December 14, 2006
U.K.

Turbine lights up

About 100 people gathered to watch the Christmas lights be turned on at the wind turbine in Kings Langley. However the Renewable Energy Systems (RES) turbine, which looms over the M25 in Kings Langley, has been criticised by a report that names it as the least effective in England and Wales.

The turbine, which generates electricity for the headquarters of Renewable Energy Systems (RES), in Egg Farm Lane, produces only 7.7 per cent of the electricity it would if there was enough wind for it to run continuously at full power.

And that figure is well below government targets for all turbines to work at an average of 30 per cent.

A study from the Renewable Energy Foundation found that turbines across England and Wales are failing to produce as much power as the Government predicted, and found that there is not enough wind for efficient turbines.

Anna Stanford, RES communications manager, criticised the report.

She said: “Situated as it is in a low wind-speed area in Hertfordshire, the RES turbine was never intended to have a high-capacity factor, or to generate huge amounts of electricity.

“But each unit it does generate is zero-carbon and renewable, and you can’t get much better than that.”

For full story see tomorrow’s Watford Observer.

watfordobserver.co.uk


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2006/12/14/turbine-lights-up-2/