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Water front wind farm powered up
Peel Energy's £15 million waterfront wind farm is now up and running.
The last of the four turbines, each 125 metres tall, has just been commissioned at the Port of Liverpool and all are now generating electricity.
The 10MW scheme, between Liverpool and Sefton, will generate enough energy to meet the average annual electricity needs of 5,500 homes.
It joins Peel Energy's nearby six-turbine Royal Seaforth Docks wind farm, which has been operating since 1999.
Although the Port of Liverpool project has fewer turbines than its neighbour, it can generate almost three times the electricity – a clear indication of the leap in turbine technology over the last 10 years.
This year is Liverpool's Year of the Environment which is all about celebrating how green the region already is, and at the same time encourages residents, businesses and visitors to work together to tackle the important issue of climate change.
Liverpool City Council's executive member for the environment, Councillor Berni Turner, said: "2009 isn't just about Liverpool, it's about bringing the whole of Merseyside together with the aim of becoming a sustainable community.
"This is a wonderful initiative by Peel Energy as wind farms are a great way of harnessing natural resources and at the same time reducing our carbon footprint."
Councillor David Tattersall, Sefton council's cabinet member for the environment, added: "The industrial setting of the port is a good location for the wind farm.
"It's a daily reminder to businesses and the community of the need to manage our energy consumption. It's great to see the wind farm already making a significant contribution to our local renewable energy targets and to know that Sefton is doing its bit."
Ian Hamilton Fazey, OBE, a retired Financial Times journalist who chairs the Waterloo Residents' Association, believes the turbines add an appropriate visual dynamic to the port's skyline.
He said: "They are in the right setting and are enhancing the area around them.
"Many of us were concerned in the early days, principally about noise and the fact that some turbines were proposed much nearer local housing, which includes Waterloo's two conservation areas.
"The company listened, sited turbines well away from housing, and there has been no perceivable noise."
This latest project comes after Peel Energy switched on the 65MW Scout Moor wind farm in Lancashire last year.
Richard Dibley, Peel Energy's development manager, said: "We are delighted that the project has been completed so smoothly. The coastal location captures good winds without the disadvantages of working in the marine environment."
Peel Energy has also submitted a planning application for a four turbine wind farm at the Port of Sheerness in Kent, which could provide power for 5,500 homes. A decision is expected next month.
CCS Competition – Peel and DONG Energy team joined by RWE npower – DECEMBER 10, 2008
Peel Energy teamed up with DONG Energy to create a joint venture to focus on developing low carbon energy in the UK. DONG Energy is Denmark's biggest energy company and one of Europe's most respected thermal and wind power generators and suppliers. The joint venture will harness Peel's infrastructural prowess and DONG Energy's coal power plant and carbon capture and storage technological expertise.
The Peel–DONG Energy consortium pre-qualified for the UK's carbon, capture and storage demonstration project competition in July 2008. RWE npower joined the team in December 2008. For further details refer to RWE press release: http://www.npowermediacentre.com/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=2325&NewsAreaID=2
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