What is the proposed Bretherton Energy Partnership?
Bretherton Energy Partnership are exploring installing a wind turbine and solar panels to generate zero-carbon electricity for its residents and local business.
5% of the wind and solar electricity generated would be supplied to the community via a cable that runs to Bretherton’s electricity substations.
A battery system would be required to help balance variable wind and solar generation and the resident’s consumption, and also for regulatory and grid compliance purposes.
Any surplus 5% electricity would be sold to GA or the National Grid to generate income that could then be invested in local community projects.
Sited on the Asland Walks Energy Park between the River Douglas and the Leeds to Liverpool Canal would be a 4.2 mW wind turbine, solar panel field and battery.
Where Would The Wind Turbine And Solar Field Be?
Asland Walks Energy Park would be a single wind turbine and solar field between the River Douglas and the Leeds to Liverpool Canal.
The proposed Asland Walks Energy Park comprises some 100 acres of arable land. The Energy Park will be accessible to the community. Future Ecological improvements include:
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Tree planting; currently 11,575 tree and shrubs have been planted around the periphery of the field, with a further 6,300 to be planted in the coming years.
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Visitor centre with information about the Energy Park and how it works, and live generation data.
Below is a possible layout with wind turbines and solar panels. East-west solar panels increase electrical energy yield over south-facing panels. The east-to-west format captures solar energy over a longer period during daytime, flattening peak generation.
The below site layout drawing displays the areas of the proposed solar array and wind turbine, the siting of which has been selected to ensure that the minimal impacts on a number of factors.
Given the recent Ministerial Guidance on the protection of the best and most versatile agricultural land (grade 1, 2, 3a) all solar panels are proposed to be installed on the lower (3b) soil grade area. This ensures that the best agricultural land is not lost, and also leaves an area for further ecological enhancement.
Wind monitoring has now been completed over a 18-month period, the average wind speed at 111m height is 7.3 m/s, this means that energy generation for the proposed wind turbine would be efficient and generate optimum energy for the partnership. A solar monitoring station has been installed in order to evaluate actual site solar energy generation potential to ensure optimum energy efficiency and correct selection of equipment. Furthermore, two benches have been installed on the west area of the field adjacent to the canal, for walkers and all to stop, sit and enjoy, with a further two benches to be installed on the east side of the field overlooking the River Douglas.
The below site layout drawing displays the areas of the proposed solar array and wind turbine, the siting of which has been selected to ensure that the minimal impacts on a number of factors.
The solar array is proposed to be located on the lower (3b) soil grade area. This ensures that the best agricultural land is not lost, and also leaves an area for further ecological enhancement.
The wind turbine location which is situated on the eastern section of the field has been sited here due to a number of factors;
1. A detailed telecommunications assessment was undertaken by JRC Communication Ltd., the local telecommunication link in the areas requires a significant easement within the park, this predominantly rules out a large northern, eastern and southern section of the Asland Walks Energy Park.
2. The wind turbine is sited at least 500m away from the nearest resident, although it is not in legislation to do so as it has been proven within the noise assessment that there would be no impact, BEP still wishes to demonstrate best available practice on this matter.
3. Following on-going habitat assessments, there is an ecological recommendation to provide a 61m distance between the turbine location and adjacent tree planting to maintain a safe corridor for foraging bats.
4. There is also a regulatory easement required from the River Douglas and the site red line boundary.
