Please provide Commissioning Report of Romney Weir hydropower scheme and the current daily output.

The request was partially successful.

Dear Environment Agency,

I understand that the Romney Weir Archimedean screws were commissioned on 24 June 2013.

Mr S Naylor, Hydropower Manager at the Agency, reports that the Romney Weir Archimedean screws are producing lower than design power because of low water flow.The developer of Romney Weir reported in the press that the screws at Romney were producing only two-thirds of the design output.

A video of the Romney Weir Archimedean screws taken on 17 June 2013 before they were commissioned shows them rotating at about 23 RPM:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ2sr1iMtTI

A video of the same screws taken on 14 October 2013 shows them rotating at about 13 RPM:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXHRtNulVWw

Can you please provide a copy (via email) of the Romney Weir Hydro Scheme Commissioning Report? Can you also please confirm the current daily output from the Romney Weir screws?

Thank you, in anticipation.

Yours faithfully,

Mike Post

Enquiries, Unit, Environment Agency

4 Attachments

Thank you for contacting the Environment Agency.

 

Please note; this is an auto reply message.

 

From the 1 April 2013 the functions carried out by the Environment Agency
in Wales were taken over by a new body called Natural Resources Wales
(NRW). Those with interests in Wales should use the following link for
more information:

[1]http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/abo...

 

Our Service Commitment

Our target is to respond to correspondence in 10 working days but you can
expect to receive a reply from us within 4 working days. If your enquiry
is of a technical nature this could take up to 20 working days.

 

The response day for all enquiries starts from the next working day of you
receiving this message.

 

For further information on what you can expect from us – our service
commitment, please visit our website: 

[2]http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/abo...

 

Incident

If you wish to report an incident i.e. pollution, fish in distress,
dumping of hazardous waste etc, please call our freephone 24 hour
Incident Hotline on 0800 80 70 60. For more details about incident
reporting please see our website:

[3]http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/con...

 

Charging for information

 

Please note that there may be a charge for the provision of information in
line with the 'Charging for Information' policy, however this isn’t always
the case for a general enquiry. Please visit our website for further
charging information:

[4]http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/bus...

 

Kind Regards,

 

National Customer Contact Centre

 

Follow us on

[5]cid:image001.gif@01CDFEEE.E0770360[6]cid:image002.gif@01CDFEEE.E0770360[7]cid:image003.gif@01CDFEEE.E0770360[8]cid:image004.gif@01CDFEEE.E0770360

 

Information in this message may be confidential and may be legally privileged. If you have received this message by mistake, please notify the sender immediately, delete it and do not copy it to anyone else.

We have checked this email and its attachments for viruses. But you should still check any attachment before opening it.
We may have to make this message and any reply to it public if asked to under the Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act or for litigation. Email messages and attachments sent to or from any Environment Agency address may also be accessed by someone other than the sender or recipient, for business purposes.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/abo...
2. http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/abo...
3. blocked::http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/con...
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/con...
4. http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/bus...
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/bus...
5. http://www.facebook.com/environmentagenc...
6. http://www.twitter.com/EnvAgency
7. http://www.youtube.com/EnvironmentAgencyTV
8. http://www.flickr.com/photos/environment...

Enquiries, Unit, Environment Agency

5 Attachments

Dear Mike

 

Thank you for your enquiry regarding Romney Weir.

 

I have passed your enquiry to your local customer team, they will be in
touch with you shortly. The Freedom of Information Act and Environmental
Information Regulations state that a public authority must respond to
requests for information within 20 working days. However, we aim to
respond to all enquiries as quickly as we can.

You can find more information about our service commitment by clicking on
the link below:

[1]http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/abo...

Should you wish to contact the customer team directly, please use the
contact details below. Please quote your Enquiry Reference 131021/SV14 in
any correspondence with us regarding this matter.

Customers and Engagement
Environment Planning & Engagement
Environment Agency
South East Region, Thames West Area
Redkite House
Howbery Park
WALLINGFORD
OX10 8BD

Tel: 03708 506506

I trust that you will find this helpful

 

 

Regards

 

Sue Vizard

Customer Service Advisor

National Customer Contact Centre

Environment Agency,

 

Click an icon to keep in touch with us:-

[2]cid:image001.gif@01CD381F.E4C21A40[3]cid:image002.gif@01CD381F.E4C21A40[4]cid:image003.gif@01CD381F.E4C21A40[5]cid:image004.gif@01CD381F.E4C21A40[6]cid:image005.gif@01CD381F.E4C21A40

 

 

( External:  03708 506 506

 

Have your say on the choices shaping the water environment. The
[7]Challenges and Choices consultation launched on 22 June 2013.

 

We would really like to know what you think of our customer service.
Please can you spare five minutes to complete our short survey; your
feedback will help us identify where we need to improve.

 

[8]http://feedback.environmentagency.uk.com...

 

show quoted sections

WT Enquiries, Environment Agency

7 Attachments

Dear Mr Post

 

Thank you for your enquiry of 17 October, 2013.

 

Please find attached my letter and commissioning report with our standard
notice which sets out our terms and conditions associated with our data.

 

With regards

Melinda Crosfield
Customers and Engagement Officer
Environment Planning and Engagement
West Thames
Direct Dial : 01491 828511
Environment Agency, Red Kite House, Howbery Park,
Wallingford, OX10 8BD 

 

 

[1]https://brand2.environment-agency.gov.uk... Flood
alert:
Flooding is
possible.
Be prepared
Be prepared
to act on
your flood
plan.
Prepare a
flood kit
of
essential
items.
Monitor
local water
levels and
the flood
forecast on
our website
[2]https://brand2.environment-agency.gov.uk... Flood
warning:
Flooding is
expected.
Immediate
action
required.
Move
family,
pets and
valuables
to a safe
place. Turn
off gas,
electricity
and water
supplies if
safe to do
so. Put
flood
protection
equipment
in place.
[3]https://brand2.environment-agency.gov.uk... Severe
flood
warning:
Severe
flooding.
Danger to
life.
Stay in a
safe place
with a
means of
escape. Be
ready
should you
need to
evacuate
from your
home.
Co-operate
with the
emergency
services.
Call 999 if
you are in
immediate
danger.

 

If you are in a flood risk areas please sign up to our free flood warning
system. This is the most immediate and localised source of information on
flooding: visit [4]www.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood or call 0845 988
1188.

 

[5]cid:image013.png@01CDCF03.D7D0F6A0 You can follow us on Twitter at
@EnvAgencySE

 

 

 

 

 

 

show quoted sections

Dear WT Enquiries,

Thank you for providing me with the Commissioning Report of the Romney Weir hydropower development.

Can you please now provide me with the daily output of the turbines since they were commissioned in June that I also requested. Romney Weir is known as the Virginia Station and the screws are often stationary.

Thank you in anticipation.

Yours sincerely,

Mike Post

WT Enquiries, Environment Agency

Thank you for your enquiry that is being dealt with by our Customers and
Engagement Team in West Thames area.  

 

We will respond to your enquiry as soon as we can.  Where possible we will
provide a full response within 10 working days.  Should we require further
information to deal with your request, or we require payment, we will
endeavour to contact you within a couple of days.  Please be aware that
when we are receiving large numbers of enquires or your request is more
complex, we may take up to 20 working days to respond in full.

 

If a charge applies to your enquiry we will send you an invoice requesting
payment and will action your request once payment has been received.

 

If you have any further questions, please contact us directly on 01491
828665 or at [1]wt[Environment Agency request email] 

 

 

Information in this message may be confidential and may be legally privileged. If you have received this message by mistake, please notify the sender immediately, delete it and do not copy it to anyone else.

We have checked this email and its attachments for viruses. But you should still check any attachment before opening it.
We may have to make this message and any reply to it public if asked to under the Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act or for litigation. Email messages and attachments sent to or from any Environment Agency address may also be accessed by someone other than the sender or recipient, for business purposes.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:wt[Environment Agency request email]

WT Enquiries, Environment Agency

Dear Mr Post

Thank you for your email of 18 November with regard to the above enquiry.

I apologise for omission in my letter. We do not hold records of the power generation of the turbines. This is a matter for the developer. We would suggest that you contact Southeast Power Engineering Limited via their website www.sepengineering.com

With regards

Melinda Crosfield
Customers and Engagement Officer
Environment Planning and Engagement
West Thames
Direct Dial : 01491 828511
Environment Agency, Red Kite House, Howbery Park,
Wallingford, OX10 8BD 

Flood alert: Flooding is possible. Be prepared
Be prepared to act on your flood plan. Prepare a flood kit of essential items. Monitor local water levels and the flood forecast on our website

Flood warning: Flooding is expected. Immediate action required.
Move family, pets and valuables to a safe place. Turn off gas, electricity and water supplies if safe to do so. Put flood protection equipment in place.

Severe flood warning: Severe flooding. Danger to life.
Stay in a safe place with a means of escape. Be ready should you need to evacuate from your home. Co-operate with the emergency services. Call 999 if you are in immediate danger.

If you are in a flood risk areas please sign up to our free flood warning system. This is the most immediate and localised source of information on flooding: visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood or call 0845 988 1188.

You can follow us on Twitter at @EnvAgencySE

show quoted sections

Dear WT Enquiries,

Thank you for your response. Since the developer is receiving Feed in Tariff payments, surely such information should be in the public domain?

Yours sincerely,

Mike Post

WT Enquiries, Environment Agency

Thank you for your enquiry that is being dealt with by our Customers and
Engagement Team in West Thames area.  

 

We will respond to your enquiry as soon as we can.  Where possible we will
provide a full response within 10 working days.  Should we require further
information to deal with your request, or we require payment, we will
endeavour to contact you within a couple of days.  Please be aware that
when we are receiving large numbers of enquires or your request is more
complex, we may take up to 20 working days to respond in full.

 

If a charge applies to your enquiry we will send you an invoice requesting
payment and will action your request once payment has been received.

 

If you have any further questions, please contact us directly on 01491
828665 or at [1]wt[Environment Agency request email] 

 

 

Information in this message may be confidential and may be legally privileged. If you have received this message by mistake, please notify the sender immediately, delete it and do not copy it to anyone else.

We have checked this email and its attachments for viruses. But you should still check any attachment before opening it.
We may have to make this message and any reply to it public if asked to under the Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act or for litigation. Email messages and attachments sent to or from any Environment Agency address may also be accessed by someone other than the sender or recipient, for business purposes.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:wt[Environment Agency request email]

WT Enquiries, Environment Agency

Dear Mr Post

I refer to your email of 20 November, 2013.

I called Mr David Dechambeau of Southeast Power Engineering Ltd. His name and telephone number are on their website. He informed me that the records for power generation were not in the public domain.

With regards

Melinda Crosfield
Customers and Engagement Officer
Environment Planning and Engagement
West Thames
Direct Dial : 01491 828511
Environment Agency, Red Kite House, Howbery Park,
Wallingford, OX10 8BD 

Flood alert: Flooding is possible. Be prepared
Be prepared to act on your flood plan. Prepare a flood kit of essential items. Monitor local water levels and the flood forecast on our website

Flood warning: Flooding is expected. Immediate action required.
Move family, pets and valuables to a safe place. Turn off gas, electricity and water supplies if safe to do so. Put flood protection equipment in place.

Severe flood warning: Severe flooding. Danger to life.
Stay in a safe place with a means of escape. Be ready should you need to evacuate from your home. Co-operate with the emergency services. Call 999 if you are in immediate danger.

If you are in a flood risk areas please sign up to our free flood warning system. This is the most immediate and localised source of information on flooding: visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood or call 0845 988 1188.

You can follow us on Twitter at @EnvAgencySE

show quoted sections

Dear Melinda,

Thank you for your response.

Unfortunately Mr DeChambeau does not reply to letters or emails. Following the visit to Romney Weir in February this year I sent him the following email followed by a letter when I received no reply to the email:

David DeChambeau,
Southeast Power Engineering Ltd,
Melita House,
124 Bridge Road,
Chertsey,
Surrey KT16 8LH

Dear David

I was one of the party from Marlow whom you entertained to the interesting visit to Romney weir last Tuesday. I have used your SEPEL website to try to contact you, but it does not appear to be working.

You say on the SEPEL website: “Southeast Power Engineering has a variety of projects underway or under investigation in the UK, Europe and the USA.” You say on your LinkedIn profile: “Successfully designed a system and construction method for the first hydropower system on the River Thames in England. Currently developing several other hydropower and wind power sites in England and Eastern Europe.”

I should be grateful if you would let me have a list of the projects that you have underway or completed in the UK, Europe and the USA and which hydropower and windpower sites you are currently developing in England and eastern Europe.

Thank you in anticipation.

Yours sincerely

Mike Post

When Mr DeChambeau was asked at Marlow Town Council on 7 March to name all the projects to which he made reference on his website, he replied that Romney Weir was the only one.

Yours sincerely,

Mike Post

WT Enquiries, Environment Agency

Thank you for your enquiry that is being dealt with by our Customers and
Engagement Team in West Thames area.  

 

We will respond to your enquiry as soon as we can.  Where possible we will
provide a full response within 10 working days.  Should we require further
information to deal with your request, or we require payment, we will
endeavour to contact you within a couple of days.  Please be aware that
when we are receiving large numbers of enquires or your request is more
complex, we may take up to 20 working days to respond in full.

 

If a charge applies to your enquiry we will send you an invoice requesting
payment and will action your request once payment has been received.

 

If you have any further questions, please contact us directly on 01491
828665 or at [1]wt[Environment Agency request email] 

 

 

Information in this message may be confidential and may be legally privileged. If you have received this message by mistake, please notify the sender immediately, delete it and do not copy it to anyone else.

We have checked this email and its attachments for viruses. But you should still check any attachment before opening it.
We may have to make this message and any reply to it public if asked to under the Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act or for litigation. Email messages and attachments sent to or from any Environment Agency address may also be accessed by someone other than the sender or recipient, for business purposes.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:wt[Environment Agency request email]

WT Enquiries, Environment Agency

Dear Mr Post

Thank you for your email of today.

We note your comments, but there is nothing further that we can do on this matter.

With regards

Melinda Crosfield
Customers and Engagement Officer
Environment Planning and Engagement
West Thames
Direct Dial : 01491 828511
Environment Agency, Red Kite House, Howbery Park,
Wallingford, OX10 8BD 

Flood alert: Flooding is possible. Be prepared
Be prepared to act on your flood plan. Prepare a flood kit of essential items. Monitor local water levels and the flood forecast on our website

Flood warning: Flooding is expected. Immediate action required.
Move family, pets and valuables to a safe place. Turn off gas, electricity and water supplies if safe to do so. Put flood protection equipment in place.

Severe flood warning: Severe flooding. Danger to life.
Stay in a safe place with a means of escape. Be ready should you need to evacuate from your home. Co-operate with the emergency services. Call 999 if you are in immediate danger.

If you are in a flood risk areas please sign up to our free flood warning system. This is the most immediate and localised source of information on flooding: visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood or call 0845 988 1188.

You can follow us on Twitter at @EnvAgencySE

show quoted sections