Information on Loughborough

Airport Plans For Wind Turbines

Posted on 11/09/2007
P. Klein

wind turbine at East Midlands Airport near LoughboroughPlans have been unveiled today for the first UK Airport wind turbines, at East Midlands Airport. Wind turbines are a valuable way of creating renewable energy.

The relatively small scheme consisting of four proposed wind turbines, is anticipated to  generate 10% of Nottingham East Midlands Airport energy requirements. inLoughborough has previously reported on the aim of the airport near Loughboroughs aim to become carbon neutral before 2012.

As part of the planning process the airport has approached North West Leicestershire District Council to ask for permission to create this small wind farm  on-site. The airport has carefully considered the implications of the installation of the ecological form of energy generation. Using advice from a world leading safety assessment company (Qinetiq) and has consulted the Civil Aviation Authority, in order to make certain the safety of the plans prior to the planning process.

It is intended that the wind turbines will be installed by Wind Direct, who are a Lancaster based company that specialises in this type of installation. Wind Direct typically carries out all the capital investment associated with the installation of the electricity generating equipment and then sells energy to the customer at a guaranteed discounted rate over a fixed period of time.

The turbines themselves will be just over 30m in height and will be positioned away from the runway and other important areas of the airport. It is anticipated that the installation could be up and running in the next six months (spring 2008).

Penny Coates, East Midlands Airport Managing Director said

"This is fantastic news for the airport as we are delivering on the promises that we made in our Master Plan. In addition to our plans to install turbines, we have increased the proportion of our energy that comes from renewable sources this year to 20%. We have already introduced a number of new environmental measures such as our on site recycling facility and our "green pier. The turbines will be a welcome addition to our suite of environmental measures and I hope that this initiative is something which the community and indeed the East Midlands region can feel proud of.

Adrian Maddocks, Development Director, Wind Direct said,

"This project sets an impressive milestone for the Airport and we are very pleased to be working with them. The four wind turbines demonstrate the airports commitment to green energy and help reduce carbon dioxide emissions for the lifetime of the project."

Senior managers will be in attendance at local parish council meetings in the coming weeks to discuss the plans in more detail, full details of which will be available on the Airport website.

Turbine Community Information events are also planned on the below dates for members of the public interested in finding out more:

  • Diseworth Village Hall Thursday 13th September 1500 - 1900
  • Castle Donington Community College Thursday 20th September 1530 - 1930