Planning permission was originally granted in 2003 (with reserved matters approved in 2005) for a hydroelectric scheme at the site; however npower renewables submitted a new planning application involving installation of hydrodynamic (Archimedes) screw turbines in two bays of the weir.
The scheme – located adjacent to the bank of Romney Island, between Windsor and Eton – will generate around 1.4MkWh of electricity each year, contributing towards the UK Government’s targets of achieving 15% of UK electricity needs from renewable energy sources by 2015.
The scheme will now be developed and constructed by npower renewables in association with Southeast Power Engineering. The Environment Agency has had a key advisory role and was a statutory consultee in the planning process. Construction and commencement of operation is expected to take place in 2009.
