Supporting documents - Renfrewshire Council

© Green Cat Renewables Ltd
GLENLORA WIND TURBINE
1.1.7 The Energy Balance of Wind Turbines
Wind turbines have a positive energy balance, and therefore produce many times
more energy than that required for their manufacture, installation and maintenance.
Specific research into the Vestas V80 onshore wind turbine indicates that they recover
all the energy used in their manufacture, installation, maintenance, decommissioning
and disposal within 8 months of operation on an average site. This figure is dependent
on the wind speed (and hence energy generation) at a site, but is clearly a much
shorter period than a wind turbine's operational life of over 25 years. This fact is
central to wind energy’s contribution to sustainable energy supplies.
1.2 The Proposed Development
The proposed development at Glenlora Estate, near Lochwinnoch would comprise the
installation and operation of a single 800kW wind turbine no greater than 85m to
blade tip.
The Enercon E48 wind turbine is in the company’s medium‐class power range and is
the most profitable system within it’s class. With a maximum rated power of 800kw
and a capacity of 7000 megawatt hours per annum expected it is the ideal choice for a
‘private’ estate. The green form of energy will result in huge carbon savings per year
over the turbines expected 25 year lifespan which in line with Policy REN1 of the
Renfrewshire Local Plan which is generally supportive of an increase in the proportion
of electricity produced from renewable sources.
The proposed development is located on Glenlora Estate near Lochwinnoch, ~25km
west of Glasgow city centre, as shown in Figure 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 below. The proposal is
located within the Glasgow & Clyde Valley Green Belt and the Clyde Muirshiel Regional
Park which are subject to specific planning and development policies. The turbine
position and site boundary are shown in Figure 1.1.2.
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