The site has over 300 allotment plots on 22 acres, and is a haven of peace and tranquility in the middle of a heavily built up area. The society also has a community building which includes a trading hut, café, meeting room, office, library, kitchen and toilets - all of which need electricity. We started looking at all the possible sources of renewable energy available to us: photo voltaic, biomass fuels, and geothermal energy. The most effective option on our site appeared to be wind energy.

We realised we needed a bit of support so we engaged the services of a local renewable energy consultant. We applied for funding and for planning permission for a wind turbine. We wrote letters to local residents inviting comment, with photo mock-ups of what the site might look like with the wind turbine installed. We got a few objections and rather more messages of support. We got our planning permission!

Using an excavator and manual labour, trenches were dug to bury ducting through which we would pull cabling to connect the turbine with the site's electricity control boxes. Holes were dug and fitted with reinforced steel and huge bolts, all to help anchor a base-plate for the turbine's mast to fit into. Another hole was dug nearby to support a winch for raising and lowering the mast for servicing. Finally, the mast and turbine were delivered. Assembly and installation was carried out by a professional installer complete with a fork lift truck - all without leaving any tyre marks on adjacent allotment plots!

We now have a 2.5kw wind turbine on an 11 metre mast generating electricity to our site and to the National Grid.

For a detailed description of the installation and more pictures visit the Spa Hill website.

First published - ARI Newsletter Winter 2009
Image courtesy of Creative Environment Networks (CEN)