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Wind turbines may power city homes
Giant wind turbines look set to be built in Portsmouth to provide power for up to 20,000 homes.
A study has revealed that the city is suitable for enough eco-friendly turbines to provide 40 megawatts of renewable energy – enough to power a small town.
The Partnership for Renewables, which carried out the initial investigations, has drawn up a list of sites for the large-scale turbines.
Portsmouth City Council says some sites would be completely unacceptable, but around eight are worth considering further and is set to order a full-scale investigation into the project. Councillors are keeping the proposed locations under wraps.
Cllr Jason Fazackarley, who is in charge of environmental matters, said: 'In theory this is a good idea.
'People are generally supportive of turbines but don't want a huge structure outside their house, and that is what we're not going to do.
'We're totally conscious of people's concerns and we are not looking at putting them anywhere controversial.
'This is an initial study because some sites have been identified as potentially suitable and if it turns out they are then we will carry out lots of public consultation and hopefully in time we will be able to have an environmentally-friendly renewable energy source.'
The locations are being kept secret after the city council signed a confidentiality agreement with the Partnership for Renewables, an offshoot of the Carbon Trust.
The partnership wanted to protect the early work it has done in case any other firm copied its research.
The move would save about 35,000 tons of carbon dioxide every year.
John Auric, from Portsmouth Friends of the Earth, said: 'I support any initiative that would generate renewable energy within the city, but I'm not sure how realistic it is in a city with Portsmouth's geography. The key is the site – I guess they might be looking at Portsdown Hill or even out at sea.
'The council is right to look at every possible alternative and it will be interesting to see how the practicalities emerge.'
Cllr Fazackarley will decide whether to give further studies the go-ahead at a meeting on Monday.
>> Wind turbines use the wind's lift forces to rotate aerodynamic blades
>> The UK has 40 per cent of Europe's total wind energy.
>> Only 0.5 per cent of electricity requirements are generated by wind power.
>> Most small wind turbines generate direct current (DC) electricity.
>> Wind systems can also be connected to the national electricity grid.
>> Turbines can be mast-mounted – which are free standing and near the building that will be using the electricity – or roof-mounted.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -5 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
