New UK factory to build ‘farm-scale’ wind turbines
Green energy news – by GreenWise staff
17th March 2014
A new factory has opened in the West Midlands to to build ‘farm-scale’ wind turbines and offer an alternative income for cash-strapped farmers.
As farmers count the cost of the worst floods to have hit the UK since records began, the state-of-the art factory, located in Hartlebury just outside Kidderminster, promises to create 100 new green jobs and will build wind turbines specifically targeting the farming community. The facility was opened last week by Endurance Wind Power, the Canadian and UK small wind turbine maker, the the presence of Energy Minister Greg Barker. Endurance said it eventually aimed to manufacturer 100, 225 kilowatt (kW) turbines a year at the plant.
“By investing in this manufacturing facility, we’ve shown our long term commitment to the UK,” Glenn Johnson, Endurance ceo, said.
“Green growth”
Dr Tony Juniper, chair of Action for Renewables, which is behind the ‘Big 60,000’ campaign, said: “There are thousands of businesses that won’t be able to take advantage of small and medium wind power if the Government doesn’t step back and review the proposed changes to the Feed-in Tariff.”
“It’s right that as more farm-sized turbines are installed, support is scaled back. But cutting back on investment now will put British manufacturers out of business and make it harder for farmers and communities to generate their own electricity.”
Endurance claims to have the largest install base of turbines in the 50 kW-100 kW class in the UK. Its fleet of turbines have cumulatively generated 107,000 MWh of energy as of March 2014, the equivalent of powering 32,000 homes for a year.
Like this story? Please subscribe to our free weekly e-newsletter at the top of the page for more content like this.
“By investing in this manufacturing facility, we’ve shown our long term commitment to the UK,” Glenn Johnson, Endurance ceo, said.
“Green growth”
Barker, described the factory as another example of “green growth” in the UK.
“Not only will this new facility create around 100 jobs and boost the West Midlands economy, it will unleash new opportunities to export British-made technologies to Europe and beyond. This innovative kit will also help people take energy generation into their own hands,” he said.
Feed-in Tariff cuts
“Not only will this new facility create around 100 jobs and boost the West Midlands economy, it will unleash new opportunities to export British-made technologies to Europe and beyond. This innovative kit will also help people take energy generation into their own hands,” he said.
Feed-in Tariff cuts
The UK small wind sector has seen unprecedented growth in recent years. In 2012, the most recent year for which data is available, installed capacity more than doubled to 23,500, according to trade body RenewableUK. Most of those turbines have been installed on farms and domestic rural properties. But Government cuts to the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) and the amalgamation of all turbines under 100 kW into the same level of FiT have fuelled concerns that this momentum might be lost at a time when farming communities are at their most vulnerable.
Many farms in flood-stricken areas, such as the Somerset Levels and the Thames Valley, are attempting to rebuild their businesses following the worst floods in 250 years. Producing green electricity could provide them with a new source of income as well as energy security, says the small-scale wind industry.
‘Big 60,000’ campaign
‘Big 60,000’ campaign
It is therefore renewing its calls for a stable framework around which to plan for growth, and last week its campaign – the ‘Big 60,000’ – won the backing of the National Farmers Union.
Dr Tony Juniper, chair of Action for Renewables, which is behind the ‘Big 60,000’ campaign, said: “There are thousands of businesses that won’t be able to take advantage of small and medium wind power if the Government doesn’t step back and review the proposed changes to the Feed-in Tariff.”
“It’s right that as more farm-sized turbines are installed, support is scaled back. But cutting back on investment now will put British manufacturers out of business and make it harder for farmers and communities to generate their own electricity.”
Endurance claims to have the largest install base of turbines in the 50 kW-100 kW class in the UK. Its fleet of turbines have cumulatively generated 107,000 MWh of energy as of March 2014, the equivalent of powering 32,000 homes for a year.
Like this story? Please subscribe to our free weekly e-newsletter at the top of the page for more content like this.
Follow us on Twitter.
Related content:
