by Alan Quick

THE trial turbine delivery of a wind turbine for the Den Brook Wind Farm took place successfully during the morning of Thursday, March 31.

The long vehicle was met by a Police escort, just off the M5 in an abnormal load lay-by between junctions 30 and 31, and followed the access route agreed as part of the planning consent (via the A30, A382, A3124 and A3072) to the wind farm site between North Tawton, Spreyton and Bow.

Renewable Energy Systems Ltd (RES) was granted consent for the wind farm in 2009 and construction began in July 2015.

The plan includes nine 75-metre hub height 2 MW V90 Vesta turbines (120-metre total turbine and tip of blade height) which RES say will produce 18 MW of power, enough for 9,000 UK homes, when installed.

RES said the trial delivery procedure went smoothly and the blade trailer arrived at the site safely.

A spokesperson added: "On site, the trailer made its way to each turbine without any issue. Feedback from the police and the haulier was positive.

"Thank you for your patience as we tested the route."

The trial was timed to avoid the early morning rush hour.

Foundations have been virtually completed for the turbines on the site as well as 6.5km of on-site roads.

There will be a 33kv grid connection running from the site to connect behind the North Tawton Cheese Factory.

RES recently installed a new road junction at Whiddon Down, which was built to ease the delivery of the turbines.

Some “teething” problems with the junction resulted in some criticism of RES.

RES say all the ground works on site should be completed this month. It says the turbines will be delivered by ship to Teignmouth and then transported by road in July.

Each one has three tower sections, three blades, a nacelle and hub.

Completion is expected to be in November 2016.

Once operational, RES says the Den Brook Wind Farm will provide a Community Benefit Fund of £36,000 per year, index linked, to support local social and environmental projects. The Community Benefit Fund is part of a community benefits package totalling £90,000 per year.

Representatives from the parish/town councils of Bow, Spreyton, Zeal Monachorum, South Tawton and North Tawton will administer the Fund and make decisions about which local projects to support. The funding will become available soon after Den Brook Wind Farm becomes fully operational.

A Local Electricity Discount Scheme (LEDS) is expected to save at least £100 per year per household off the electricity bills of local residents.

Details about the Wind Farm can be found on the website: www.den-brook.co.uk .