Subsidairy News
Turbine Open Day celebrates wind power
Cornwall Light and Power will be welcoming visitors to its wind farm at Roskrow Barton near Penryn on Saturday 20 June, 10.30am - 4.30pm, as part of the UK's Wind Week 2009.
The free event will offer visitors and local families a fun and educational day out to celebrate not just wind energy but all sustainable initiatives in Cornwall. Attractions include guided tours of one of the 70m high turbines, and activities for children such as face painting and balloon modeling. An organic barbeque will be available with all proceeds going to Falmouth Hospital League of Friends.
The wind project at Roskrow Barton completed its first year of operation in January, and at that time its two turbines had already generated over 5,450 Megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity - enough to power around 1,160 local homes. This translates into a saving of 2,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide. The open day will offer local people the chance to find out more about how the turbines work.
The event is being organised in conjunction with Boswin Organic Farm and Tremough Campus. Visitors will be able to meet the animals and see the vintage tractors at Boswin Organic Farm, while at the Tremough Campus there will be various sustainable and environmental exhibitors as well as laboratory tours of their state of the art facility. A shuttle bus will be available to transfer visitors between the three sites, and parking will be available at Tremough Campus (TR10 9EZ). Visitors are requested to ensure children are accompanied by an adult at all times during the open day.
Wind Week is a national event organised by the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA), the UK's leading renewable energy business organisation. It sets out to mark European Wind Day and will celebrate the power of wind energy with events taking place across the country. Last year 20 wind farms across the UK took part. This year, the Roskrow Barton open day is the only one of its kind in the South West.
Commenting on Cornwall Light & Power’s involvement in the event, Chief Executive Neil Harris said:
"If you have ever wondered how wind can be turned into electricity to boil your kettle or power your TV, then we very much hope to see you at our wind project open day. Our site at Roskrow Barton is not normally open to the public, so this is a chance for people to gain an insight to the world of wind and enjoy a day out at the same time.
"We are at a crucial stage in the development of renewable energy generation in the UK and it is estimated that the South West could generate up to 18 per centof all its power needs from wind energy without encroaching on protected areas. Wind Week 2009 is a great opportunity for local people to find out more about this clean energy source."
