WEST COAST ENERGY PROPOSAL FOR BRAINT WIND FARM

Transcription

1 WEST COAST ENERGY PROPOSAL FOR BRAINT WIND FARM

2 BRAINT WIND FARM: OUR PROPOSALS Site Layout WEST COAST ENERGY IS PLEASED TO PRESENT ITS PROPOSALS FOR A WIND FARM ON ANGLESEY Ynys Môn Wind Energy Ltd a subsidiary of West Coast Energy Ltd) is seeking to develop a three turbine wind farm located to the south of the settlement of Rhoscefnhir and due north east of the village of Penmynydd in Anglesey. A GREENER WAY TO GENERATE ENERGY Based on three 850kW kilowatt kw) turbines up to 81m blade tip height, with a total installed capacity of 2.55MW 1, Braint Wind Farm is projected to generate sufficient green energy to meet the annual domestic electricity consumption of around 1,382 homes per annum 2. Over the 25 year life of the wind farm, it is estimated that it could displace around 63,395 3 tonnes of CO 2. BRAINT WIND FARM WILL: Contribute to UK and Welsh Government targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the amount of energy produced from renewable sources. Provide greater diversity in the energy mix. Provide electricity from an indigenous renewable energy source, helping security and continuity of supply as fossil fuels continue to deplete. Financially benefit the local communities, enabling the income to fund projects that will better the community. The modest footprint taken by the turbines will allow farming to continue as normal, and ensure that at the end of its operational life, the turbines can be readily removed in a matter of months, leaving very little legacy. ABOUT WEST COAST ENERGY Ynys Môn Wind Energy Ltd is a subsidiary of West Coast Energy Ltd, a privately owned wind energy company which has been specifically set up to develop the Braint Wind Farm. Established in 1996, West Coast Energy is an independent Welsh company with an excellent track record of wind farm development. West Coast Energy has been responsible for developing over 650MW of wind power in the UK. West Coast Energy s team of highly experienced professionals specialise in the identification, design, planning and development of wind energy projects through to construction and operation.

3 Application Boundary and Transport Route WHY BRAINT? The UK and Welsh Government are both committed to reducing carbon dioxide and other polluting gases. To help in meeting this commitment, they have signed up to a target for 15% of energy consumption or 30% of electricity consumption to be produced from renewable energy sources by 2020.The UK Government also aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 80% by West Coast Energy undertakes extensive research before deciding whether a site is suitable for a wind energy development. The proposed Braint site has been chosen for a wind farm for several reasons: The site benefits from a good wind resource. The site is not located within any international, national or local designations for ecology, ornithology, landscape or geology. There is excellent road access to the site. It will bring diversity of income into the farming economy, and the landowner s day to day operations of farming can continue unimpeded during the operation of the wind farm. The turbines can be sited far enough away from residential properties so that stringent noise guidelines are comfortably met and that no properties will be affected by shadow flicker. 1. Note that the installed capacity of the turbines may be higher or lower depending upon the exact tuebine make and model used during the construction phase. 2. Assumes a 26.4% Capacity Factor DECC, 2012), based on three 850kW turbines and an annual household domestic electricity consumption of 4,266kWh. These figures therefore assume the wind farm will produce 5,897MWh per annum. Average wind speed assumptions are based on NOABL database, but on-site wind speed data is currently being collected which in time will provide greater accuracy of local wind speeds. Reference to 1,382 households is therefore a projection. 3. This static projected figure is based on the Renewable-UK recommended offset rate of 430g CO2/kWh.

4 BRAINT WIND FARM: COMMUNITY FUND TO HELP TACKLE FUEL POVERTY ON ANGLESEY INTRODUCTION West Coast Energy is committed to the principle that communities which host wind farm developments should benefit from the generation of locally produced renewable electricity. For Braint Wind Farm it is proposed that the community benefit fund will initially be targeted towards initiatives that help tackle Fuel Poverty on the Island. It is envisaged that fuel poverty initiatives will be tackled for the first 5 years, with a Local Community Development Trust then deciding whether they want to continue targeting fuel poverty or fund other initiatives. This will take place through our partnership with National Energy Action Cymru NEA Cymru), a national charity that aims to eradicate Fuel Poverty and campaign for greater investment in energy efficiency to help those who are vulnerable. The Braint Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund would constitute the higher of a guaranteed payment of either 3,000 for each megawatt of installed generation capacity every year for the life of the wind farm, or a 10% share of the profits from the wind farm. Based upon three 850kW turbines, with a total installed capacity of 2.55MW and a figure of 3,000 per MW per annum, the Community Benefit Fund would amount to circa 261,000 1 over the operational life of the wind farm and possibly a much higher figure if the 10% profit share figure exceeds this. Our community benefit partnership model does not require any up-front investment from any partner organisations or the wider community and it therefore carries no financial risk. BRAINT WIND FARM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NATIONAL ENERGY ACTION NEA) CYMRU If planning permission is granted for Braint Wind Farm, Ynys Môn Wind Energy Ltd will work in partnership with NEA Cymru as well as any other local fuel poverty or energy efficiency groups, with the aim of targeting the Braint Wind Farm s Community Fund towards Anglesey s fuel poverty issues. As stated above the fund would be targeted at fuel poverty issues and initiatives in the Anglesey area. It is envisaged that a Local Board of Trustees would be set up to manage and oversee the fund, including the allocation and distribution of the funds, in partnership with NEA Cymru and any other local fuel poverty groups. Please refer to the NEA partnership leaflet for further details. 1. This figure is a projection which assumes indexation based on a standard RPI of 2.5% - in reality this figure may be higher or lower.

5 WHAT IS FUEL POVERTY AND WHAT CAUSES IT? Fuel poverty means being unable to afford to heat your home to the level required for comfort and wellbeing. It s caused by three main factors; rising energy bills, low incomes, and energy inefficient housing which is difficult and expensive to heat. It is estimated that around 425,000 households in Wales are living in fuel poverty 1, affecting around 15% of all households in Anglesey 2. Approximately 20% of fuel poor households in Wales are living in severe fuel poverty, spending 1 in every 5 to adequately heat their homes. 3 Many people worried about rising energy bills choose to ration their energy use, unaware that living in a cold home can put them at risk of developing or exacerbating serious health conditions such as strokes, heart-attacks and bronchitis. Between 2011 and 2012, 1,300 more people died in the winter months in Wales compared to the rest of the year, with the majority of these excess winter deaths caused by cold-related illness 4. Those most likely to be in fuel poverty are our most vulnerable members of society - the elderly, young children, or those who are chronically ill or disabled. Many are faced with the difficult choice of whether to spend their limited income on the energy they need to keep warm in their homes and cut back on other necessities such as food; or reduce their energy costs and put themselves at risk. Improving the energy efficiency of a home is the most sustainable way of tackling fuel poverty, but other measures such as fuel-debt advice can also have a significant impact. Targeted programmes that tackle the needs of the whole community can help to reduce the suffering of individual householders, boost the local economy, and reduce the burden on local health services. 1. Consumer Focus Wales, Switched off: consumer views on energy switching in Wales, p.11, available at; last accessed 10 January These figures are based on date modelled by University of Bristol and Centre for Sustainable Energy from 2001 Census and 2004 Living in Wales survey, available at gov.uk/docs/desh/policy/090129fuelmapangleseyen.pdf, last accessed 10 January Consumer Focus Wales, Switched off: consumer views on energy switching in Wales, p.11, available at consumerfocus.org.uk/wales/files/2012/01/switched-off-english- WEB.pdf, last accessed 10 January Excess Winter Mortality in England and Wales, 2011/12 Provisional) and 2010/11 Final), fig. 6, available at html?edition=tcm%3a , last accessed on 01 March 2013.

6 BRAINT WIND FARM: AN INDEPENDENT EIA ASSESSMENT An Environmental Impact Assessment EIA) of the proposal is currently being prepared by independent expert consultants appointed to study the potential effects of the development on landscape and visual amenity, noise, ecology, ornithology, geology, hydrology, archaeology, transport and cultural heritage. The development of the proposed Braint Wind Farm would be in accordance with national energy and renewable energy policies. The energy produced here will make a tangible contribution to reducing carbon dioxide emissions and tackling climate change. The wider environmental, social and economic benefits of renewable energy schemes, whatever their scale, are a material consideration which, according to latest Government advice, should be given significant weight in the decision making process. Support for the development of renewable energy sources in appropriate locations is advocated in national energy and planning policy. The design of the wind farm has taken into account all factors raised independent EIA consultants to ensure that any potential impacts on watercourses, archaeological remains and ecological habitats are avoided through appropriate positioning of infrastructure. The noise assessment confirms that the proposal will be within current noise guidelines, even when assessed under worst case conditions. The EIA studies are on-going and will be presented in full with the planning application. West Coast Energy Ltd has worked closely with the independent environment consultants in designing a scheme whereby the impacts are mitigated as the design of the wind farm evolves.

7 BRAINT WIND FARM: AN ACCESSIBLE SITE The Braint Wind Farm is planned to be located on Anglesey, on land south of Rhoscefnhir and north east of Penmynydd. The estimated on-site construction period for the development will be about 6 months and this includes a programme to reinstate the working areas. There will be up 21 exceptional loads turbine components) coming into the site. Trailer length for their return journey would be reduced to normal HGV length and this will therefore reduce their impact. The loads will normally be timed for off peak periods in order to avoid delays to other road users, and the vehicles will be escorted to the site by the police. The site has excellent transporation links and is directly served by A classified roads. It is expected that the exceptional loads will be transported to the site via the A55 at junction 8 and then to the site via the A5025 / Pentraeth Road. Where possible, it is intended that construction materials concrete, stone, 3 aggregate, sand, cement) would 0be sourced from the nearest local suppliers to minimise Kilometres transportation and increase further benefi ts to the local economy. / 6 Sca

8 NEXT STEPS It is anticipated that a formal full planning application for Braint Wind Farm will be submitted in The precise date will be dependent upon feedback received at the public exhibition. WE VALUE YOUR OPINIONS: Please spare a moment to complete our short opinion survey. Also, please feel free to share any ideas that you may have on how the income from the community benefit package could make a positive contribution to your local community. Note that when the formal planning application is submitted, there will be a statutory period of consultation where representations can be submitted to the Isle of Anglesey County Council Planning Department. If you require further information or wish to provide feedback, please office@westcoastenergy.co.uk