The Government Environment Agency has announced plans to develop Teddington weir in order produce ‘green power’.
Weirs are created to manage water levels and reduce flood risk but environmental activists say can also be used to generate energy and help tackle climate change and help reduce the impact of energy crises.
Teddington has one of three weirs (out of a total of 44) on the Thames that is being considering by the Environment Agency to harness the power of the river using the renewable energy source of hydropower wherever it is feasible.
Although only generating power on a small-scale, these pilot schemes will provide good case studies for larger scale future developments. Another scheme at Romney Weir at Windsor is planned to be operational by the end of this year.
The EA won’t develop these sites itself but instead offer the work out to tender for developers to submit plans.
Photo: Jacques De Molay
Hi there,
I am one of the lock staff at Teddington and feel that i should point out that the weir is not in need of an ‘overhaul’ having been rebuilt completely about 20 years ago , it still has many years of life left in it . You are correct however in that the EA has invited companies to tender for installing a hydroelectric scheme. All the lock staff are excited about the prospect of the weir being used to provide renewable energy.
Best wishes
By: H.Miatt on May 2, 2010
at 3:11 pm
Hi Howard, apologies but I miss-understood the text from the Chronicle article – now amended!
By: tteditor on May 2, 2010
at 3:20 pm
I think this is great. The EA should invite local people to invest in it – as a community investment company. This has been done elsewhere and is an excellent way to get people directly involved:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/may/29/ethical-investments-communities-environment
By: R Callway on May 31, 2010
at 7:49 pm
After years of surveying the feasibility of Hydro for the Thames (and lots of other rivers) we are pleased to be associated with providing detailed technical and other best practice information for the agenda.
We have initiated and closely assisted the formation of the community project at Teddington and will continue to press for the very best practice at this site for ALL the stakeholders.
Best Regards
There used to be 600 hydro projects on the Thames and now there is the opportunity to reinstate some of them.
By: Paul Johannsen on June 16, 2010
at 11:14 am