The Westmill project

This talk

• Westmill history• The windfarm

– The turbines– History– Construction– How we earn

money

• Cooperative ownership

Why wind?

• Doesn’t pollute:– no ash or CO2– No radioactive waste

• Free fuel (once turbines are built)

• Abundant wind in UK• Safe • Easy to decommission

Source: http://www.yes2wind.com/whywind.html

Westmill - thanks

Westmill would not exist today without the:– vision of landowner Adam Twine– foresight of Baywind– dedication of Energy4All– support from Mid-counties Co-op

The completed project

Westmill

• 85 hectare working organic farm

• 1% of site used for turbines

• Construction energy recovered < 1 year

Key facts - funding

• Co-operative owned - 2,500 members– 50% within 50 miles– £1,800 average

investment

• Raised £4.6m & borrowed £3.4m from cooperative bank

Five turbines

• 49 metres to hub• 30 metre blades• Turn 19 times a

minute• Two generators (one

for light winds)• Each can generate

1.3MW (1,300kw)• Almost silent

In an average year we:

• Work @ 22% of capacity

• Generate @ 12 Gwh

(12,000,000 kwh)• Power 2,500 homes• Displace 10,000

tonnes CO2 • Earn close to £1m/yr

Total construction budget

Turbines £5.2m

Foundations and roads £1.4m

Grid Connection £0.6m

Other costs £0.6m

Total £8.0m

Budgeted funding:

Shareholders’ funds £4.6m

Bank loan (Coop bank) £3.4m

Total funding £8.0m

Electricity sales

To green suppliers:

• 3 turbines - Good Energy

• 2 turbines - Mid counties coop (2011)

Building a windfarmJuly 07

Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan 08 Feb Mar Apr

Contracts signed ♦

Mobilisation

Compound/ tracks

Foundations

Sub Station

Cabling

Grid Connection

WTG Delivery

Erection

Commissioning

Take Over ♦Operations Phase

The Site

Excavations

Reinforcement

WTG Delivery

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Inside a turbine

• Base converts 690v to 33,000 v• Ladder allows access to top• Maintained by Siemens

Cooperative ownership

• Industrial and provident

• Equal voice

• AGM

• Transparency

• Culture

Related developments

• WESET

• Energy futures

• Westmill solar plans

• Low carbon West Oxford

Questions?