West Coast Energy told us that last week their plans for nine wind turbines for the West Dorset Wind Farm have been formally submitted. The site is located on farmland south west of Milborne St Andrew, north of Tolpuddle and north east of Puddletown.
While the application is being considered there will be much debate on the efficiency of wind turbines. You may be interested to know that when considering the best location for maximising the efficiency of a wind turbine, what matters is how many kWh is generated and used in the course of a year. Recent data from the Department of Energy & Climate Change shows that electricity generated from wind directly saves CO2 because gas fired turbines can be turned down very easily.
How much energy a wind farm can produce will always depend on wind speed but if you take a worst-case scenario you will get at least five million kWh from a single large wind turbine. The average household electricity use in Dorset is around 5,000 kWh per year, so each wind turbine should power at least 1,000 houses, meaning West Dorset Wind Farm’s nine wind turbines could potentially power 9,000 Dorset homes.
We aim to provide information on all forms and aspects of renewable energy and feel each wind farm application should be carefully considered and that of course everyone has the right to object if they feel there are sufficient grounds.
If you would like to see what is being proposed, you can find out more from West Coastal Energy’s press release and from their website www.westcoastenergy.co.uk.
If you would like to find out more about one of our nearest large wind turbine, why not take a look at Ecotricty’s Wind Park at Shooters Bottom in Somerset: www.ecotricity.co.uk/our-green-energy/our-green-electricity/from-the-wind/wind-parks-gallery/shooters-bottom-somerset
For more information and frequently asked questions see our web section on Wind Power here: www.letsgetenergized.co.uk/energy/wind-power