Supporting Documentation - Renfrewshire Council

4. Wider Environmental, Social Benefits
Every unit (kWh) of electricity produced by wind power can displace a unit of power produced by power
stations burning fossil fuels. Therefore, when wind turbines produce, they can displace output from coal
and gas fired power stations, unit for unit.
Gaseous emissions that wind energy can directly prevent being emitted by replacing fossil fuel fired plant
are estimated to be 430g CO2/kWh (figure provided by RenewableUK). A turbine, with a rate capacity of
225kW can supply electricity equivalent to the yearly demands of around 125 households. This would
equate to a carbon saving of up to 254 tonnes per annum.
The UK is a net importer of gas, with the majority coming from eastern European countries. An
interruption in supply could expose the UK to power shortages. Therefore, increasing the number of wind
energy power supplies can address the concerns of over-dependence by diversification.
Community Benefit Fund
Community benefit is a good will contribution voluntarily donated by a developer for the benefit of the
community affected by the development. Community benefit can be a direct funding of local projects,
technical financial or advisory support for community owned schemes and contribution to a community
benefit fund.
Intelligent Land Investments proposes to make a payment of £5000 per megawatt of installed capacity to
a local community organisation that is £1125 per year for a 225kW. The amount would be paid for each
year the wind turbine operates. The arrangements for disbursing this amount would be arranged with the
relevant community organisation. There is a preference to identify a suitable organisation within 5km of
the project location. In the event that a suitable organisation cannot be identified, then work will be done
through a body such as the Scottish Communities Foundation.
Waterman Group, Renewable Energy, 2/4 Canning Street Lane, Edinburgh, EH3 8ER T:0131 221 7020
29
K:\Projects\CIV12920_ILI Windfarms_Batch 7\CIV12920_XXX_Hartfield
Farm\Documents\Reports\CIV12920_1202xx_Hartfield_Supporting Turbine Assessment_225kW.docx