Just a little bit of water is needed to give power to 30 homes," he added.
All electricity generated will be sold into a local network, with revenues reinvested in the upkeep of the Haddon estate.
The project will save 100 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being pumped into the atmosphere each year.
