Radyr Weir Hydro Scheme Is Officially Opened 26/7/16

A hydroelectric scheme which will annually generate enough electricity to power 550 homes will be opened at the end of the month. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Radyr Weir hydro scheme has been in construction since June last year and will be officially opened by Cabinet Member for Transport, Planning and Sustainability, Cllr Ramesh Patel at 3pm on Tuesday 26 July. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Patel said: “It gives me an enormous amount of pleasure and indeed pride to open this scheme which is a permanent reminder of the Council’s commitment to generate and invest in clean, locally generated energy. This Hydro scheme was a key part of our Energy Prospectus and I would like to thank the engineers for taking the initial plans and turning them into such breath-taking reality.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Electricity is generated by two Archimedean Screw Turbines that rotate as flowing water from the River Taff passes over them. Alongside the turbines is a specially constructed fish pass with resting pools which was funded in partnership with Natural Resources Wales. This pass will allow migratory fish to swim upriver and spawn and there is also a channel specifically designed for eels and lampreys. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Patel added: “Throughout this scheme consideration for the wider environment was of paramount importance to us. The fish pass is a perfect example of this commitment and I would like to thank Natural Resources Wales for their input. I would also like to highlight the new picnic area which has been created alongside the hydro scheme. It greatly enhances this section of the Taff Trail and I am sure it will be very popular with cyclists and walkers for years to come.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The closed section of the Taff Trail by the weir is reopened today. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​