Can renewables fit into the landscape?

For some years Sheepdrove Organic Farm has successfully used solar water heating, solar electricity and heat exchangers. One of the first Renewable Energy solutions we used was solar electricity to trickle-charge the batteries that drive our automatic chicken feeders.

Both alternative and conventional energy technologies have the potential to make negative impacts as well as positive ones - things should be done in a way that minimises impact on the environment locally and as a whole.

Everyone should begin with saving energy and using it more efficiently. Take a look at the Blewbury Energy Initiative.

Rather than simply look at renewables, perhaps it is more appropriate to consider how to achieve sustainable energy management - better energy management overall - looking at the big picture and considering the future.

Can we help to change the future?

Sheepdrove believes that continued use of fossil fuels is not sustainable - we believe that everyone should try to use more clean and renewable sources of energy where they can.

It is difficult to imagine what the North Wessex Downs AONB might look like in 100 or 200 years time if climate change predictions are true - this seems a long way off. But what impact might occur in the AONB if we do not tackle global climate change? Read more...

Of course one farm can only make a small contribution to this issue. Meanwhile today's Berkshire Downs landscape needs to be respected now, if it is going to remain such a special part of the countryside.

But in a small way, Sheepdrove Organic Farm is trying to do its bit by striving to continuously improve its sustainability. Energy efficiency and Renewable Energy are part of that.

Policy to protect the AONB

The North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has laws and policies to protect it. The AONB has a Management Plan that sets out the issues affecting the area, it has a vision for the future, and an Action Plan.

We know that very large turbines would not be allowed in the North Wessex Downs AONB because in 2004 the local planning process rejected the Baydon Meadow proposal which featured a turbine with a total height of 81 metres.

Read: Baydon Down Wind Turbine - Inspectors decision

Also, in 2005 the North Wessex Downs AONB commissioned a study to look into the implications for the AONB landscape of Wind Power. The study valued the Berkshire Downs as being one of the most highly sensitive landscape types in the whole AONB. Called A Study of Landscape Sensitivities and Constraints to Wind Turbine Development. Read more...

Our recent case study investigated how to develop renewable energy technologies such as wind power, within the context of the AONB, but specifically looked at sensitvities and constraints at Sheepdrvoe Organic Farm. Read more...

One example of small-scale wind power in an AONB.

The Charterhouse Centre sits within the Mendip Hills AONB. They have a single, small wind turbine to produce clean renewable electricity for the centre and its guests. Over a year it will produce enough electricity to power 4 houses without polluting the environment. It reduces the centre's production of CO2 - the main greenhouse gas - by 5.5 tonnes per year.

They have a single Proven brand 6kW capacity generator, mounted on a 9m high pole. This is 9.7m high at the tip of the highest rotor blade. The top and rotor blades are black in colour while the tower is galvanised natural grey. To see the turbine on their eco-map click here.

During the Planning process, concerns related to: noise generated by the turbine; the visual impact of the turbine on the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB); the cost and efficiency of the proposal; and concern that its approval may pave the way for other wind turbines in the area.

Somerset County Council considered that these issues were adequately dealt with, and gave this small turbine the go-ahead, but ensured that environmental impact assessments and archaeology surveys were done.