Go to previous story
Email to a friend
Print articleThe two Proven energy 2.5kW wind turbines were lifted and mounted on to roof of the new energy efficient Blackpool Enterprise Centre to generate green electricity for the building early Tuesday morning.
The two turbines, costing approximately ?26,000 to install, will generate nearly 9,000kWh of electricity and save nearly 4 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide per year.
Cllr Peter Callow, Leader of Blackpool Council said:
?Our initial experience of the two wind turbines at the Solaris Centre has been good and therefore the Council has created more opportunities to benefit from wind power.
?In addition to these two new turbines on the new enterprise centre we have also embarked upon a Promenade pilot which will hopefully result in Blackpool's Illuminations being powered by sustainable energy. Geographically Blackpool is in a tremendous position to harness the power of the wind and turn it to our advantage and these two new wind turbines will add to our determination to become a carbon neutral Council.
?In common with all major organisations the Council is facing ever increasing energy prices and therefore needs to explore ways in which it can contain these increases. Renewable energy of this type has obvious financial benefits and supports local and national environmental strategies by increasing sustainability. The installation of these wind turbines is an important step forward in creating a more sustainable future.?
The illuminations, which will run from 31st August until 4th November this year, cost about ?50,000 for the electricity alone, using 960,000 units.
Energy Minister Lord Truscott said:
?This is the kind of project that we want to encourage. We need greener energy and by 2050 clean energy technologies such as ground source heat pumps, micro-wind turbines and solar panels could provide 30 to 40% of the UK's needs, significantly cutting carbon emissions.?
Blackpool Council has secured one of the first grant allocations from the DTI's Low Carbon Building Programme Phase 2. Phase 2 is a ?50 million programme supporting public sector and charitable organisations installing renewable energy technologies.
These two new wind turbines will add to the existing four wind turbines already installed by the Council. The first of these were installed outside the seafront Solaris Building - a centre of excellence devoted to sustainability - three and a half years ago.
