Small Cluster Wind Farm - Watchfield, Oxfordshire

Plans to generate renewable energy on the site of the old airfield at Westmill Farm are finally coming to fruition after nearly 10 years of planning and discussions. The move into green energy is a key part of an overall philosophy of sustainable development and diversification on the farm which began with a move into organic farming some 8 to 9 years ago.

Planning permission for 5 Vestas V52 wind turbines was issued in January 2001. The intention was to develop the site as a community owned wind farm with the Wind Fund. These plans were put on hold when the Wind Fund withdrew from the project in May 2001.

Adam Twine is now working with Baywind Energy Co-operative and National Wind Power to develop the wind farm in early 2003 with two of the five turbines to be available for community ownership by a local co-operative to be set up by Baywind.

In September 2001 a planning application for a change in turbine model was submitted to the Vale of the White Horse District Council.

The main difference between the Vestas V52 turbines and the Bonus 1.3MW turbines is their output. The Vestas would produce around 8.8 GWh of electricity a year. The Bonus would produce around 12.6 GWh of electricity a year.12.6GWh is the equivalent amount of electricity to the domestic electricity requirements of a town of around 3700 houses (9000 people).

The Bonus turbines also have a slightly longer blade, 31m blade length compared to the Vestas 26m blade length. The Bonus turbines are slightly quieter than the Vestas turbines.

The extra output of the Bonus turbines was the main reason for the new planning application. The extra output improved the economics of the site, which was considered necessary by National Wind Power, as the intention of Adam Twine was that there would be some community ownership of the wind farm.Since the submission of the planning application in September the Government (in an attempt to combat the threat of Climate Change and to meet its Kyoto Protocol emissions targets) has put on the statute books the Renewables Obligation, which obliges electricity distributors to source a percentage of their electricity from non fossil fuel and non nuclear generation.

The current paucity of renewably generated electricity in the UK (about 2%) means that it is possible to economically develop the wind farm as a community owned wind farm with either the Vestas or Bonus wind turbines.

The planning application for the change in wind turbine models is still being pursued by Adam Twine, as the extra 40% of electricity output from the Bonus turbines, with a consequential saving of CO2 emissions, is the better environmental option.

Construction of the wind farm is proposed to commence in the winter of 2002/2003 with the installation of either 5 Vestas or 5 Bonus wind turbines, depending on the outcome of the current planning application.

Studies carried out by ETSU give a small practical wind resource for Oxfordshire. This is due to the National Planning designations on much of the windier elevated sites and the relative density of settlements in the county.

The Old Airfield at Watchfield is one of the very limited sites in Oxfordshire which has sufficient elevation for a commercially viable wind resource, no national planning designation, and is sufficiently far away from any dwellings.

Technically, the turbines are at the lower limit of commercial viability with wind speeds expected of between 6 and 7 metres per second (average at 50 metres hub height). This is perhaps the best wind regime that can be expected in the region and so proof of commercial viability is essential.

The idea of community 'buy-in' and part ownership along the 'Baywind' model is also very important for the region and could herald the way forward for many further such community schemes.

The current planning application for a change from the Vestas V52 to the Bonus 1.3MW was submitted to the Vale of the White Horse District Council in September 2001.

At a public meeting to present the proposal and answer questions, organized by Adam Twine, there were concerns expressed that there was insufficient information for local people to make an informed decision about the proposal.

Following on from that meeting Adam Twine volunteered to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). This was published in September 2002.

The full version of the EIA the Environmental Statement (ES) is on deposit at Faringdon Library, Highworth Library and Watchfield Village Hall. The ES is available (for £100) from: DPDS, 5 Devizes Road, Swindon, SN1 4BJ.

The planning application is expected to go to committee in October/November 2002. To contribute to the planning decision or register your comments on the proposal please contact us.

Following the planning decision, construction of Westmill Wind Farm is due to begin in the winter of 2002/2003. A share issue for investing in Westmill Wind Farm is anticipated in the spring or early summer of 2003.