Key Data:
- Location: East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Derby DE74 2SA
- Size: 4 turbines, 45m to tip, 0.9MW capacity
- Current Status: Operational (2 turbines)
- Turbine Model: Wind Technik Nord 250
- Project Owner: East Midlands Airport
Company: East Midlands Airport is an international airport in the East Midlands of England, located in Leicestershire close to Castle Donington. The airport provides passenger services to many destinations and is also a major air cargo hub. East Midlands Airport was the first of any UK airport to make a commitment to achieve carbon neutral ground operations by 2012. East Midlands Airport has recognised that it has a part to play in reducing emissions and they are proud to have achieved their target of having carbon neutral ground operations through energy reduction and the introduction of renewable energy, such as, the installation of two commercial scale wind turbines and the planting of a 26 hectare willow farm on site.
Challenges: Airports can be significant constraint to wind turbine development therefore developing the first commercial scale wind turbines within an airport site provided some interesting challenges! Working with airport permitted development powers simplified gaining planning consent, however extensive work was required to provide expertise for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) safety case.
