Dorset Against Rural Turbines
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East Stoke developer's plans in disarray
added 13 ⁄ 05 ⁄ 08
Generating capacity of proposed Windfarm reduced again
Windfarm developer, Infinergy's plans to build an industrial generating plant at East Stoke were in disarray yesterday as it announced that it would be reducing the original number of planned wind turbines from 6 to 4. Under the revised plans one of the remaining turbines will be moved closer to Puddletown Road.
No further details have yet been given. The developer and landowner Will Bond will now be required to re-submit the revised plans to Purbeck District Council.
This change reduces once again the maximum claimed electrical generating capacity of the proposed Windfarm at East Stoke.
Originally Infinergy and Bond claimed 18Mw maximum generating capacity. This was later downgraded to 13.5Mw. With the latest reduction in the number of wind turbines, this figure drops yet again, to a maximum of 9.2Mw. The developer's justification for placing these huge industrial turbines in full view of an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) is beginning to look more and more unconvincing. Of course, the financial benefits for the landowner and Infinergy as a result of payments from Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) and tax breaks through the Climate Change Levy will remain, together with the threat to East Stoke village and the rest of Purbeck.
Many experts do not believe that stated maximum outputs are ever likely to be achieved at onshore sites; this seems to be borne out by Infinergy's inability to make any consistent statements about generating capacity. Indeed they cannot even decide upon how many turbines they wish to build. Infinergy have been collecting data for less than 2 months, and yet a planning application for a windfarm has already been lodged.
- How can we rely on any of their claims?
Electricity generating capacity of onshore windfarms can vary between 7% and 27 - 28%. According to a recent BBC radio 4 programme, `Costing the Earth` (available to listen to on this website) Burton-on-the-Wold Wind-farm runs at 18% annual efficiency, far below the minimum threshold of 30% for cost effective generation of electricity. Some wind-farms return considerably less than this.
Watch this space for further breaking news!
No further details have yet been given. The developer and landowner Will Bond will now be required to re-submit the revised plans to Purbeck District Council.
This change reduces once again the maximum claimed electrical generating capacity of the proposed Windfarm at East Stoke.
Originally Infinergy and Bond claimed 18Mw maximum generating capacity. This was later downgraded to 13.5Mw. With the latest reduction in the number of wind turbines, this figure drops yet again, to a maximum of 9.2Mw. The developer's justification for placing these huge industrial turbines in full view of an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) is beginning to look more and more unconvincing. Of course, the financial benefits for the landowner and Infinergy as a result of payments from Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) and tax breaks through the Climate Change Levy will remain, together with the threat to East Stoke village and the rest of Purbeck.
Many experts do not believe that stated maximum outputs are ever likely to be achieved at onshore sites; this seems to be borne out by Infinergy's inability to make any consistent statements about generating capacity. Indeed they cannot even decide upon how many turbines they wish to build. Infinergy have been collecting data for less than 2 months, and yet a planning application for a windfarm has already been lodged.
- How can we rely on any of their claims?
Electricity generating capacity of onshore windfarms can vary between 7% and 27 - 28%. According to a recent BBC radio 4 programme, `Costing the Earth` (available to listen to on this website) Burton-on-the-Wold Wind-farm runs at 18% annual efficiency, far below the minimum threshold of 30% for cost effective generation of electricity. Some wind-farms return considerably less than this.
Watch this space for further breaking news!