Old Whittington wastewater treatment works, which treats and processes sewage from 100,000 customers in the Derbyshire town, already gets around 40 per cent of its energy from renewable sources and the power produced by the new £1.6 million wind turbine will reduce the site’s carbon footprint even further.
A team from Kelda Water Services has been on site since April this year carrying out preparatory works in readiness for the turbine delivery.
The turbine was made in the Netherlands and came by ship to Southampton and transported via the motorway network to Chesterfield.
It was constructed over two days and has a maximum height of 77 metres from the turbine base to tip of the blade.
Electricity production will begin at the end of August after the turbine has been commissioned and tested and it will be able to generate the equivalent of approximately 20-45 per cent of the site’s annual electricity needs. This is roughly equivalent to the average annual electricity demand of 350 homes.
Increasing the amount of energy generated from renewable sources is a key part of Yorkshire Water’s strategy as it not only reduces reliance on fossil fuels but also help to keep bills down for its customers. The utility is aiming to have 50 per cent of the energy it uses supplied from renewable sources by 2020, and is targeting reductions in its annual electricity bill which stands at £50 million a year.