August 14, 2010
England

Giant wind turbine gets the go-ahead

By Richard Blackledge, News Reporter, The Star, www.thestar.co.uk 14 August 2010

A research centre has been granted permission to build a giant wind turbine – despite blades on an existing turbine snapping off twice.

The 330ft structure will be erected beside the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, at Catcliffe, Rotherham, which is run by Sheffield University.

The three-blade turbine is being built to provide power for the new Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, which will specialise in making components for nuclear power stations.

Rotherham Council’s planning board approved proposals for the turbine, with conditions.

The university will need to inform the Ministry of Defence that permission has been granted, while the turbine has to be removed if it is not used for at least six months.

A scheme to solve problems caused by ‘shadow flicker’ also has to be submitted if the research centre receives complaints.

A neighbouring company, TWI Technology, said its staff suffered significantly from shadow flicker, which occurs when the turbine blades turn quickly in sunny weather.

The board also added conditions relating to radio interference and landscaping around the foot of the turbine.

A pair of twin-bladed turbines were installed at the site several years ago, but one broke in high winds. It was repaired, but winds later snapped a propellor blade again. The pair are still not working, and a third turbine has since been put up.

“It is not considered that the addition of a further turbine, albeit larger than the existing three, will result in a detrimental impact,” planning officers concluded, adding the site, next to the A630 Sheffield Parkway, is “capable of accommodating” the new turbine.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/08/14/giant-wind-turbine-gets-the-go-ahead/