A FIRM hoping to build two hydro-electric power plants on the River Trent has applied for planning permission.

The turbines, which would be built at Sawley and Gunthorpe weirs, would generate enough electricity to power 2,000 homes, via the National Grid.

The Small Hydro Company has put forward the plans to Newark & Sherwood and North-West Leicestershire District Councils as part of a wider scheme that will see 25 hydro-generator stations built on rivers including the Trent and the Severn.

A spokesman for the Small Hydro Company said it had consulted the British Waterways User Group on its proposals, including those who use the Sawley Marina.

The Environment Agency was also consulted on issues including the design and flooding risk.

"The function of the proposed hydro-electric plant is to generate electricity from the renewable source of the River Trent," said the spokesman.

"A hydropower development in the area will help to provide surety of electricity supply for the future, as well as helping to reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases, and reducing the dependency on non-renewable energy resources.

"To mitigate the effects of raising the weir crest, it is proposed that gated flood channels are installed over the turbine structure.

"The installation is designed to have a neutral effect on flood risk."

Both of the installations will use Kaplan turbines – a propeller-type water turbine – and will involve raising the height of the existing weirs to preserve river depth for navigation.

In each case, the turbines will be built in concrete channels within and below the existing weirs.

There will also be screens to prevent fish entering the turbine areas, as well as passages to allow them to swim past the weirs – which they cannot currently do.

Both of the hydro-electric plans also include flood gates to ensure they do not create additional flooding risk.

The Gunthorpe plans would see three turbines constructed, providing enough renewable energy to supply 1,200 homes a year.

Two turbines would also be built at Sawley, at a cost in the region of £3m, and would generate enough energy to power 800 homes.

Both projects would take about six months to complete once planning permission is granted. No dates have yet been set for the applications to be heard.

A spokesman for British Waterways said: "We are very supportive of the schemes and we feel there are some significant benefits they can bring, both to the waterways and surrounding communities. It is a scheme that has been submitted by The Small Hydro Company but we have been quite heavily involved in it as well because it is on our rivers and we need to make sure there is not going to be any disruption to anyone who uses them.

"A significant amount of energy will be created – but it will also aid flood control, improve biodiversity and generate income."