A North Devon wholesaler has invested £1.2 million in a wind turbine that will generate all the electricity needed to power its depot.
Philip Dennis Foodservice’s new 80 metre high turbine sits on the site of its Ifracombe depot, and any additional power generated by the 800kw turbine will be sold back to the National Grid. The turbine will save almost 13.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.
The company has a turnover of more than £30m and 180 staff, making it one of North Devon’s largest private sector employers. Between 2006 and 2009 the company’s electricity costs rose 63 per cent from £105,000 to £170,000, meaning the turbine will pay for itself in less than a decade.
Christopher Dennis, who oversaw the project, said there had been some local opposition to the scheme, but the company had been able to persuade planners of the advantages. “Wind turbines are pretty thought provoking and it is 80 metres on top of a hill so it is visible,” he said. “Like all wind turbines there were some people who were not in favour of the proposal but the argument we used was that the economic benefits outweighed the visual elements.”
It is not the first time the business has invested in green technology. It already has an efficient refrigeration system, motion sensitive lights and 217 photovoltic panels generating 50kw of electricity. The turbine will go into operation on 24 April.
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