February 3, 2011
England

Wind turbines planned at Southwell by Nottingham Trent University

By Jon Robinson, Environment Correspondent, Nottingham Post, www.thisisnottingham.co.uk 3 February 2011

Plans to build two 67-metre wind turbines are being drawn up by Nottingham Trent University.

The university has started a feasibility study for the development on arable fields on the south side of its Brackenhurst campus, near Southwell.

There are a range of options which could offer opportunities for a community scheme similar to the one at nearby Hockerton. Under this proposal, the university would pay for and own one of the turbines, with the electricity generated being used on campus.

The second turbine would be funded and owned as part of a community partnership investment between the university and local community, with the electricity fed back into the national grid.

The university estimates that installing the wind turbines could save about 400 tonnes of CO2 every year and generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 166 homes.

Grant Anderson, environmental manager at the university, said: “It’s important we assess what might be possible.

“We are one of the leading ‘green’ universities in the UK and are committed to reducing our environmental impact.”

He added that the turbines would fully comply with noise emission guidelines and the closest residential properties, apart from student accommodation, were more than half a kilometre away.

Environmental surveys will be carried out to ensure possible damage to the natural environment is minimised and, where possible, prevented.

A range of alternative energy sources are also being investigated across all three of the university’s campuses.

Nigel Lee is a member of the Nottingham Pro-Wind Alliance, which was formed to support renewable energy proposals in the area.

He said: “In principle we very much welcome the university’s proposed development to generate their own electricity.

“But obviously we would want to look at the detail before agreeing to support it as a planning proposal.”

Southwell resident Susan Dobson said the fact the turbines would be on the south side of the campus would mean people were more likely to support them, as they would not impact on the view of the town over the ridge on the A612.

“Siting is crucial. Obviously they have got to put it where it can catch the wind, but if they were going to put it on the town side people would feel very unhappy about it,” she said.

“I’m in favour of renewable energy. I know there are questions about the effectiveness of wind turbines but anything is better than nothing.”

The plans come after the University of Nottingham revealed it was working on proposals to build three 125-metre wind turbines on arable land between Beeston Rylands and Clifton.

More information on Nottingham Trent University’s wind turbine scheme is at www.ntu.ac.uk/ecoweb.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/02/03/wind-turbines-planned-at-southwell-by-nottingham-trent-university/