Bigbury Community Wind Turbine
Devon Energy Collective CIC are collaborating with Bigbury Net Zero, a local community action group in South Devon, to explore renewable energy alternatives for the Parish. Seeking to decrease its heavy reliance on oil, the partnership identified the site as a viable location for a mid-scale wind turbine. The proposal is for a 1MW wind turbine positioned high up on the hillside of an organic dairy farm where it would generate enough clean renewables to supply the electricity needs of 700 homes - almost matching the power consumption of the surrounding parishes of Bigbury, Ringmore & Aveton Gifford. The turbine that we are proposing is a single EWT DW61 or equivalent from the Netherlands. Currently this is the smallest commercial turbine available. It has a hub height of just under 60m and a tip height of 90m.
The wind turbine will be owned by the community and operated for the benefit of the community. This means that the surplus revenues from the sales of electricity will be returned to the area whilst providing a return on investment for those wishing to become members of the scheme.
A wind turbine at Bigbury would enable the area to become part of an emerging energy system gaining momentum all over the UK, where mid-scale producers provide dispersed and secure renewable energy whilst catering for local needs and being responsive to the communities they serve.
Why Here?
Finding a site for a wind turbine is not easy and there are only a handful of opportunities in the South Hams. This site is suitable for a single turbine because as well as being windy, it has a simple grid connection into the existing overhead wooden poles that distribute the power around the parishes and is a good distance away from homes (>600 metres) and also sited away from infrastructure and important habitats.
Environmental Impact
We are preparing a planning application to submit to South Hams District Council in Autumn 2026. This will include the results of surveys and assessments that will highlight any likely adverse impacts and detail how these impacts will be mitigated.
Your views
We would like to hear from you with your views, comments and suggestions.
Our first community meeting is planned for Weds 17th June from 7-8pm in the Bigbury Memorial Hall and we’d love to see you in person. We will have more dates to follow.
The Benefits
- Clean, secure, cheap, local electricity generation. With the high wind speeds on site, we expect to see an annual generation of 2,800 MWh of electricity which is enough for approximately 700 average UK homes.
- Built, owned and operated by the community for the benefit of the community.
- A commitment to plough financial surpluses back into the community, estimated to be worth £1.5m over the 30 year life of the project.
- An opportunity for local people to invest in the scheme and receive a fair return.
Show Your Support Here
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