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Wind farm bosses object to rival turbines nearby
Credit: By Agency | The Telegraph | 10 May 2015 | www.telegraph.co.uk ~~
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Translate: FROM English | TO English
Wind farm bosses have objected to a rival operation built next door in case it steals their wind.
The owners of Westnewton wind farm in Cumbria have objected to rivals building three 360ft tall turbines nearby.
They claim the plans could take the wind out of their sails, hampering electricity output.
Campaigners believe it is the first time wind theft has been cited as a reason not to build a new turbine farm.
David Colborn, chairman of Friends of Rural Cumbria’s Environment, which is also objecting to the proposals, said: “We have never seen anything like this… it’s a first around here.”
A planning application has been submitted by Airvolution to build turbines which could power 4,200 homes a year on farm land near Aspatria.
The proposed Lancarr development would be 540 yards from the existing three-turbine Westnewton wind farm which was built despite being opposed by 1,800 people.
In Westnewton’s objection to Allerdale Council, bosses say it is “virtually guaranteed” the new development would mean less money-spinning wind for them.
The letter – from Broadview Energy Ltd, the agent for Westnewton’s owners Eolian One Ltd – said: “There has been no attempt to measure or predict whether there would be any reduction in energy production… even though a reduction in output is virtually guaranteed.”
The letter goes on to state the new wind farm “will result” in lower energy production at both sites, while it also raises fears over the cumulative noise impact on the area.
A spokesman for Airvolution which wants to build the wind farm said: “The application has considered the effects of cumulative noise in the study referred to within the environmental statement.
“Furthermore, the projected energy contribution expected from the development has been investigated by Airvolution and takes into account many factors, given the suitable standoff distances (which are greater than the industry standards) between the Westnewton and Lancarr schemes, we consider the effects that the two schemes will have on each other to be negligible.”
A spokesman for Broadview said it did not wish to add anything beyond the content of the objection letter.
Industry body RenewableUK also declined to comment.
It was recently revealed the number of wind turbines in Scotland has doubled over the past year, with nearly 5,000 across the country.
Figures show 4,519 turbines have been approved, built or are under construction, despite green energy targets already being met.
This is up from 2,315 turbines the previous year – and hundreds more are at the planning stage.
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