|
In September
1999 the suggestion for a small community-owned, community-led
wind turbine in the Dulas Valley was mooted. After two
years of struggling the project obtained planning permission in
July 2001. The 75kW machine finally generated electricity
in April 2003.
Bro Dyfi Community
Renewables is a community-wind turbine co-operative, owning a
75kW wind turbine which produces electricity that is sold to the
Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) under a power purchase
agreement.
CAT purchases all the power generated
(around 163 MWh each year), using about 20% of it to supply it's
site with electricity and hot water and exporting the rest to
the local grid. The turbine is supplying the equivalent of
45 houses with electricity.
The electricity generated will slow
climate change by preventing the release into the atmosphere of
70 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
The co-operative also uses 30% of profit
generated to promote energy efficiency and intends to save an
additional 345 tonnes of carbon annually by reducing local
energy use.
The project is a community participation
scheme which is co-operatively owned, and the work undertaken in
developing the project was carried out by members of the local
community, with the construction contract being placed with a
local consortium, using local labour and skills. Grant
funding was received from the European Regional Development
Fund, ScottishPower Green Energy Trust and the Energy Savings
Trust.
|
