Our wind energy project started in 1989 when we erected
a Vestas V17 75 kW wind turbine. This turbine, named Moya
after the Sesotho word for 'wind and spirit', has been extremely
successful and reliable, providing about 20% of the electricity
needs of the Findhorn Ecovillage. This initial phase was
financially successful, repaying the initial investment
of £75,000 in approximately five years.
We have now erected three additional second-hand
Vestas V29 turbines ('The Three Graces'), each capable of
delivering 225kW and giving a total installed capacity of
750 kW. With support from the Scottish Community and Householder
Renewable Initiative our planning application was submitted
in June 2004, and we received a planning permit in January
2005 after a public hearing. The expansion undertaken by
Findhorn Wind Park Ltd has cost £605,000. The project
investment came from NFD Ltd (which operated the original
turbine), Ekopia Ltd (our development trust) and Caledonia
Renewable Energy Co-operative, which is part of the Energy4All
group. Construction was completed by DMH Blacksmiths of
Inverness in January 2006 and commissioning was completed
in the following March.
These additional turbines make us net exporters of electricity.
About 65% of the electricity produced will be used onˆsite
via our private grid, and the remainder will be distributed
to the main grid.
Our next steps will include
investigating the potential of a microprocessor controlled
load management system. This will match energy loads with
available wind energy, and will help to maximise our use
of wind energy and minimise the amount of energy sold through
the national grid. Ultimately, it may be possible to include
light boards in homes and work places which indicate when
cheaper, wind produced electricity is available. Research
into the potential of production and use of hydrogen fuel
cells is something we also intend to explore in the future.
In a recent study of the communit's current energy consumption
we found we are now using renewable energy for about 28%
of our needs. This takes into account the element of hydro
power in our current mains supply as well as our own wind
turbines' production, the use of firewood for backup and
primary heating, and the elements of active and passive
solar design in new buildings. The balance still comes largely
from fossil fuels. Our goal is to continue to increase the
percentage of our ecovillage‚s energy needs produced
from renewable sources.
