Waterfront wind farm powered up
Peel Energy’s £15 million waterfront wind farm is now up and running.
The last of the four turbines, each 125 metres tall, has just been commissioned at the Port of Liverpool and all are now generating electricity.
The 10 MW scheme will generate enough energy to meet the average annual electricity needs of 5,500 homes.
It joins Peel Energy’s nearby six-turbine Royal Seaforth Docks wind farm, which has been operating since 1999.
Although the Port of Liverpool project has fewer turbines than its neighbour, it can generate almost three times the electricity – a clear indication of the leap in turbine technology over the last 10 years.
Councillor David Tattersall, Sefton council’s cabinet member for the environment, said: “The industrial setting of the port is a good location for the wind farm.
"It's a daily reminder to businesses and the community of the need to manage our energy consumption.
"It's great to see the wind farm already making a significant contribution to our local renewable energy targets and to know that Sefton is doing its bit."
This latest project comes after Peel Energy switched on the 65MW Scour Moor wind farm in Lancashire last year.
Richard Dibley, Peel Energy’s development manager, said: “We are delighted that the project has been completed so smoothly. The coastal location captures good winds without the disadvantages of working in the marine environment.”
Peel Energy has also submitted a planning application for a four turbine wind farm at the Port of Sheerness in Kent, which could provide power for 5,500 homes. A decision is expected next month.
This year is Liverpool’s Year of the Environment which is all about celebrating how green the region already is, and at the same time encourages residents, businesses and visitors to work together to tackle the important issue of climate change.
Liverpool city council’s executive member for the environment, Councillor Berni Turner, said: “2009 isn’t just about Liverpool, it’s about bringing the whole of Merseyside together with the aim of becoming a sustainable community.
“This is a wonderful initiative by Peel Energy as wind farms are a great way of harnessing natural resources and at the same time reducing our carbon footprint.”
Peel Energy, part of the Peel Group, is at the forefront of delivering low carbon energy for the UK.
It has a balanced portfolio of more than 3 gigawatts in generation or development including wind, tidal power, energy from waste, biomass and multi-fuel power plants with carbon capture and storage.
That’s enough to power the average electricity needs of more than 3 million homes.
