Asland Walks Energy Park – Wind and Solar Farm

How much carbon will the wind farm and solar panels offset?

Around 7,228 tonnes of carbon emissions would be offset by the wind and solar generation. This amount of carbon is equivalent to 562 petrol passenger cars driven for one year. Calculations are based on the latest Carbon Trust carbon conversion factors and Government transport figures.

Will the local ecology and habitat be affected by the Asland Walks Energy Park?

No. The local ecology and habitat at the Asland Walks Energy Park will actually improve, because the site is currently under arable cropping. The ecology and habitat will be enhanced through the planting of 15,000 trees along the field boundaries to provide a visual screen and increase wildlife habitats. The solar panel arrays offer further shelter for local wildlife and are proposed to be grazed by sheep.

Ecological studies carried out on the field and surrounding areas have demonstrated that the proposed renewables would not have an impact on, or cause ecological loss to, wintering foraging birds. As the entire field is now no longer required for solar panels, further ecological enhancement can take place, including the creation of habitats for Skylarks and similar species.

Why does there need to be both renewable solar and wind generation?

Feasibility studies have shown that the seasonal generation profile for solar is complementary to wind. The best solar resource is typically in summer, while the best wind resource is in winter.

Therefore, combining both technologies achieves better optimisation between project sizing, peak energy demands, and overall load profiles.

How noisy will the wind turbines be and will these be heard from the village?

The wind turbine would generate very little noise, under 35 dB. For comparison, a typical library or a bird call is generally around 44 dB.

A number of different layouts were considered, and it was determined that it would only be possible to fit one wind turbine within the developable area at the Sollom site. Two or more turbines would exceed the 35 dB LA(90) noise limit at nearby residential properties.

Ecological studies have also shown that the proposed renewables would not have an impact on wintering foraging birds. As the entire field is now no longer required for solar panels, further ecological enhancement will include rewilding the remaining areas with woodland and scrubland to create habitats for Skylarks and similar species.

Are migrating or native birds at risk of collision with the wind turbine?

When selecting a site for a wind turbine, careful consideration must be given to the impact on wildlife from both construction and operation. These impacts can be managed effectively through good site selection and design, such as locating turbines away from sensitive habitats and flight paths used by birds and bats.

Construction impacts are similar to any other development, such as earthworks for access roads and foundations. The species most likely to be affected by turbine operation are birds and bats, but in most cases both avoid flying into turbines.

Habitat loss, road traffic, and domestic cats pose far greater risks to bird populations. Apart from a small number of poorly sited developments, wind farms have not been associated with major adverse effects on bird populations.

The greatest long-term threat to birds and wildlife is climate change, which can be mitigated by replacing fossil fuel electricity generation with renewable sources.

Environmental assessments and consultation with wildlife bodies are statutory requirements in the planning process, ensuring turbines are appropriately sited to minimise effects on wildlife.

Will the wind turbine affect the already bad TV and mobile phone signal in the area?

No. The turbine design team works closely with cellular and radar system providers during the design and planning stages to ensure the turbine location does not affect TV or mobile phone signals in the area.