Planning permission for the project was originally granted in 2003 (with reserved matters approved in 2005) by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Planning Authority, however npower renewables has now submitted new plans that would see the installation of two hydrodynamic (Archimedes) screw turbines to be positioned in two bays of the weir.
Located adjacent to the bank of Romney Island, between Windsor and Eton, the scheme will generate around 1.4MkWh per year, helping to achieve the UK Government’s target of generating 15% of UK electricity needs from renewable energy sources by 2015.
The scheme will be developed and constructed by npower renewables in association with Southeast Power Engineering. The Environment Agency has had a key advisory role and is a statutory consultee in the planning process.
Construction and commencement of operation is expected to take place in 2009.