Flagship Burnley wind farm ‘to expand’
Energy bosses have now pledged to expand Burnley’s flagship wind farm just days after a report branded them a waste of money.
Scottish Power has said the 24-turbine Coalcough farm, sited on hills above Cliviger, has been a success since it opened in 1992, supplying power to the National Grid.
No details have yet been announced on how extensive the expansion will be. However, a report last week slammed the schemes, branding them expensive and inefficient. It also said they were only built by energy firms because they are heavily subsidised by EU grants.
But a Scottish Power spoke-sman said: “Coalclough was one the first wind farm sites to be commissioned in the UK and has therefore played an extremely important role in the devel-opment of renewable energy policy across the entire country.
“The site is capable of producing 10 megawatts of electricity and has proven to be so successful that Scottish Power Renewables is currently investigating the possibility of repowering the wind farm with new turbines.
“It is important that the country has a balanced mix of gen erating sources, and the versatility of wind power is a key part of this.”
Coun David Heginbotham was on the Burnley Council plan-ning committee that in 1992 approved the controversial scheme. He said: “Wind farms are a Government policy and they will put them up wherever they can. I am not sure about how efficient the Burnley one is but I would hope it’s been worthwhile.”However, others are not so enthusiastic. Last week’s report by the Renewable Energy Foundation (REF) – part-funded by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) – accused energy firms of using handouts to build huge and unprofitable wind farms.
Gerrie Willox, CPRE Lancashire branch chairman, added: “Wind farms are a bit of an eyesore but the trouble is the Government has set EU targets to meet by 2020.”
By Chris Hopper
16 September 2008
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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