The day when Windsor Castle is powered by green energy came a step closer today when the second of two 40-tonne turbines was lifted into place at the Environment Agency’s Romney Weir on the River Thames.
Once up and running in the new year the Archimedes screws, the largest in the UK and designed to be fish-friendly, will generate 300 kilowatts of energy every hour for up to half of the royal residence. Any surplus electricity will be sold back to the national grid by the developer Southeast Power Engineering Ltd (SEPEL) for use in homes in Windsor.
The largest hydropower scheme in the south east of England is being built by Jackson Civil Engineering for SEPEL and is set to cut annual carbon dioxide emissions by 790,000kilos.
To help ensure the £1.7million project both generates clean energy and improves the local environment, the Environment Agency – who permits and will regulate the scheme - is requiring a new fish pass to be installed at the Weir. The new pass will enable over 12 species of fish including trout and perch, as well as endangered eels, to migrate up this stretch of river – some for the first time in over 200 years.
Working in partnership
The Deputy Treasurer at the Royal Household, said: “The Royal Household is constantly looking at new ways of saving and supplying energy so as to remain as environmentally friendly as possible well into the future. Accordingly, the Household was very keen to support this project. Once completed, it is hoped that the scheme will supply half of Windsor Castle’s electricity.”
Howard Davidson, the Environment Agency’s South East Director, said: “We have worked closely with developer to ensure that this is a well designed and operated hydropower project that delivers low-carbon electricity and helps wildlife and fish migration. Renewable energy is important to the long-term protection of the environment but it’s our role to ensure hydropower's contribution is sustainable and benefits the local environment. We will be monitoring this scheme closely."
The Environment Agency held a nationwide search to find a developer to transform the 214-year-old Romney Weir into an innovative structure able to generate electricity sustainably.
David DeChambeau, Director of Southeast Power Engineering Ltd (SEPEL), who secured the successful bid, said: “We are very proud to have been chosen to deliver this innovative project and to have the Royal Household as a customer. I believe my company is making a significant contribution to our country’s energy security. In turn, by utilising locally produced and pure renewable energy in Windsor Castle, the Royal Household is helping to reduce the UK's dependence on imported energy.”
Brian Crofton, Jackson Civil Engineering Contracts Director, said: "Jackson is delighted to be involved with this scheme, the first of its kind on the River Thames. Hydropower definitely has a place in the UK's future energy mix and we hope to be involved in more schemes going forward.
From an engineering point of view, this project is fantastic; it is always good to see our industry being involved in new projects like this where we are combining innovation with existing assets on our rivers to create renewable energy for the future."
Factfile
- A weir has been used to control the flow of water around Romney lock for 214 years
- The 4-metre diameter turbines are the largest Archimedes Screws in the UK
- Archimedes screws were developed as water pumps by the Ancient Greek mathematician and engineer Archimedes of Syracuse
- Each 40-tonne turbine was transported by road to Windsor from Holland and is powered by falling water from the weir
- It is estimated the turbines will cut carbon dioxide emissions by 790,000 kilos per year
- The scheme will be the biggest along the Thames and in south east England
- The golden brown colour of the turbines and their housings were chosen by the residents of Eton, who look out onto the weir
- Replacing the old Denil type fish pass with a Larinier type will allow a wider range of fish species to migrate upstream for the first time in over two centuries
- Eel populations have fallen to endangered levels. A separate eel pass will be installed to allow eels to pass up and down the weir.
- The scheme will be fitted with a number of environmental protection measures including rubber bumpers on the turbine blades to minimise risk to fish
- A 4-metre flood gate will be linked to the hydropower scheme and will open automatically when river levels are high to ensure there is no increased risk from flooding
- View images of the hydropower installation
