PLANNING ISSUES
FEATURE SPONSOR
ACTING SWIFTLY BEFORE THE LOCATIONS ARE GONE
NEW MUNICIPAL ROLE AS DEVELOPER, OWNER AND OPERATOR This has fundamental implications for the Council. Until now, planning authority options have been limited. Partnerships with private-sector wind farm developers have tended to focus on specific proposals. The public sector has not been able to drive wider events.
ASC Renewables’ approach has changed all that. It completed a comprehensive wind feasibility audit over Rochdale’s Borough at nominal cost, which identified and prioritised the total wind energy potential. As a result, Rochdale Borough Council finds itself in a powerful new decision- making position.
As a specialist renewable energy company they have provided the Council with the technical and business expertise needed to assess their wind energy potential and enable the Council to become a proficient long-term wind energy developer, owner and operator.
This will create new, low-risk, high-return ethical investment opportunities for both the Council and individual citizens in a sustainable local industry for the twenty-first century.
”We are now taking a leading role in renewable wind energy development, which I hope will be seen as an example of what can be achieved by local authorities,” Councillor Lambert added.
“There is a practical limit to the number of turbines the landscape can accommodate, which is why authorities often have to move quickly,” explains ASC Renewables’ Commercial Director, Tom Griffin.
“Prime sites across the UK are usually developed by private companies through the planning system. This leaves the public-sector with restricted scope for involvement. Our philosophy is to change that by helping authorities to develop and operate the best remaining opportunities themselves as a truly sustainable form of public investment.
“We believe in long-term partnerships. Our phased approach keeps costs very low at the outset during feasibility work, leading to detailed studies and pilot projects. ASC Renewables’ aim is to be good partners for the whole 25-year life of a wind farm.”
And added; “ASC Renewables’ specialist team undertake initial feasibility assessments, proposals, turbine specifications, procurement, installation, maintenance, additional external funding where necessary, commercial matters, liability insurance, due diligence and legal arrangements.”
MANY HAPPY FINANCIAL RETURNS – THE FIGURES ADD UP
The basic financial model makes the prospect of turbines very appealing to local authorities – and local people. In addition to an income from electricity sales to the national grid, wind projects under 5 MW benefit from the Government’s Feed-in- Tariff subsidy guaranteed for 20 years.
Depending on local circumstances and conditions, small 11kW turbines typically costing less than £70,000 to buy and install, are capable of powering 7 homes and typically provide a 7% return on investment.
Medium-sized 500kW turbines have higher rates of return. For a capital outlay of £1.64 million, they can generate between £7.0 and £9.0 million return depending on location. Large turbines can be more profitable still. A small, 5 turbine wind farm consisting of 2 MW to 3 MW turbines can generate a total return of £110.0 million from an initial investment of £17.9 million.
Rochdale envisages an annual financial return on community wind investments of between 8.6% and 16.9% depending on the final size of the project. It will only act on a proven business case.
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www.windenergynetwork.co.uk
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