Benefits
British Waterways and Partnerships for Renewables believe that a wind energy development at Gunthorpe lock will provide a number of benefits.
Environmental benefits
After careful consideration of the types of turbine available, we are now considering the use of a 2MW turbine at the site, rather than the 1.5MW originally considered.
The advantage of the 2MW turbine is that it is expected to generate 4.38GWh of electricity each year.
This is the same amount of electricity as used by 980 homes annually, around 33% more than the smaller 1.5MW machine.
This electricity is expected to avoid 1,883 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent displacement each year.*
This compares with the 1,061 homes in the parishes of Gunthorpe and East Bridgford combined†.
* The environmental benefit figures are based on a single 2MW turbine, operating with a 25% capacity factor; generating 4.38GWh; and an average household electricity use of 4463 kWh per annum. These figures are derived as follows: 2,000 kW (1 x 2.0 MW turbine) x 8,760 hours/year x 0.25 (capacity factor) = kWh.
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 4.38 GWh, a wind energy development of this scale is expected to displace 1,883 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year being emitted to atmosphere. These figures are derived as follows: 4,380,000 kW (output) x 430 gCO2/kWh / 1,000,000 = 1,883 tonnes CO2.
†Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS) – Gunthorpe 302 homes; East Bridgford 759 homes. Total 1,061 homes.
The Digest of UK Energy Statistics (November 2011) gives 2010 domestic electricity consumption as 118,681 gigawatt-hours (GWh) (Shown in table 5.1.2 as 118.68TWh) (http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/statistics/source/electricity/dukes5_1_2.xls). Then when we divide the amount of electricity used by all domestic properties by the number of households in the UK – 26,591,600 (http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/statistics/publications/ecuk/269-ecuk-domestic-2010.xl (table 3.3) ...we find that the average electricity usage by each household per year in the UK is 4,463 kWh (118,681,000 ÷ 26,591,600 = 4,463).
Taking into account the candidate turbine for the site, it is expected that a single turbine with an installed capacity of 2 MW could generate 4.38GWh of renewable electricity per year (based on a capacity factor of 25% - for onshore wind the five year average capacity factor (2006 – 2010) is 26.16% http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/stats/publications/dukes/2309-dukes-2011-chapter-7-renewable-sources.pdf).
(Table 7.4)
These figures are derived as follows in the following example (using a 25% capacity factor): 2000 kW (1 × 2 MW turbine) × 8,760 hours/year × 0.25(capacity factor) = 4,380,000 kWh. Based on the 4,463 kWh household figure, and the predicted electricity generation of 4.38 GWh, it is estimated that the yearly output from the wind turbine will be equivalent to the approximate domestic electricity needs of 981 average households in Britain (e.g. 4,380,000 ÷ 4,463 = 981).
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.