New developer puts forward plan for Isle of Wight wind farm

If successful the application by Infinergy would create the first wind farm on the Isle of Wight.

Representatives of Infinergy were visiting the Isle of Wight today to present their proposal to island residents.

The company reportedly wants to build the five turbines on land south of Wellow, near Yarmouth, which would have the capacity to generate 10 per cent of the Isle of Wight’s domestic electricity needs.

However, the Isle of Wight Council, which re-branded the Isle of Wight ‘Eco Island’ several years ago, has rejected several proposals put forward before for wind farms on the grounds of the negative impact they would have on the island’s landscape. Fifty per cent of the Isle of Wight is designated an area of outstanding natural beauty.

A previous proposal for a wind farm in Wellow was turned down five years ago, while efforts by Cornwall Light and Power to establish a wind farm at Cheverton Down were blocked last year.

Nevertheless, the council has reportedly set itself a target to produce 18 megawatts of renewable energy by the end of the year.

The original plan for ‘Eco Island’ was for the island to be carbon neutral by 2020. However, those plans have since floundered.

In August, last year, meanwhile, the island received a further setback when Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas closed its manufacturing plant on the island, with the loss of 500 jobs.

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