FOR some weeks the wind turbines at the Den Brook Wind Farm have not been operating.

There have been many theories as to why they are not working.

Den Brook Energy, which runs the Den Brook Wind Farm of nine Vestas turbines says that the “downtime periods” are to enable maintenance works on the National Grid which is unrelated to the site itself.

Den Brook Energy statement reads: “From the end of May through to the end of October, there may be extended periods of time when the wind farm is not operating as normal.

“These downtime periods are a result of a request from the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) to curtail the site to 0MW output to facilitate planned maintenance works on the electricity grid.

“This work is taking place off-site and does not relate to Den Brook Wind Farm. Den Brook Energy Ltd is continuing to work with the DNO to minimise the impact of planned maintenance works with a view to returning to normal operations as soon as possible.”

Den Brook Wind Farm in the Den Brook Valley between Bow in Mid Devon and Spreyton and North Tawton in West Devon was granted planning consent by the High Court in December 2009.

The turbines measure 120 metres high to the tip of the blade, as well as on-site tracks and crane hardstandings, a control building and a grid connection.

Construction work began in late August 2015 with the turbines erected by October 2016.

Den Brook Wind Farm became fully operational in November 2016 triggering a community benefits package worth £90,000 per year.

Unfortunately the community benefits package does not benefit when the turbines are not operating.

The wind farm has an installed capacity of 18 megawatts of renewable electricity. This is sufficient to meet the annual average needs of approximately 9,000 UK homes.

It also delivers direct community benefits to local people in the form of a £108 annual electricity discount for properties within approximately 2.3km of the turbines.