Nottingham Pro-Wind Alliance

Nottingham Pro-Wind Alliance was formed late in 2010 to support renewable energy proposals, particularly appropriately sited wind turbines, in the area around Greater Nottingham. It is a local branch of a wider regional Pro-Wind Alliance (ProWA) which is supported by Nottingham Friends of the Earth and a number of other organisations.

Nottm ProWA's first action was to support a proposal by Severn Trent to erect a single large turbine at their Newthorpe sewage treatment works near Giltbrook (see letter of support below). This was approved by Broxtowe's Development Control Committee on 22 June 2011. It was opposed by Greasley and Awsworth Parish Councils and Nottinghamshire County Council. However, one of the local councillors Richard Robinson announced his support for the turbine before the election in May 2011 and he was re-elected. Further details are in the Environmental Report on the Broxtowe planning website (ref: 10/00717/FUL).

Some other current large wind turbine proposals locally include:

Stoke Bardolph: Severn Trent is proposing two turbines at Nottingham's main sewage treatment works. A planning decision may not be made until 2012 by Gedling Borough Council. Details on the council website (ref: 2010/0289).

Grove Farm, near Clifton Bridge: The University of Nottingham is proposing three turbines. A planning application has gone to Broxtowe Borough Council for one turbine and to the City for the other two. Details for both planning applications are linked from Broxtowe's website. For background, see the University website. For suggested points to make in response, see list at the bottom of this page.

Brackenhurst College, near Southwell: Nottingham Trent University is proposing two 330kW turbines, one of which will be for community benefit. See the University website. It is supported by Synergy Southwell which would be interested in taking on the community turbine. Comments can be made via the Newark & Sherwood District Council website upto 26 September - ref: 11/00792/FUL.

Gunthorpe Lock: Partnerships for Renewables together with British Waterways is proposing one 1.5MW turbine, 122m high, estimated to generate 3.2GWh per year, equivalent to electricity used by 733 homes, saving over 1,400 tonnes CO2 p.a. Details on PfR website.

South of Newark, between Hawton and Cotham: Wind Prospect are proposing a five turbine wind farm. Details at http://www.foxcovertwindfarm.com. A different company, Bolsterstone, is proposing three turbines about half a mile closer to Newark - this planning application is now live and comments can be made via the Newark & Sherwood District Council website - ref: 11/01588/FULM.

Nottm ProWA has also taken an interest in a single smaller 330kW turbine proposed by a farmer in Woodborough. This received planning permission from Gedling's Planning Committee on 2 November 2011 in spite of over 1,100 local objections but the anti-wind campaign group is threatening to take this to the High Court - see our news page.

Some sources of information on wind power:

• Yes2wind - key facts 
• Renewable UK - frequently asked questions
• FoE Cymru - 20 myths blown away (2008)
• FoE factsheet - Windpower: your questions answered (2008)
• Centre for Sustainable Energy - Addressing public concerns (May 2011)
• FoE/Greenpeace/WWF/RSPB - report on wind energy (2009)
• Sustainable Development Commission - Windpower: your questions answered (2009)
• Dept of Energy & Climate Change - FAQs about onshore wind

The Pro Wind Alliance (ProWA) is an association of local individuals and groups who are convinced that renewables are vital for the future and who are therefore in favour of developing properly designed local renewable generating capability. ProWA aims to provide objective information, backed by sound research and references.For further details, email Nottingham Pro-Wind Alliance: contact@
prowa.org.uk

Nottingham Pro-Wind Alliance now has a Facebook page.

Examples of consultation responses: Severn Trent turbine proposed near Giltbrook (approved by Broxtowe, 22 June 2011) - letter from Nottingham Pro-Wind Alliance (February 2011) - this includes links to: A DECC report on attitudes to renewable energy showing around 80% support for wind power (page 7). A House of Commons report comparing the carbon footprint of wind to fossil fuels. (This report has now been updated as Postnote 383 which shows that the carbon footprint of electricity from large onshore turbines (over 500kW) is generally less than 20gCO2eq/kWh (mostly due to manufacture and construction), compared to over 400gCO2eq/kWh for gas and over 800g for coal. Small turbines (under 100kW) are generally in the range of 20g to 50g depending on average wind speeds. The Committee on Climate Change has recommended average electricity generation should be less than 50g by 2030.)  A Vestas life cycle assessment which estimates for a 3MW onshore turbine an 'energy payback' time of 6.6 months (page 36) - typically the energy used in manufacture and construction is paid back in less than a year for wind turbines. Woodborough Park Farm (Gedling) - letter from Nottingham Pro-Wind Alliance (June 2011) Brackenhurst, Nottingham Trent University (Newark & Sherwood) - letter from Nottingham Friends of the Earth (August 2011) Grove Farm, University of Nottingham (Broxtowe and Nottingham City) - response from Nottingham Pro-Wind Alliance (September 2011)

Grove Farm, Nottingham University (Nottingham City and Broxtowe) - suggested points to raise in responses:

1. Climate change (i.e. production of renewable energy) outweighs visual intrusion.
2. Importance of energy security (do we rely on our wind or Russian gas?).
3. Green jobs in construction and maintenance of turbines.
4. All universities are required (by their national funding body) to reduce carbon emissions. The proposed wind turbines will supply around a third of their energy needs. If they are not allowed to put turbines on Grove Farm they will have to put wind turbines (or biomass or solar farms) somewhere else.
5. The university is a major employer and contributor to the local economy, so there is a wider interest.
6. Once a turbine is up and running, very few transport movements are required (unlike biomass, for example).
7. Electricity from wind is already cheaper than coal with CCS (carbon capture and storage), and in a few years will be cheaper than gas (and note the hidden subsidies to fossil fuels and nuclear).
8. Every kWh generated by wind will displace a kWh from fossil fuels - and that will mean less acid rain from Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station as well as reduced carbon emissions - which will benefit us all.

Comments can be submitted to both Broxtowe (ref: 11/00484/FUL, by 20 Sep) and the City (ref: 11/02419/PFUL3, by 22 Sep) - but comments will be accepted after those dates. Both are linked from www.broxtowe.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4144

Alternatively, Yes2Wind can assist in writing a letter to both authorities - linked from: www.yes2wind.com/locator/directory/grove-farm-wind-turbines-project
 
Background calculations which might be useful:

• The University estimates that 3 turbines rated at upto 2.5MW each will generate around 14,700MWh per year, equivalent to the electricity consumed by 3,127 households, saving around 6,203 tonnes CO2 p.a. This is an average power output of 1,677kW (averaged over 8,766 hours in a year).
• To achieve the same output from biomass would require around 3,354,000 square metres of farmland given over to growing biomass (335 hectares). Or it would require in the range of 84,000 to 335,000 sq m solar farm (8.4 to 33.5 ha). (This is based on estimates given by the government's energy advisor David MacKay - 0.5W/m2 for biomass and 5 to 20 W/m2 for solar PV - see http://www.withouthotair.com Ch 18, p112.)
• See also the links from the consultation response (above) on Severn Trent's Giltbrook turbine.