Severn Trent turns to wind power
A water giant has set the wheels turning on plans to harness wind power.
Severn Trent Water could put up a wind turbine at the Newthorpe Sewage Treatment Works in Giltbrook.
The company has first applied to Broxtowe Borough Council to create a 60m temporary wind monitoring mast at the Halls Lane works. It could be in place for up to two years, monitoring wind speeds
Severn Trent will then decide whether or not to push for a wind turbine to help power the treatment works.
Spokesman Martin Dent said: “We would like to erect some wind-measurement equipment to assess the viability for wind turbines at Newthorpe Sewage Treatment Works – although, we would like to point out that, even where wind measurement is deployed, there are still a lot of considerations and studies which need to be undertaken before a site can be determined as being suitable for development.
“If any site is found to be suitable then we will undertake full consultation with the local community.”
If the initial application is approved, the mast would be put up around 700m from Awsworth and Giltbrook.
In a planning statement supporting the application, Severn Trent claimed: “Given the existence of such separation distances and the slenderness of the design, the proposal will not demonstrably harm residential amenity in the area.”
The steel anemometer would stand 60m high – the same as the Aspire sculpture on the University of Nottingham’s Jubilee Campus.
It would be supported by five wires, anchored into the ground up to 40m from the mast’s base.
Meteorological equipment and a small transmitter would be incorporated into the mast.
The company wants 30% of the electricity it uses to be from renewable sources by 2012-13 – twice the current amount.
Mr Dent said : “To achieve this target we have clear renewable energy expansion plans.”
As well as installing more wind turbines at its dams and sewage works, the company is investigating generating power from crops and hydroelectricity.
6 October 2008
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