Benefits
British Waterways and Partnerships for Renewables believe that a wind energy development at the Boddington Reservoir will provide a number of benefits.
Environmental benefits
Our studies show that a single turbine development would be possible at the Boddington Reservoir. If a turbine is constructed it is expected to generate approximately 3.2 GWh of green energy per year.
This is equivalent to the amount of energy used annually by approximately 713 average households.
A wind energy development of this scale is expected to avoid more than 1,400 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. *
*The Digest of UK Energy Statistics (2010) gives 2009 domestic electricity consumption as 122,543 gigawatt-hours (GWh) (http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/statistics/source/electricity/dukes5_1_2.xls) which, when divided by the number of households in the UK - 26,625,800 (http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/statistics/publications/ecuk/269-ecuk-domestic-2010.xls (table 3.3) - gives an average electricity usage of 4,602 kWh per year per household (122,543,000/26,625,800 = 4,602).
Taking into account the candidate turbine for the site, it is expected that the single proposed 1.5MW turbine could generate 3.285 GWh of renewable electricity per year (based on a capacity factor of 25%).
These figures are derived as follows: 1,500 kW (1 x 1.5 MW turbine) x 8,760 hours/year x 0.25 (capacity factor) = 3,285,000 kWh. Based on the 4,602kWh household figure from Section 6.4.1, and the predicted electricity generation of 3.285GWh, it is estimated that the yearly output from the wind energy development will be equivalent to the approximate domestic electricity needs of 713 average households in Britain.
In September 2008, the Advertising Standards Authority endorsed a figure of 430 gCO2/kWh, based on the assumption that the energy generated by the wind turbines displaces Combined Cycle Gas Turbines and an average mix generation (430 gCO2/kWh). On this basis, and on the assumption that the wind turbines annual output is 3.285 GWh, a wind energy development of this scale is expected to displace 1,412 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year being emitted to atmosphere. These figures are derived as follows: 3,285,000 kW (output) x 430 gCO2/kWh / 1,000,000 = 1,412 tonnes CO2.
Economic benefits
It is likely that the green electricity generated by any turbines will be fed into the National Grid to provide annual income for British Waterways.
Community benefits
A market-leading community benefit package will be provided alongside any future development. This will consist of a community fund, which will receive an annual payment. The fund will be administered by representatives of the local community, to be spent in any way that the community sees fit.