Oxford City Council is working with Partnerships for Renewables to develop wind turbines

Published: 30/01/2008

Two sites owned by Oxford City Council have been earmarked as possible locations for wind turbines as part of a drive by the Council to reduce carbon emissions.

The two sites have been identified following the screening of all Oxford City Council’s land assets and preliminary surveys of the most promising sites.

If the results of more detailed environmental work prove positive and a planning application is successful, the development would generate electricity to supply the Council at a reduced cost or be fed into the National Grid to provide income for the authority.

Local communities, businesses and interested parties will be fully consulted throughout the development process if any of the sites are found to be suitable.

Oxford City Council is working with Partnerships for Renewables Ltd (PfR), a subsidiary of Carbon Trust Enterprises Ltd, on the scheme.

Councillor John Goddard, Leader of Oxford City Council, says: “We are in the early stages of investigating suitable sites for community scale wind turbines and the potential benefits available. This is a great opportunity for the city which we must explore.

“We have identified two possible sites – Brasenose/Horspath and Sandford Brake. If we were to progress either of these two sites they would be subject to a full and through consultation process.

“We have to reduce our carbon footprint and make increasing use of renewable energy. We want to reduce carbon dioxide emissions within our own buildings and operations by 25 per cent by 2010 and this can help us achieve this.

“A single modern turbine would be expected to generate the same amount of electricity required to meet the needs of more than 1000 homes.”

Stephen Ainger, Chief Executive of Partnerships for Renewables, comments: “The public sector owns enough land in the UK to make a significant contribution towards the fight against climate change and we hope that other public sector bodies will follow the proactive example being set by Oxford City Council.

“It is important to us that communities neighbouring any of our renewable energy developments can be proud of them and if a wind energy development does go ahead the local community will be central to the development process.”

Any installations would be privately run and funded, but the power generated would be used either to supply the council at a reduced cost or fed into the national grid to provide income for the authority.

PfR work alongside public sector bodies such as local authorities, NHS trusts, universities, and central government organisations to develop and manage renewable energy projects.

Oxford City Council have been working alongside PfR for the past year to scope the potential for development of commercial scale wind turbines on our land.

ENDS

For more information contact:

Louisa Dean
Press Officer
Media and Communications
Oxford City Council
01865 252096
ldean@oxford.gov.uk

Tom Brinicombe
Head of Marketing and Communications
Partnerships for Renewables
020 7170 6800
tom.brinicombe@pfr.co.uk

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