Windsor Castle Generates Electricity Using River Thames
Windsor Castle is to get its electricity from hydro-electric turbines on the River Thames.
Windsor Castle will use sources of renewable energy for its electricity supply and will be supplied by Southeast Power Engineering Ltd (SEPEL). The company will put two turbines in place at Romney Weir on the River Thames.
The Archimedes Screw turbines should be in place and working by November according to the director of SEPEL, David Dechambeau. SEPEL is working with the Environment Agency on the project.
A spokeswoman from Buckingham Palace said “I can confirm that the royal household now has an agreement in place to purchase the energy generated by the hydro scheme, implemented by SEPEL”.
It means the Castle will benefit from cheap business electricity which comes at a time when business electricity prices are increasing. The Royal Household will also benefit from the Feed-In Tariff scheme too so will get payments for the electricity generated and any extra electricity which is sold to the National Grid.
But the Royal Family is not the only beneficiary of electricity from the Thames. The Environment Agency has asked community groups and developers to organise hydro-power schemes on the Thames weirs. As a result in Berkshire, the Agency is working with councils on schemes at Marlow, Boveney and Boulters weirs.
Utility Exchange reported last year that the River Thames was being used to generate electricity for around 200 homes.
The Environment Agency’s hydro-power project leader, Barry Russell, said “This is a great opportunity for developers and community groups to get involved in generating clean, green electricity in an environmentally sustainable way. Weirs are an untapped source of energy and the Environment Agency is keen to ensure hydro-power fulfils its potential as a small but useful renewable energy source, whilst protecting the environment”.