A HYDRO-turbine that would use river water to generate electricity for up to about 400 properties near York could be installed.

Southeast Power Engineering (SPE), which develops hydro power sites, has applied to the Environment Agency for a licence to abstract water from the River Derwent, at Elvington Lock.

David Dechamdeau, managing director of SPE, said if the company’s application was successful, and if it was given planning permission, it would go ahead with the project, which he said would cost about £600,000.

Mr Dechamdeau said most of the electricity would be used by domestic and commercial properties in the Elvington area. He said Elvington Parish Council had asked SPE if it could put a hydro power system in so they could make use of the river and not in their view damage the look of the area.

Ian Bailey, chairman of the council, said: “The parish council has been involved in this proposal right from the very outset, and in principle we’re totally supportive of the proposal.

“There would be virtually no visual or noise intrusion to the village and it is a source of green power.

“We would like to find a way of trying to benefit the community from this proposal.”

Mr Dechamdeau said that when the hydro-turbine was operating at peak capacity, it would generate about 200 kilowatts of electricity per hour – enough for about 400 average homes. SPE hoped to start work on the site next summer, with a view to completing the project in about September, he said. The facility would then start generating electricity immediately.

Mr Dechamdeau said the firm had already made legal arrangements with the owner of the lockkeeper’s cottage to install a turbine at the property.

Speaking about how the technology would work, he said: “The weight of the water going from the high water level side of the weir to the low water level side of the weir causes this giant steel screw to turn quite slowly and that turning energy is made into electricity.”

He said the operation would not cause any noise problems, and would reduce pollution.

“We’ll be able to turn one of the coal-fired power plants down just a bit,” he said.

It would also have very little impact visually, he said, with about half the turbine located below ground level.

SPE, which has built ten power plants in the UK, is currently putting a hydro power system in on the River Thames that will supply Windsor Castle with electricity.