About the wind turbine
The wind turbine is a Danish Vestas V27, rated at 225kW. Its rotor is 27m in diameter and the hub height is 31.5m, giving a maximum blade tip height of 45m. It was originally sited in Falkenberg, Sweden before being refurbished and brought to the UK to begin its second life.
It was installed for the Society in August 2013 by Spectrum Energy Systems, with Pavilion Construction preparing the groundworks.
In 2020 it was found necessary to rebuild the machinery in the nacelle, with new gearbox, main shaft and bearings, blades realigned etc etc. This is why the output in years 2020 and '21 was so low.
In 2024 it suffered a near catastrophic overspeed and apart from some test running has been out of action since. Efforts are continuting to bring the turbine back into service.
Electricty Production
3.5GWh has been generated up to 31 March 2024.
Annual generation in kWh.
Installation
The tower arrived as a single piece and was lifted over the hedge into the field, then lifted upright and lowered onto the foundation ring which had been set in reinforced concrete some months earlier.
The blades, nacelle and nose cone were delivered separately.
Blade assembly being lifted up to the nacelle.
Inside the nacelle, looking forward, before being lifted on top of the tower. The gearbox is in the centre, the generator is on the right and the hydraulic pack is on the left.
PV at The Recreation Ground
In 2014 the Society installed a 9.88kW photovoltaic array on the roof of the pavilion at the South Brent Recreation Ground.
Installed by The Good Heat Company of Diptford, together with other energy saving measures the electricity consumption of the Recreation Ground has been roughly halved. The PV array generates over 9,000kWh per year.