Bradford Council has revealed plans to build a hydropower turbine near Salts Mill to help meet its renewable energy targets.

Members of Shipley Area Committee will next week to consider a report on proposals for the scheme, which would harness power from the flow of the River Aire at Saltaire Weir to generate 371,000 kWh a year of electricity.

Officers from the Council’s environment and climate change unit, which compiled the report, estimate profit made from feed-in tariffs for renewable energy will total £1.8 million during the first 20 years of the scheme.

The proposals include installing an Archimedes Screw-type turbine and fish pass in the bank next to the Roberts Park side of the weir, downstream of the footbridge.

The construction and operating costs for the first 20 years of the project would be about £1.22 million.

The report comes after environmental group Sustainable Saltaire commissioned a study into the possibility of building a hydropower generator at Hirst Mill Weir in Shipley.

The generator would also use an Archimedes Screw-type turbine to provide 84KW of power – enough to provide electricity to about 100 homes.

Sustainable Saltaire director Richard Sabey welcomed plans for the Saltaire Weir scheme.

He said: “It will provide long-term benefits. I think it’s one of many things that need to happen. Because of the age of the buildings in Saltaire, energy-efficient measures aren’t always as effective in this area as they are in other types of properties.”

The Council report states: “Should the scheme go ahead we envisage a facility that not only provides an enhancement to Roberts Park, provides positive publicity for Bradford and a valuable educational resource, but also provides a payback of capital followed by guaranteed income from feed-in tariffs to a life of 20 years followed by an income from the sale/use of electricity for up to 50 years into the future.”

In January 2010, the Council pledged to ensure 20 per cent of its energy needs are met by renewable sources by 2020.

The meeting will take place on Wednesday, June 27, at 6pm at Ian Clough Hall in Baildon.