Good Energy plans UK’s first subsidy-free wind farm

Independent power supplier Good Energy has unveiled plans for the first wind farm in the UK to operate without government subsidy. The community-owned wind farm in Cornwall would include 11 […]

Independent power supplier Good Energy has unveiled plans for the first wind farm in the UK to operate without government subsidy.

The community-owned wind farm in Cornwall would include 11 turbines and have a total capacity of 38.5MW.

That would generate enough electricity to power around 22,000 homes, the supplier states.

Last year the government announced it would scrap subsidies for onshore wind farms from next month. It also introduced new planning rules to ensure wind projects would only get the go-ahead if they had the local community’s backing.

Good Energy initially put forward proposals for the Big Field Wind Farm to local planners in 2014 and today revealed a revised design for the project as the previous one was rejected by Cornwall Council.

CEO and founder Juliet Davenport said: “This is a bold and innovative response to the challenges laid down by government to the renewables industry since the election last year. This project will give local people the chance to show their support for renewable energy and all the benefits it brings both locally and globally by investing in their own wind farm.”

The company has submitted its application to the Planning Inspectorate.

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