Lowestoft: Denes green dream on track
A LOWESTOFT school's dream of being able to generate green energy is back on track.Pupils at Denes High School worked for more than 18 months on plans to install a 15m-high wind turbine in their grounds and were successful in obtaining grant aid.
A LOWESTOFT school's dream of being able to generate green energy is back on track.
Pupils at Denes High School worked for more than 18 months on plans to install a 15m-high wind turbine in their grounds and were successful in obtaining grant aid.
But the project was put on hold earlier this year when bats were discovered in the area and a full survey of the protected species was needed.
The results of that survey were released this week, and, while bats were found to be in the vicinity of the school, there was no evidence of them roosting or breeding there.
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So, this will not prevent the turbine project from going ahead.
A delighted Justin Smith, operations manager at the Aspire Centre in the grounds of the Denes, said: 'Our planning process will continue, and the situation does look promising. We are hoping the turbine will be installed before the end of the year.'
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Young entrepreneurs at the school worked with teachers and staff, Enterprise Lowestoft and Make Your Mark officials on the turbine project. Through the Lowestoft Energy Challenge they successfully secured funding for a �35,000 free-standing machine.
The project is being led by E.ON Energy, with funding sourced through the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts (Nesta) and the Low Carbon Trust.
Project organisers have joined up with Lancashire company Segen to construct the galvanised steel mast on a 2.5m concrete foundation situated to the south of the school site.
A statement submitted to council officials with the planning application said the proposed micro-generator would have only minimal visual impact on the landscape.
Suffolk County Council is expected to take a decision on permission within the next few weeks.