The UK government has pledged to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions by one hundred percent compared to the 1990 levels, by 2050. The Borough Council of Calderdale declared a climate emergency in 2019 and set out a plan to reach a net zero target by 2038, plans to achieve this include encouraging more renewable energy generation.

For the UK to achieve Net Zero by 2050, we will need to quadruple our low-carbon electricity generation. Wind is a great resource to assist in this transition as it is a free and inexhaustible resource.

With the government casting onshore wind as one of the cheapest sources of electricity, developments such as Calderdale Wind Farm are going to play a key role in improving the UK’s energy security.

Whilst the UK has been taking steps towards decarbonisation and reducing its reliance on fossil fuels, its energy system is still reliant on expensive foreign gas imports for electricity and heating. Since the crisis in Ukraine the cost of gas has sky-rocketed, impacting our energy bills and emphasising the need for the UK to invest in renewable technology and make the UK an independent and self-sufficient, energy-producing nation.

The United Kingdom’s position as the windiest country in Europe presents us with a unique opportunity to bolster our energy security by utilising this free and inexhaustible resource.

Energy from wind enables electricity generation without reliance on imports and is not subject to sudden price fluctuations or uncertainty of global markets. Alongside offshore wind and solar, onshore wind is now the cheapest source of electricity generation and is a vital part of the energy mix required for the UK to meet Net Zero targets and fight climate change.

To meet the country’s energy needs we will need a mix of onshore wind and other renewable sources such as offshore wind, solar and nuclear. Onshore wind is an important part of this energy mix.

At present, onshore wind farms are more economical to develop; offshore wind farms take longer to build because the sea is inherently a more hostile environment. It wouldn’t be possible to meet our renewable energy obligations with only offshore development.

Modern wind turbine technology has advanced significantly, leading to increased reliability and efficiency. While wind is intermittent, a well-designed energy grid can integrate wind power with other energy sources and storage systems to ensure a consistent and reliable electricity supply. The proposal for Calderdale Wind Farm will also include the potential for the inclusion of battery storage and solar panels on southern slopes.

Calderdale Wind Farm Ltd, in collaboration with WWRE, is exploring options to build a wind farm with up to 65 turbines on 2,352 ha of land at Walshaw Moor, either side of the three Walshaw Dean Reservoirs.

If consented with 65 turbines, Calderdale Wind Farm would generate 302MW of electricity, which is enough renewable electricity to power 286,491 homes per year. This would save 426,241 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year when compared to fossil-fuel electricity generation.

Homes Powered Equivalent:

• Calculated using the most recent statistics from DESNZ showing that annual GB average domestic household consumption is 3,509kWh (as of December 2022, updated annually).
• Formula used: number of megawatts installed (302MW), multiplied by the site’s capacity / load factor (38%) expressed as a fraction of 1 (0.38%), multiplied by number of hours in a year (8,760), divided by average annual domestic electricity consumption expressed in MWh (3.509MWh).
• 286,491 homes

Carbon Savings

• RenewableUK uses DESNZ’s “all non-renewable fuels” emissions statistic of 424 tonnes of carbon dioxide per GWh of electricity supplied in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics (July 2023) Table 5.14 (“Estimated carbon dioxide emissions from electricity supplied”).
• Carbon reduction is calculated by multiplying the total amount of electricity generated by wind per year by the number of tonnes of carbon which fossil fuels would have produced to generate the same amount of electricity.
• Energy Produced is calculated by multiplying the installed capacity in MW (302W) by the number of hours in a year (8760) and then multiplying this by the site’s load factor (38%) expressed as a fraction of 1 (e.g. 0.38). This = 1,005,298MWh
• Energy produced (MWh p.a.): 1,005,298MWh – therefore 1,005.298GWh x 424 tonnes = 426,246 tonnes of carbon emissions saved.

No. Alongside our proposals for onshore wind we are also exploring the potential for the inclusion of battery storage and solar panels on southern slopes.

As we develop the proposals further, we will be able to confirm whether we will be including other renewable technologies as part of the proposals.

The design of wind turbines has progressed since the early days of the technology and modern models are much quieter than those used in the early days of onshore wind. There are strict guidelines that govern wind turbines and noise emissions to ensure the protection of residential amenity. It is possible to stand underneath a turbine and hold a conversation without having to raise your voice. As wind speed rises, the noise of the wind masks the noise made by wind turbines.

Any potential noise cause by Calderdale Wind Farm will be assessed as part of the EIA process and mitigation measures will be proposed.

Any potential risk to local wildlife will be assessed as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment Process. We work closely with national environmental organisations to design Calderdale Wind Farm to ensure that its design and layout does not interfere with sensitive species or wildlife-designated sites.

A report published in the journal Nature in November 2013 highlighted climate change as the primary threat to bird populations in the UK. Calderdale Wind Farm is poised to significantly contribute to addressing this issue, making it a positive development for the UK’s bird populations.

Thorough Ornithology Surveys have been commissioned for the site and these have been ongoing for the last two years and will continue.

WWRE’s proposals offer additional environmental measures that go above the objectives set out within the estates’ Catchment Restoration Plan. As part of this Calderdale Wind Farm would commit to; planting 300,000 new trees across the estate, new water management across the site with the aim of reducing flooding within local communities such as Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd, and a biodiversity net-gain across Walshaw Moor.

Calderdale Wind Farm could have up to 65 turbines, however, we are at a very early stage and it is possible that further technical assessments and studies will reduce the total number of turbines proposed by the time a planning application is submitted.

If consented, Calderdale Wind Farm would represent an investment of circa £500m into the local economy. Calderdale Wind Farm will support the local economy and present many opportunities for years to come.

Community Benefit Fund
Around 16,500 households in Calderdale are living in fuel poverty, with around 1,200 of these being in the HX7 postcode area. As part of our proposals for Calderdale we are exploring a community benefit fund to provide support to these households across the 30-year operational lifetime of Calderdale Wind Farm.

This fund would represent £75m worth of funding across a 30-year timeframe that would be paid to Calderdale Council to help relieve fuel poverty for the operational lifetime of the Calderdale Wind Farm.

We want to work closely with the communities in and around Calderdale to ensure they benefit from the project to help address identified local challenges such as the current energy and cost of living crisis.

Socio Economic Impacts
A socio-economic report produced by Biggar Economics suggests that the project would be a significant boost to both the Calderdale and wider regional economy if it goes ahead. The report estimates that Calderdale Wind Farm would generate at least £2.2million GVA for Calderdale through the design, build and operational lifetime of the windfarm.

As we develop our proposals, we will design the scheme and placement of the wind turbines and associated infrastructure to minimise any disruption to existing paths and trails. Our team has taken into consideration the importance of preserving the natural beauty and accessibility of the area in our early stage designs, which will evolve as we undertake further work ahead of a planning submission.

While there might be temporary adjustments or diversions to certain paths during the construction phase to ensure safety, these changes will be communicated well in advance, and we will strive to keep any inconveniences to a minimum.

Once operational the moor will continue to be accessible to members of the public.

As part of our commitment to community consultation, we want to hear your thoughts on the proposals, if you have any specific concerns about how the wind farm might affect your walking routes please let us now, community input is vital to designing a scheme that works seamlessly with the local environment.

The lifetime of the proposed development is to be at least 30 years, after this Calderdale Wind Farm will be decommissioned.

Decommissioning a wind farm is straightforward and simple. Typically, all visible traces of the wind farm must be removed. In the case of service tracks this depends on the size and geography of the wind farm. Concrete bases may be left in place and covered with peat, stone or other indigenous material, and the site returned as closely as practicable to its original state.

The reuse of wind turbine blades and recycling of components is ever evolving as technology develops. It is expected that an outline decommissioning plan will be submitted with the planning application. The final decommissioning plan will be the subject of any planning permission.

The current layout includes turbines within a height range of 150-200 meters. It’s important to note that if the turbines exceed a height of 150 meters, a nighttime LVIA (Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment) scope will be established. Both the number and height of the turbines are subject to further assessments as part of the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) process and the evolving design of the scheme. For reference, the nearby Ovenden Moor Wind Farm consists of turbines with a height of 110 meters.

We already have an offer from the Distribution Network Operator Energy North West to connect into the local electricity network substation at Padiham. Negotiations are also ongoing about an alternative connection via a new substation and that would go into National Grid which would connect into existing 440 KV pylons.

The grid connection and associated infrastructure would be subject to a separate planning application to the wind farm.

We are at the very early stages of the planning process and have only recently submitted a Scoping Report to Calderdale Council, that will help us identify the significant likely effects of the project which will need to be fully assessed as part of a future planning application.

Prior to any planning application being submitted we will need to engage with statutory consultees and other stakeholders and undertake further technical works to ensure a robust planning application is prepared. We will also need to undertake a process of community consultation to help shape the final designs of the scheme.

A planning application is likely to be submitted in summer 2024.

Calderdale Wind Farm is a fully funded project, and it is envisaged the construction would commence within 12 months of any planning permission being granted and conditions being discharged. At this stage it is expected that construction could take up to two years.

Yes. Once Calderdale Wind Farm is operational the moorland will be open to the general public to enjoy.

WWRE and Calderdale Wind Farm Ltd are pleased to confirm that the approval of the wind farm would result in the end of grouse shooting on Walshaw Moor.

Engagement with the local community holds immense significance for WWRE. We firmly believe that engagement with the local community should go beyond a mere formality and instead focus on genuine engagement and collaboration with local people. Through this, we can ensure our proposed development is respectful of the environment and deliver tangible benefits to local communities.

To achieve this, we want to ensure that, where possible, the community is involved at every stage from planning to operation. Local input is critical to good design, and we are committed to ensuring that the viewpoint of the community is considered and incorporated throughout the design process.

At this early stage of the process you can find out more at our website www.calderdalewind.co.uk and register your interest for further updates or call our community information line on 0800 298 7040.

More details about our pre-application consultation process will be announced later this year.

WWRE Global  is a UK based company that was looking at projects in Spain and registered with Companies House in Gibraltar. With  its investors and opportunities its current operations are focused on helping to deliver new renewable energy infrastructure in locations across the UK, which is why the business is now listed at Companies House in London.

WWRE Global is responsible for delivering investment opportunities for Energy Horizon II Investment Company and managing the planning and consenting process.