Renewable technology specialists VG Energy, along with Kingspan Wind and legal firm Turcan Connell, has gifted the RSPB a small scale domestic wind turbine in an effort to help reduce the climate change emissions of the organisation.
The 15-metre high KW6 turbine, which has a capacity of 6kW, has been installed at RSPB’s Loch Leven nature reserve near Kinross and it will help save energy needs at the popular reserve.
Formed in 2008, award winning VG Energy provides a full turn-key solution for any renewable project whether wind, solar or biomass. Over the last 6 years and having sold and now maintained over 300 turbines, VG Energy has enjoyed spectacular success and are now established as the UK market leader for selling and installing wind turbines ranging from 6kW to 2.0MW in size. The company is unique in the UK wind industry, employing over 70 technical specialist staff operating out of 4 regional UK offices with the capability to fully complete projects from start to finish in-house from initial site visit through planning, construction, installation, and operation and maintenance of the project on the customers land. VG Energy currently employs a wide range of professionals including, site surveyors, planning consultants, architects, project managers, and fully qualified electricians and engineers.
RSPB believes that renewable energy is an essential tool in the fight against climate change, which poses the single biggest threat to the long-term survival of birds and wildlife. The conservation charity is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by generating its energy needs from renewable sources wherever possible.
In order to minimise landscape impact, and to avoid potential bird strikes to geese and other waterbirds at the reserve, the planned location for the turbine is near a wooded area beside the car park for the visitor centre. As part of the planning application a thorough ecological assessment was carried out which concluded that there was no significant risk to birds.
Jim Paterson, Managing Director of VG Energy, said: “We are delighted to be part of this fantastic initiative, along with Turcan Connell, and Kingspan Wind. We sincerely hope that this project will demonstrate to the public and others the benefits of renewable energy and show that wind turbines can be compatible with birds and wildlife.”
Uwe Stoneman, RSPB’s Tayside reserves manager, said: “Loch Leven is a fantastic place to enjoy a diverse range of birds, mammals and habitat, all of which we are working every-day to protect. This nature reserve has always made efforts to be ‘green’ and reduce its carbon footprint which has been recognised by the Green Tourism Business Gold Award. We recently installed solar panels on the reserve and this turbine is simply another step in demonstrating our commitment to reducing the impacts of climate change.”
Gavin Kerr, Kingspan Wind’s UK Manager, says: “We commend the RSPB for becoming the latest in a long list of organisations that have benefited from small wind.
“Our experience of installing turbines in more than 70 countries and on every continent has demonstrated the technology’s adaptability – what’s more we believe it has now come of age. Our turbines are entering their third decade of service, proving that small wind is no longer a new or untested technology but an obvious choice in addressing localised sustainability.”
