Renew On Line (UK) 35

5. Wind Works for Farmers

WindWorks is a new National Wind Power service providing a ‘one-stop-shop’ for small wind energy projects, typically comprising one, two or three wind turbines. The service is designed in particular to help farmers and landowners to develop a low-risk income stream from the wind .

Energy Minister Brian Wilson said, "Many farmers will look with interest at the chance to create another revenue source while contributing to the drive for green energy. The Government has already put its full weight behind renewables helping to create a £1 billion market for green energy by 2010. But if wind energy is to reach its full potential then it is important that industry comes forward with innovative schemes such as this which not only help themselves but also help to reduce green house gases. I would also encourage all individuals and groups to come forward and participate in the DTI’s renewable research and development fund which is designed to stimulate growth in green energy in a community friendly way throughout the UK".

WindWorks aims to provide farmers with the financial rewards associated with ownership of a wind project whilst avoiding exposure of farmers and landowners to new financial risks at a time when great uncertainty exists in the farming industry and rural economy. It also avoids the problems that can be caused by the high cost of financing small wind energy projects.

Alan Moore, managing director for NWP explained that it, "enables farmers to benefit from a sustainable, environment-friendly income provided by wind energy projects. It is bringing to the UK a formula that has for years been successfully implemented in Denmark - the world's leaders in wind energy. If we can replicate the success that small wind projects have had in Denmark and elsewhere, it will greatly help in meeting the UK’s renewables targets. WindWorks will help unlock the potential of small wind projects in a financially attractive, cost-effective and risk-averse way".

Within the scheme, farmers will be expected to act as the "Project Champion", communicating with councillors, planners and the public as the planning application progresses. ‘Experience shows that when people are fully informed about wind energy and its considerable benefits, the vast majority will support a well sited and well designed project’.

Mr Bond, who runs a family farm in Cornwall, commented, "As a family, we have genuine concerns about the air pollution caused through generating electricity, partly because of the problems we have witnessed in the USA. WindWorks has given us the opportunity to do something positive about our concerns whilst helping us financially at a time of crisis in farming. Given our land’s abundant wind resource and the ability of wind turbines to co-exist with other farm activities, we hope WindWorks will provide an invaluable, low-risk diversification option".

The National Farmers’ Union is in favour of the use of renewables and sees wind farming as an opportunity for farmers to supplement their depleted incomes. The Country Land & Business Association also supports the development of renewables including wind, and sees them as an "opportunity for a profitable contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gases".

The Countryside Agency added that it "supports wind energy developments which are sensitive to the character of the countryside. We are pleased to learn of National Wind Power's WindWorks initiative. We see it as an important development in the wind energy industry, and welcome its potential contribution to farm diversification options".

• A new local renewable energy support scheme has also been launched by the Countryside Agency and DTI, as the Community Renewables Initiative. It aims to integrate renewable energy with other countryside activities such as diversification and regeneration, and may be able to benefit from developments supported by WindWorks.

How WindWorks works

NWP, which is a subsidiary of Innogy, says it will provide a comprehensive supporting role throughout the development of any WindWorks project. This will include the provision of detailed guidance on how to prepare and progress a planning application for a small wind energy project, from initial (environmental) studies, to the planning application and the planning decision. The guidance is based on experience gained by NWP - one of the most successful wind farm developers in the UK over the past decade. NWP will also provide, without charge, the assessments of environmental effects required to support the planning application. When consent has been granted, NWP will manage the arrangements for grid connection, the financing and purchasing of the turbines, the construction of the turbine foundations and the installation and commissioning of the turbines. Typically this will take about 6 months. In some cases, the construction of the wind turbines will follow a period when on-site windspeed measurements are taken. This would typically require the installation of a temporary, guyed, 40m mast for a period of about 12 months.

Throughout the life of the project, NWP will carry out operations and maintenance to ensure that the project runs reliably and safely and will make payments to the landowner (plus any other required payments e.g. rates and insurance) in accordance with the agreement between NWP and the landowner. At the end of the project’s life (about 20 years) NWP will be responsible for its decommissioning and the reinstatement of the site. If the landowner wishes to have new turbines installed this can then be negotiated and - subject to planning consent being granted for the new turbines - implemented.

For further info visit www.windworks.ltd.uk

NIMBY Glen

‘We are in danger of destroying some of the most beautiful scenery in north east Scotland, if not the whole of Britain.’ So said Scott Hodgson, one of the local objectors to the proposal by Renewable Energy Services (RES) to spend £15m siting 22 wind turbines in the Glens of Foudland, near Huntly.

Another local resident, Kirsteen Cullingworth, said: "There are no benefits to the local population that I can see, apart from the very few who will personally benefit financially from this development. We are the custodians of this landscape for future generations and as such it our duty to fight this alien intrusion. There are enough pylons and slate quarries already scarring our countryside that I believe there is no reason to proceed with this scheme and damage the landscape further."

Several other objectors had written to the council, claiming that the windfarm would pose a safety risk, distracting drivers on what is already a dangerous stretch of road.

However, the landowner, Gordon Morrison of Bognie Estates, staunchly defended the proposals in a letter to the local authority. "The choice of the Glens of Foudland is ideal. If built, it would represent the least visible windfarm site in Scotland, due to the unique nature of its site." Source: The Scotsman Aug 28, 2001

As we reported in Renew 134, Friends of the Glens of Foudland (FOGOF), were censured by the Advertising Standards Authority because of an advert they had placed in a local newspaper, which claimed the windfarm would have a detrimental effect on house prices in Huntly, destroy the local environment and that construction traffic would cause traffic chaos on the A96. The ASA upheld a complaint by RES because the objectors’ group could not provide evidence to prove any of its claims. In the event, the project was given planning permission- following a unanimous vote.