Since 2004, npower renewables has been investigating the feasibility of building and operating a wind farm near Kirkharle, a site approximately 12 miles due west of Morpeth in Northumberland.

We intend to submit a wind farm planning application to Tyendale Council in mid 2008 and we are keen to hear people's views on the proposal. We invite you to submit a consultation form using the links on this page.

The proposal comprises eight wind turbines, consisting of two distinct clusters of four turbines, with approximately one kilometre distance between the two clusters. Each turbine would stand 125 metres high (to the tip of the blade) and would have the capacity to produce up to 3 megawatts (MW) of clean electricity. Based on average capacity factor for wind farms in England it is predicted that wind farm of this size at Kirkharle could meet the average annual electricity needs of between 7,800 and 11,600 homes each year*. These figures take into account predicted periods of less than maximum and non-generation due to fluctuations in wind speed.

If constructed, the wind farm would also prevent the release of thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere, that would otherwise have been released by power stations burning fossil fuels such as coal and gas for electricity.

Various studies have been undertaken and the findings of these will be presented in the Environmental Statement document which will be submitted with npower renewables' planning application. The studies include landscape and visual effects, nature conservation designations, archaeological and cultural assessments of the site.

npower renewables' Kirkharle wind farm proposal:

• is a small wind farm scheme of eight wind turbines (two clusters of four turbines)
• has been under consideration, including in-depth site investigations, since 2004 and is coming to the point of being submitted as a local planning application to Tynedale Council
• is based on robust and detailed site studies
• has been developed appropriately for the characteristics of the site.

Other Proposals Locally

There are a number of other proposals to build wind farms locally and three of these are subject to a combined public inquiry. The pubic inquiry is considering the proposals for Green Rigg, Ray and Steadings wind farms. After hearing the evidence put to the inquiry, the inspector (appointed by the Government) will make recommendations to ministers who will make the final decisions on the application. npower renewables' Kirkharle Wind Farm proposal does not form part of this inquiry and will be determined by Tynedale Council.

There are many reasons why wind farm sites are chosen. In this case one of these reasons has been the classification of the location as being an 'area of least constraint and most potential for medium-scale wind energy developments' within the North East Assembly's Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS).

The RSS is a planning policy that sets a broad framework of guidance for the different types of development in the North East of England over the next 20 years. It provides guidance on where development should be located and what type of development is most appropriate for specific geographical areas. The full details of the RSS can be viewed at: www.northeastassembly.gov.uk

Wind Power

Wind power is an essential part of the UK's commitment to increasing the volume of electricity generation from renewable energy, and helping to tackle climate change through reducing the nation's carbon dioxide emissions. If the planning application for the Kirkharle Wind Farm is successful, the wind farm would make a valuable contribution towards meeting the targets for renewable energy generation and carbon dioxide reduction.

Kirkharle

The site at Kirkharle benefits from:

• good wind speed
• good access to the electricity grid
• good road access for construction purposes
• not having any landscape designations

Notes

* Energy predicted to be generated by the proposal has been calculated using an assumed capacity factor of 26% (DTI Energy Trends UK regional capacity factors 1998-2004), and is based on an installed capacity of between 16 and 24 MW. The energy capture predicted and hence derived homes equivalent may change as site specific information is gathered.

Equivalent homes supplied is based on an annual electricity consumption per home of 4700 kWh, which is derived from a total UK domestic electricity consumption of 117.589 terawatt-hours (TWh) (The Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2005) and 25.2 million UK households (Mid-year Household Estimates published in 2004 by the Office for National Statistics).

back

top