Going Green with Wind Turbines

IT Power's subsidiary company, Sustainable Energy Installations (SEI), has installed around 100 kWp of PV systems over the past year and is now expanding its horizons to begin installation of wind power systems. Wind installations planned for 2005 include a 6 kW turbine for St. Mary's School in Clymping, West Sussex, and two 6kW turbines on the roof of the innovative Environment Building at Plymouth College of Further Education. The installation in Plymouth is being carried out as part of the BRITA project. SEI has recently completed a project for the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) at St. Mary's Island in Chatham, Kent, where two 5.1 kWp PV systems were installed on a Community Centre and a Doctors Surgery. A 7.92 kWp system was installed for Ringmer College in East Sussex where their PV installation includes a monitoring system which allows the school to use the data as part of the science curriculum.

Ringmer Community College, Gus Christie is second left and Kathryn Stonier, Principal, Right

Ringmer Community Collage has installed a 2.5kW wind turbine in their school playing fields to help reduce energy costs and boost pupils understating of renewable energy sources. the collage was able to fund the project from government grants. Principal Kathryn Stonier said "we are very proud of our environmental credentials and the turbine completes our current programme of sustainable energy projects. our vision is that every pupil attending Ringmer will leave with the basic knowledge of sustainable energy and the need to conserve valuable resources." The turbine was set in motion by Gus Christie of Glyndebourne.

Tideway School Wind Turbine – A successful feasibility study has been carried out and the governors have accepted the proposal for a wind turbine.

Wind Turbine – work has been carried out towards the feasibility of siting a wind turbine in Newhaven.

Batheaston Primary School - taking advantage of CAfE's community support panel

Back in January, Batheaston Primary School in Bath applied for help from CAfE's community support panel. The school was investigating the possibility of installing renewable energy technologies both to engage the children and save the school some money, and asked for our help with choosing the right approach and applying for grants.

We recently received an email from Jacquie Coulby from which we learn that all is going well. "We are ticking along great guns here at Batheaston!" she writes, and goes on to outline how the school has been successful in its grant applications and that the work of installing thermomax tubes for solar hot water heating, PV cells and shingles and a little wind turbine is going ahead this month.

"It's a great project" says Alastair McMahon, the community support panel expert who visited Batheaston Primary and advised on the scheme "and I'm really pleased to know that we were able to help".

For more about the community support panel, click here www.est.org.uk/cafe/funding/support

Community-owned wind farm

CAfE network member Energy4All is a not-for-profit organisation based in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. It was set up by Baywind in 2002 to facilitate the ownership and operation of renewable energy projects by local or community-based co-operatives, and is owned by the co-operatives it creates.

One of these is Westmill Wind Farm Co-operative, set up in 2004 to build the UK's largest community-owned wind farm in South Oxfordshire. So far, things are going well. The co-op launched its share offer in November and has already sent out over 6000 copies of the share prospectus and sold over £1m of shares. A total of £3.75m is sought to finance the purchase and construction of 5 wind turbines. Shareholders purchase between 250 and 20,000 shares at £1 per share.

One of the co-op's directors is Adam Twine, on whose organic farm the turbines will be sited. "With the news agenda dominated by stories about fuel shortages, sprialling energy costs and concerns about nuclear power, support for green energy projects is clearly strong" he said. "The co-operative gives people a chance to do something positive for the environment and the projected long-term returns are very attractive."

Small-scale wind power - one-day conference and exhibition

The large research and consultancy company, BRE, is widely known for its work in the built enviroment and infrastructure, but it also has a sustainable development section, some staff of which are members of CAfE.

Among the many events that BRE runs is one that may be of interest to groups in the CAfE network - particularly those with an interest in building design: a one-day conference and exhibition on small scale and building integrated wind power, 30 March 2006, at BRE, Watford.

Small-scale and building-integrated wind power installations are increasingly of interest to community groups and community facilities which are seeking to become more sustainable and/or to save money on their fuel bills. And at the right scale, and on appropriate sites, wind energy is one of the most economic and rapid means of reducing carbon dioxide emissions and making a small but nevertheless real contribution to meeting the UK's renewable energy target for 2010.

Speakers from the sector will give presentations on a range of issues including: available technologies; grid connection and metering; government policy; grant schemes; planning. The cost of attending as a delegate will be £125 (including VAT), or £95 for members of the British Wind Energy Association. For more details call 01923 664800 or see www.bre.co.uk

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