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Watch: Prince generates fun at energy farm
Prince Andrew braved the wind and rain to find out about going green during a visit to Kings Langley's landmark wind turbine.
He met with staff at the zero-emissions head office of top wind energy company, Renewable Energy Systems (RES).
The firm, based on the former Ovaltine egg farm, opened the eco-friendly site in 2003 and its giant wind turbine is a familiar sight to drivers on the M25.
During the visit Prince Andrew was taken on a tour of the building by RES chief executive officer Dr Ian Mays to see the energy-producing wind turbine, solar panels and biomass boiler.
The Duke of York arrived at the site just after 9.30am last Thursday driving his Jaguar car flanked by police on motorbikes.
He met with sixth-form students from John F Kennedy School in Hemel Hempstead.
They showed him a working model of the site which they had constructed to explain how the building uses its many renewable sources.
Dr Mays first invited Prince Andrew to visit the centre back in 2005 when he met the Royal family at Buckingham Palace. He was there to receive the Queens' Award for Business Enterprise on behalf of the company.
Dr Mays said: "This has been a very important visit for us.
"The Royal family are clearly interested in the twin challenges facing us at the moment, global warming and the security of energy supplies."
Prince Andrew was presented with his own model wind turbine by Dr Mays, which the prince said he would put in his own office.
He told staff: "I will now know for certain what the wind turbine on the M25 is, having asked myself on numerous occasions as I have driven past, 'What on earth is that doing there and more to the point, why is it on its own?'
"I would like to wish you every continued success, not only in the research you are doing into the efficient use of energy, but also in your work on wind farms and actually producing energy."
He signed the company's guest book before leaving to brave the elements and continue his tour of Hertfordshire.
He went on to visit other firms in Stevenage and Letchworth as part of his role as the special representative for International Trade and Investment.
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Weather for Hemel Hempstead
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -8 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -5 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North east
