News

21st January, 2008

Goonhilly 'Repower' - Planning application Submitted

Cornwall Light & Power today announced the submission of a planning application to repower their wind farm in Goonhilly with six new turbines.

Improved technology means that six modern turbines would replace the 14 existing structures and produce emissions-free electricity for nearly four times the number of households currently served by Goonhilly.

Each turbine would generate up to 2.5 megawatts (MW) of electricity, giving a total capacity of 15 MW and an average annual output of just over 42,500 MW per hour, equivalent to the consumption of over 7,700 Kerrier homes.

The proposed turbines would have a hub height of up to 67 metres, a tip height of up to 107 metres and would revolve at between 10 and 20 revolutions per minute, significantly less than the current turbines which operate at 35 revolutions per minute.

In total, the repower would represent a net increase of up to 9.4 MW of clean electricity, which would make a positive contribution to both local and national targets for renewable energy generation.

Neil Harris, Chief Executive of Cornwall Light & Power said: "We have been very much encouraged by the local community's support to date and their commitment to reducing the Lizard's dependency on imported electricity, generated from fossil fuel and nuclear power.

"It is essential that we continue to keep local residents informed of progress relating to this project and for this reason we're keen that people let us know what they think about our plans, which are available for everyone to access."

The detailed plans are available to view at both the Kerrier District Council office on Dolcoath Avenue in Camborne and Cornwall Light & Power's office at 58 Coinagehall Street in Helston. A non-technical summary of the Goonhilly Repower project will also be available online at www.clpwindprojects.co.uk.

Visitors to the CLP office will also have the opportunity to talk to people involved in the Goonhilly project and discuss the planning application in more detail. If the planning application is successful, the new turbines could be constructed and operational by the summer of 2009.