lfracombe Rotary Club visit Fullabrook Wind Farm

Ilfracombe Rotary Club has been one of the few organisations lucky enough to visit the busy site of the Fullabrook Wind Farm and witness the construction of what is currently the largest inshore wind farm in England.

This rare opportunity was made possible by arrangement with Fullabrook Community Interest Co (CIC) member, John Stainer who is also a member of Rotary.

The group was given personal protection equipment and a safety briefing before setting off in two minibuses for a tour of the site. Project Manager Rory Jordan explained how in 2009 ESB Wind Development UK, Ireland's state-owned electricity utility, acquired wind farm owners Devon Wind Power Limited, becoming fully responsible for the project.

Rory went on to explain that the project has taken 19 years to evolve including five years to obtain planning permission with work starting last October. When completed later this year, the wind farm will consist of 22 turbines of each of up to three megawatts capacity providing electricity for approximately 30,000 domestic households.

Components, all too heavy to be flown in are being transported by land and sea. Each turbine requires eight abnormal lorry loads which travel in convoys of three lorries outside peak traffic periods to reduce delay whenever possible. Turbines are being erected at the rate of two a week.

There are no plans for a visitor centre as the company is keen to avoid promoting a higher traffic volume and impacting on the surrounding countryside. You can find out more about Fullabrook Wind Farm however, in an exhibition at Braunton Countryside Centre from now until early September.

Information about the wind farm including facts and figures, the construction programme, delivery updates and copies of the Fullabrook Wind Farm Community Newsletter can be viewed on their website http://www.devonwindpower.co.uk .

Local organisations can also find out how to apply for a grant from the Fullabrook Community Fund. The fund is managed by the Fullabrook Wind Farm Community Interest Company (CIC), and works independently from Fullabrook Wind Power. The Directors of the CIC are all local people who give their time to ensure that one million pounds donated by Devon Wind Power is fairly distributed to worthy causes within affected local communities. Their website address is www.fullabrook-cic.org

See previous article and discussion about Fullabrook Wind Farm here