Wind farm at port is ready to go (From Thurrock Gazette)
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Wind farm at port is ready to go
3:20pm Wednesday 12th September 2012 in News
How the wind farm might look at the port
THE Port of Tilbury will begin construction of a new wind farm next month.
The four-turbine farm will generate around 50 per cent of the energy needed to power the port.
Planning permission for the environmentally-friendly project was granted in 2008, and since then prepartory work has been carried out with the port’s partner SSE Renewables.
Perry Glading, chief operating officer at Forth Ports, which owns the Port of Tilbury, said: “As Britain’s greenest port, it made sense for us to look into providing renewable energy from sustainable sources.”
The first stage of the construction will be to lay the foundations for the wind turbine bases.
Standing at 126.5m high, the turbines will be arrive on site by water in January 2013.
Ahead of construction, the port and SSE renewables will be holding a public exhibition about the plans at the London Cruise Terminal, in Ferry Road, Tilbury, on Thursday, September 20, from 4pm to 8pm.
A second exhibition will be held the day after from, 2pm to 8pm over the river in Gravesend at St Andrews Arts Centre, in Pier Road.
Dave Gardner, SSE’s director of onshore renewables, believes the project will benefit communities on both sides of the River Thames.
He said: “We’re a big company with strong local ties in the communities where we work.
“With our community benefit fund we want to ensure that various local charities and good causes benefit from both the construction and long term operation of this wind farm.”
An artist’s impression of the plans is pictured top right – visit www.sse.com/portoftilbury
