Call for royal opening for Romney Weir turbines powering Windsor Castle

A call has been made for an official royal launch of the massive turbines at Romney Weir that now power Windsor Castle.

The 40-tonne turbines draw energy from the weir which is carried by 1,150m of underground cables under the river bed and Datchet Road to the castle.

David Dechambeau is the managing director of Southeast Power Engineering which created the scheme.

He told councillors on the Royal Borough's sustainability panel on Monday that the two turbines were now 'spinning like crazy' providing electricity to the royal household.

But he could not guarantee a royal opening despite being asked about it by Cllr David Coppinger (Con, Bray), chairing the panel, who said: "What you have done is so important."

Mr Dechambeau is known to have discussed the plan in detail with Prince Philip in its early stages.

He said: "These turbines are big industrial pieces of kit that should last 100 years.

"As an island without an energy source of its own we could be in trouble if we don't support schemes like this in the future."

The meeting took place on Monday at Maidenhead Town Hall.

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