Royals to go 'green' at Windsor
July 25, 2005
Final permission has been given to plans for a £1m hydro-electric power plant to supply Windsor Castle.
Full approval has now been granted for the four-turbine energy-efficient plant to be built at Romney Weir on the River Thames in Berkshire.
The plant - thought to be the biggest of its kind in the south of England - will generate enough power for about a third of the castle.
Environmental campaigners Friends of the Earth have welcomed the news.
Tony Juniper, director of the pressure group, said: "We're delighted that the Queen is taking a lead in the use of green electricity to help tackle global warming.
"It highlights the massive potential for small scale micro-generation systems within the UK."
The application for the project was submitted to Windsor and Maidenhead council in February last year and welcomed by planners.
On Friday, the plans were given the complete go-ahead.
Buckingham Palace said the royal household was pleased the project had been approved.
A spokesman said: "We're constantly looking at ways of saving energy.
"We use energy efficient lightbulbs at Buckingham Palace and recycle 99% of green waste."
The electricity from the new plant will be fed straight into the Queen's Berkshire castle and not into the local grid.
Four turbines, which will be built by Npower Renewables, will be submerged in two of the weir's bays.
The company has pledged to make sure the new structure is incorporated into the existing weir and made virtually invisible and silent.
Construction is expected to begin next year, with Windsor Castle set to start using green electricity before the end of 2006.
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