Keep this place and benefit from it.
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Local.
The impressive stone-made mill was almost preserved in its original state. The 3-story building is constructed of locally quarried stone, dressed by skilled Trappist stonemasons in the late 19th Century. Fully restored, it is currently in regular production using all the original machinery.
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Sustainable.
A generator produces large amounts of electricity (off-grid) from waterpower of the Polela river. The main building is renovated with sanitary facilities. Apparently, this is a good starting position for enabling Reichenau Mill to regain a piece of heritage and a sustainable development.
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Empowering.
This mill project generates benefits to the nearby rural area. We aim to establish innovative products and services in order to maintain the building complex. Then, in partnership with the community, the mill stimulates education, job creation and women empowerment.
Renewable Energy Demonstration Site
Since the 19th Century, Reichenau Mission in KZN, South Africa, has literally been running on water - using hydropower to run its Mill and to generate electricity. In 2011 Reichenau was selected as one of Project 90 by 2030's National Renewable Energy Demonstration Sites and received funding for the development of a hydro electric project.
Where all began.
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Historical mill from late 19th century
The Reichenau Mill is a wonderful example of late 19th century mill engineering being driven by water power from the adjacent river which descends some 40 feet over a picturesque waterfall. The power in the water was not harnessed with the classic water wheel, but by means of a turbine situated at the base of the waterfall. This must have been absolutely state of the art in 1896.
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Sustainable Hydropower
Water was conducted along a channel drawn from above a weir upstream of the waterfall. The water entered a pipe sloping steeply down to the turbine. This turbine which weighs some 2 tons had a power output of about 25 horsepower. It transmitted its power to the mill situated at the top of the waterfall by means of a steel cable passing over 2 large pulleys or sheaves each 1.5 meter in diameter.
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The great flood
After milling for some 90 years, the turbine house was carried away by exceptional floods in 1987. The mill stood derelict for the next 20 years. At the beginning of 2007 a group of volunteers began the work of restoring the mill to its original functioning condition. There ensued a series of work parties resulting in the complete refurbishment of the mill machinery. The turbine was transported to Pinetown for repairs.
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Voluntary rebuilding
In the meantime the mill was equipped with an electric motor so that it could be commissioned while the turbine was being repaired. The South African Air Force came to the assistance of the project by airlifting the turbine. Repair work included replacement of the blades, bearings, seals and shaft. The original stone turbine tower was replaced with an open metal-frame structure to resist flooding.
