Leading property regeneration specialists Harworth Estates, in partnership with Energy Prospects Co-operative, has completed the installation of a 500 kilowatt (KW) wind turbine on the site of the former Shafton Two Gates colliery in Barnsley. The turbine, which is now fully operational, is capable of generating enough energy to power 1,000 South Yorkshire homes.
Harworth Estates chose to finance the Shafton Two Gates turbine project through a public share offer run by the Energy Prospects Co-operative. Priority was given to those who live in close proximity to the turbine, allowing them to benefit both from the energy produced by the turbine and by the dividends created through the selling of power to the National Grid.
Assistant management surveyor Hannah Moxon, of Harworth Estates’ natural resources division, claims that the success of this project has encouraged the firm to implement similar schemes elsewhere in its portfolio.
She says; “The Shafton Two Gates project demonstrates our expertise at regenerating redundant land for renewable energy use in partnership with trusted Partners like Energy Prospects Co-Operative.
“We will be bringing forward a number of other low carbon schemes across our landholdings in 2015 as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to renewable energy.”
This is not the Harworth Estate’s first venture into the field of renewable energy as, in February, the firm opened its first 500KW turbine at the former Arkwright surface mine by Chesterfield in Derbyshire. As with the Barnsley project, the Energy Prospects Co-operative was a partner in the scheme, indicating that the two bodies will continue to work together closely in the future.
The opening of the Barnsley turbine has significantly boosted Harworth Estate’s portfolio of renewable sites, as it now has four operational wind schemes and two operational solar farms in the UK. Most of these projects were conducted in partnership with leading energy companies, and are responsible for powering thousands of homes and businesses each year.
Looking forward, the firm’s natural resources division will continue to seek opportunities to establish green energy sites on its 27,000 acre landbank, along with leading energy company partners
It currently has a pipeline of projects with the potential to deliver 170 megawatts (MW) of power, meaning that the Harworth Group owned company may soon be delivering the power supply for an additional 50,000 family homes throughout the UK.
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