Wind Farm Life Extensions
What are we doing?
Banks Renewables is planning to submit an application to extend the lifetime of our Kype Muir and Middle Muir Wind Farms in Scotland for up to 15 years. Planning applications have been submitted for Marr, Hazlehead, Lambs Hill, Moor House and Hook Moor Wind Farms in England for the same time period. Armistead Wind Farm in Cumbria was granted a 15 year lifetime extension in February 2023 and Penny Hill Wind Farm in Rotherham was granted a 15 year extension in June 2023.
Life extensions allow these projects to remain operational for longer, under the same conditions as they operate today.
Why are we doing this?
As we continue to learn more about the existing technology on our wind farms, we are able to make better estimates lifespan based on the real word experience of operating them. The current technology is now expected to continue to operate at a safe and efficient level for longer than original estimates predicted, and allowing them to remain in the ground is beneficial from an environmental perspective.
A long term vision
Allowing existing wind farms to remain operational for longer is more sustainable and uses far fewer resources than embarking on new developments. Maintaining an existing project means that less time, energy, and raw materials are spent on building out new sites to replace them, whilst also allowing an effective site to continue to perform strongly. Keeping the same turbines in the ground and allowing them to keep producing green electricity also maximises the length of time these wind farms are able to displace carbon intensive, fossil fuel generated electricity from the grid. This effect will reduce significantly in the future as the grid becomes greener, so to maximise the carbon-saving impact of both Kype and Middle Muir, it is vital that they remain operational for as long as is safe and viable, while the grid is still highly carbon intensive.
How will this affect you?
Extending the lifetime of the site will also extend the existing agreements we have in place, including community benefits which will be extending to cover the new agreed lifetime of the site (which will be determined during the planning process). As we are simply extending the agreed operational lifetime of the projects, there won’t be any new construction or development necessary and any impacts are therefore expected to be minimal.
What are we doing to hear your views?
We’ve been speaking to local community councils and groups to seek community opinions and will also be engaging directly with local residents who live very close to the sites. If you would like to get in touch and give your input we would love to hear from you.
Please get in touch using the enquiry form at the bottom of this page and a member of the community team will be be in touch.