THE EVOLUTION OF FINDHORN WIND PARK
Production and Turbine Data
The existing Vestas V17, a 75 kW wind turbine, has been in operation since 1989. It is 17m tall to the hub and 24m to the blade tip. Findhorn Wind Park Ltd. (FWP) received a planning permit on January 18th 2005 from Moray Council to expand the generation capacity at the Park Ecovillage, Findhorn by adding add three additional turbines. These are second hand Vestas V29 225kW machines, originally located on the island of Bornholm, Denmark. These windmills are 30m to the hub and 44m to the top of the rotor. The wind park thus has a total capacity of 750 kW.
The Park Ecovillage is now a net exporter of electricity. Approximately 75% of the production will be used on site and the remaining 25% exported to the grid.
Site and Wind Resources
The turbines are on a brown field site adjacent to a disused runway/aircraft storage area at RAF Kinloss. The estimated wind speed (based on data from RAF Kinloss and the existing turbine) of 6.1 m/s at the hub height for the new turbines provides a capacity factor of c.20%.
Construction
About a year into our research we received an SCHRI grant for £21,500. With a matched loan we were now confident this would see us through to planning permission. In fact, as you can see below, we spent an additional £24,000 on top of that. All told, getting to planning permission cost more that the entire budget for installing the original 75kW windmill.
Construction
Estimated Capital Requirements
A. Wind turbines £187,000
B. Transport £ 34,200
C. Electrical infra structure £ 82,200
D. Foundations £ 90,000
E. Grid connection £ 54,500
F. Planning permit £ 77,300
G. Project management £ 32,000
H. Site Preparation etc. £ 12,000
I. Erection and commissioning £ 35,800
Total £605,000
Electricity Distribution
The Park Ecovillage has a private distribution network, which allows FWP to provide community residents/customers with electricity without using the grid. The higher price so obtained for the electricity compensates for the relatively low capacity factor. The generation of the expanded Wind Park will be more than 1,800,000 kWh. When the wind does not blow sufficiently for FWP to supply the on-site customers, electricity will be imported from the grid.
Income
Expected to be circa £129,000 per annum. We hope the pay back of capital invested to take about 8 years. Over its lifetime the project should generate a six figure sum for re-investment in renewable energy projects for other Ecovillage ventures. In the future we hope load management equipment and fuel cells will help to increase the demonstration potential.
Funding Partners
The ordinary share capital of the company is held by the following three organisations who have also loaned various amounts to capitalise the project.
Ekopia Resource Exchange Ltd. is a ‘community benefit’ Industrial and Provident Society and a founder member of the Development Trusts Association Scotland. Members are investors from the community who can designate their individual share holdings for particular purposes e.g. the wind park project, supporting the local wholefoods shop etc. Ekopia has 250 members.
New Findhorn Directions Ltd. is the wholly owned trading subsidiary of the Findhorn Foundation, a charitable trust. Its main business is the operation of Findhorn Bay Holiday Park, and was the operator of the original 75kW turbine.
Caledonia Renewable Energy Co-operative Ltd., which is a company created to support community ownership of wind power projects in Scotland. It is part of the Energy4All group and supported by Baywind Energy Co-operative Ltd.
Main Challenges In Project Development
1. Ministry of Defence
2. Planning Permission
3. Finances
4. Sourcing Turbines
5. Commissioning