The Anonymous Widower

Wind Farm: Yorkshire Moors Could Get England’s Biggest Wind Farm

The title of this post, is the same as that, of this article on the BBC.

This is the sub-heading.

The largest onshore wind farm in England could be built on moorland in the Pennines if plans get the go-ahead.

These are the first two paragraphs.

Calderdale Windfarm Ltd is exploring options for 65 turbines on Walshaw Moor, near the Walshaw Dean reservoirs above Hebden Bridge in Calderdale.

The company said the scheme would generate enough electricity to power more than 286,000 homes a year.

The Calderdale Wind Farm has a web site, which adds these details about the proposals.

• The 65 wind turbines will generate up to 302 MW of electricity.
• There will be a 150 MW battery on site.
• £2.5 million per year will be put in a Community Benefit Fund.
• Up to 300,000 trees will be planted across the site.

This Google Map shows the Walshaw Dean reservoirs and Hebden Bridge.

Note.

1. Walshaw Dean reservoirs are in the North-West corner of the map.
2. Hebden Bridge is at the bottom of the map.
3. Hebden Bridge station on the Calder Valley Line is also marked.
4. This will be a very unusual wind farm for England.

It could also be a controversial wind farm.

These are some of my thoughts and those of the BBC article.

Environmental Opinions

These five paragraphs indicate both sides of the environmental argument.

Environmental campaigners warned the development would disturb peat bogs, releasing carbon into the atmosphere.

A spokesperson for Calderdale Windfarm, which is backed by Worldwide Renewable Energy (WWRE), said the proposal was an “incredibly exciting opportunity”.

“During a cost-of-living crisis, with ongoing energy security challenges and the climate emergency, the UK needs to explore how it can generate more carbon-free renewable electricity,” the firm said.

“But our proposals are at a very early stage and we recognise there will be a range of views about the merits of our proposal.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the local community, environmental groups, local councillors and others over the coming months to help shape the final design of the project.”

The £2.5 million per year Community Benefit Fund could be the clincher.

The Site Has A Battery

In my view, it is good practice to fit every wind farm with a battery, if this is practical and cost-effective.

As most batteries associated with wind farms, seem to be able to replace the wind farm for two hours, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the battery specified as a 150 MW/300 MWh unit.

A battery this size would improve the stability of the electricity supply in the area.

How Will Calderdale Wind Farm Be Connected To The Grid?

This question is answered in the page of FAQs.

We already have an offer from the Distribution Network Operator Energy North West to connect into the local electricity network substation at Padiham. Negotiations are also ongoing about an alternative connection via a new substation and that would go into National Grid which would connect into existing 440 KV pylons.

Padiham is a few miles away to the West, so the second option may need a smaller number of pylons.

The grid connection and associated infrastructure would be subject to a separate planning application to the wind farm.

Is Calderdale Wind Farm Just Wind Turbines?

This question is answered in the page of FAQs.

• No. Alongside our proposals for onshore wind we are also exploring the potential for the inclusion of battery storage and solar panels on southern slopes.
• As we develop the proposals further, we will be able to confirm whether we will be including other renewable technologies as part of the proposals.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see solar panels floated on the reservoirs. This also has the secondary benefit of reducing evaporation.

How Will Calderdale Wind Farm Benefit Calderdale?

This question is answered in the page of FAQs.

If consented, Calderdale Wind Farm would represent an investment of circa £500m into the local economy. Calderdale Wind Farm will support the local economy and present many opportunities for years to come.

Community Benefit Fund

Around 16,500 households in Calderdale are living in fuel poverty, with around 1,200 of these being in the HX7 postcode area. As part of our proposals for Calderdale we are exploring a community benefit fund to provide support to these households across the 30-year operational lifetime of Calderdale Wind Farm.

This fund would represent £75m worth of funding across a 30-year timeframe that would be paid to Calderdale Council to help relieve fuel poverty for the operational lifetime of the Calderdale Wind Farm.

We want to work closely with the communities in and around Calderdale to ensure they benefit from the project to help address identified local challenges such as the current energy and cost of living crisis.

Socio Economic Impacts

A socio-economic report produced by Biggar Economics suggests that the project would be a significant boost to both the Calderdale and wider regional economy if it goes ahead. The report estimates that Calderdale Wind Farm would generate at least £2.2million GVA for Calderdale through the design, build and operational lifetime of the windfarm.

This is surely going to level-up Calderdale.

Is This Going To Impact My Walking Route?

This question is answered in the page of FAQs.

As we develop our proposals, we will design the scheme and placement of the wind turbines and associated infrastructure to minimise any disruption to existing paths and trails. Our team has taken into consideration the importance of preserving the natural beauty and accessibility of the area in our early stage designs, which will evolve as we undertake further work ahead of a planning submission.

While there might be temporary adjustments or diversions to certain paths during the construction phase to ensure safety, these changes will be communicated well in advance, and we will strive to keep any inconveniences to a minimum.

Once operational the moor will continue to be accessible to members of the public.

As part of our commitment to community consultation, we want to hear your thoughts on the proposals, if you have any specific concerns about how the wind farm might affect your walking routes please let us now, community input is vital to designing a scheme that works seamlessly with the local environment.

It does look like the impact will not be all that great.

Is Grouse Shooting On Walshaw Moor Expected To Continue If Calderdale Wind Farm Is Approved?

This question is answered in the page of FAQs.

WWRE and Calderdale Wind Farm Ltd are pleased to confirm that the approval of the wind farm would result in the end of grouse shooting on Walshaw Moor.

This could face a lot of opposition from the shooting lobby.

Who Are WWRE?

The Calderdale wind farm has a page of FAQs.

In response to who are the funding partners of the project, this is said.

WWRE Global is a UK based company that was looking at projects in Spain and registered with Companies House in Gibraltar. With its investors and opportunities its current operations are focused on helping to deliver new renewable energy infrastructure in locations across the UK, which is why the business is now listed at Companies House in London.

WWRE Global is responsible for delivering investment opportunities for Energy Horizon II Investment Company and managing the planning and consenting process.

WWRE Global has a web site.

When Will The Wind Farm Be Built?

This question is answered in the page of FAQs.

Calderdale Wind Farm is a fully funded project, and it is envisaged the construction would commence within 12 months of any planning permission being granted and conditions being discharged. At this stage it is expected that construction could take up to two years.

WWRE Global certainly seem to want to get on with it.

Objectors

Use Google to search for news about Calderdale wind farm and you get a lot of objectors.

Conclusion

This is a bold and scientifically-correct proposal and it will be a close decision, as to whether the wind farm gets built or not!

 

March 31, 2024 - Posted by AnonW | Energy | Calderdale Wind Farm, Decarbonisation, Environment, Guns, Hebden Bridge, Levelling Up, Nimbies, Onshore Wind Power, Pennines, Wind Power, WWRE Global