WORKING AT HEIGHTS - Wind Energy Network

SPONSORS OF DISTRIBUTED WINDBreezing intoCornwall & DevonWindcrop, the UK’s largest installer of small-scale wind turbines, has opened anoffice in Saltash.New optionsThe move will bring new options forforward-thinking farmers and landownersseeking free renewable energy andinvestment opportunities as well ascreating up to 30 new jobs.In both an environmental and economicinvestment opportunity, the companycan now sell and install a turbine for aninvestment of £20,000, with a unique buybackguarantee if the turbine does notachieve the minimum energy generationafter five years.Further advantagesWindcrop also offers further advantagesfor its customers with a complete energyservice: site assessors provide a full costanalysis showing potential savings andreturn on investment, they take the stressout of applying for planning by managingit all in-house and they install, service andmaintain the turbines, offering a choice ofservice plans.Local employmentGeneral Manager, John Ainsworth, expectsthe firm to be employing 30 local peopleby the end of the year within their siteassessment, planning and installation teams.which rewards producers of renewableenergy for their contribution to the NationalGrid. The latter are expected to recouptheir investment fully within 4-6 years.Minimal environmental impactWindcrop’s small wind turbine alsofeatures a patented design which hasminimum impact on the environment; thesmall masts are mounted onto a uniquepiling system, avoiding the need for onsiteheavy plant or concrete.John Moore, said the firm was lookingforward to working with the increasingnumber of Cornish and Devonian farmersand landowners interested in investing in,and benefiting from, renewable energy.John said: “As we continue to expandacross the UK we are looking to reacheven more forward-thinking farmers andlandowners who are interested in usinga small piece of unproductive land togenerate free electricity. The South Westis already renowned for its pioneeringattitude with regard to green energy andwe can now provide an easy, and swift,solution for people looking to utilise theirland in this way.”History and experienceSince 2009, Windcrop has alreadyinstalled more than 500 turbinesthroughout East Anglia and Yorkshire andwith Devon and Cornwall’s status as twoof the windiest counties in Europe, thecompany has naturally extended its reachto the South West.Windcrop was founded by former LotusEngineering Commercial Director JohnMoore in 2010 to make small-scalerenewable energy more accessible.It earned its reputation by providingfully-funded turbines with no capitalinvestment required by the customer anda guaranteed warranty for the 20 yearcontract.Each turbine saves landowners an averageof £500 a year and Windcrop makes itsown return on investment through theGovernment’s Feed-in Tariff (FiT) – afinancial incentive to encourage the uptakeof small scale renewable energy.New opportunity for customersCoinciding with its expansion, Windcrophas also introduced a new opportunity forcustomers with the capital available to buytheir own turbine and earn an annual, taxfreeincome through the FiT.John said: “Windcrop’s system meansthat we can get our applicationsthrough the planning system quicker,with a high rate of success. The teamis from the local area and we’re reallylooking forward to working with farmers,smallholders and other landowners whonow have this new option to either buya turbine as an investment and benefitfrom free electricity and payments fromthe Feed-in-Tariff or have a free windturbine installed and take advantageof the free electricity generated by theturbine for 20 years.“Our small wind turbines are speciallydesigned to provide the least amountof concern in the planning process andWindcrop has an in-house planning teamwho manage this part of the job for ourcustomers. We then take care of theentire installation process, as well as themaintenance over the 20 year contractperiod, making it easy and immediatelybeneficial for customers in the SouthWest.”Feed in TariffFor those who opt to purchase aWindcrop turbine for £20,000, reducedelectricity bills are backed-up with a returnfrom the Government’s Feed in Tariff,John MooreJohn added: “Ultimately we will playa key part in helping to meet theGovernment target of generating 15per cent of all the UK’s energy fromrenewable by 2020.”Community engagementWindcrop will be working at the heartof the farming community attendingagricultural shows across the South Westthis summer. The company will also becontributing to the renewable energydebate including hosting an open roundtablediscussion at the Renewable EnergyExchange at Kingsley Village, Fraddon.Windcropwww.windcrop.co.uk96www.windenergynetwork.co.uk