TNEI was commissioned by Tesco Plc to undertake the assessment of all their supermarket and depot sites throughout the UK to establish their potential to accommodate a wind turbine development. The scope of the whole project was wide ranging and spanned Tesco’s network of over 2,000 supermarkets and depots with potential turbine size ranging from single small six kilowatt machines up to installations incorporating several large turbines up to two megawatts in capacity. The sites were assessed by considering, among others, the following factors:
On sites where wind turbines could be accommodated TNEI submitted planning applications and associated documentation and managed the applications through until determination. In total, TNEI obtained over 100 planning consents at various store and depot sites which equates to approximately 160 wind turbines of various sizes. TNEI were also involved in the post-consent phase of the larger depot site projects, submitting detailed information to discharge planning conditions.
Low Spinney Constraints PlanTNEI Services Ltd was appointed by Broadview Energy Developments Ltd to manage the Environmental Impact Assessment and planning application process for Low Spinney Wind farm in Leicestershire. The proposed development received planning approval in March 2010 at appeal and will have an installed capacity of between 8 - 12 megawatts.
The wind farm site is situated to the east of the M1 between J20 and J21. The scheme will consist of four turbines (each with a maximum height of 125 metres to blade tip), as well as associated infrastructure.
TNEI’s involvement included:
Penny Hill Noise Contour PlanBanks Developments Ltd commissioned TNEI Services Ltd to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment and manage the planning process for the proposed Penny Hill Wind Farm in Yorkshire. The proposed development gained support from Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council in May 2010.
The wind farm site is located to the west of the M1 and M18 interchange south of Rotherham. The scheme will consist of six turbines, each with a maximum height to blade tip of 132 metres, as well as associated infrastructure. The wind farm will have a maximum installed capacity of 20.4 megawatts.
TNEI’s involvement included:
Standford Hill Site PlanTNEI Services Ltd was appointed by Partnerships for Renewables Ltd (PfR) to manage the Environmental Impact Assessment and planning application process for a two turbine wind energy development within the grounds of HMP Standford Hill on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent. The proposed development was consented by Swale Borough Council in June 2011 at appeal and was the first such scheme developed on public sector land by PfR to gain approval.
The development presented a number of challenges throughout the development process due to its relationship to the prison buildings and the proximity of the site to sensitive ornithological receptors. An innovative approach and robust environmental assessment process was required to arrive at the final scheme design.
TNEI’s involvement included:
TNEI’s Noise Team has undertaken noise assessments for the proposed development of two residual waste-to-energy plants in the north of Scotland.
Each project would involve the intake of 100,000 tonnes of waste per annum. Fuelled by residual municipal solid waste and non-hazardous commercial and industrial waste, the plants would be highly efficient and capable of supplying heat and power to local industry and the community.
TNEI’s Noise Team role in both projects has been to undertake construction noise assessments in accordance with BS5228: 2009 'Code of practice for noise and vibration control on construction and open sites' and industrial noise assessments in accordance with BS4142: 1997 ‘Method for rating industrial noise affecting mixed residential and industrial areas’ as part of the supporting information for both Planning Applications and Environmental Statements.
TNEI was commissioned by a client based in Northern Ireland to conduct an assessment into the likely noise impacts from the construction and operation of a Materials Recycling Facility (MRF). The facility will be used to transfer and segregate waste (approximately 30,000 tonnes per annum) by means of trommelling, manual picking and separation.
The assessment was undertaken using the specialist noise modelling software, CadnaA (Computer Aided Noise Abatement) to accurately predict noise levels at sensitive receptors and design noise mitigation measures where deemed necessary.
CadnaA was utilised to produce noise contour plots to illustrate the likely impact of the proposed development in accordance with BS5228 and BS4142.
TNEI Services Ltd has been commissioned by a number of wind farm developers to undertake predictions of construction, and operational noise that would be emitted by proposed wind farm developments throughout the United Kingdom. The noise predictions were used to assess the potential noise impact from the proposed developments on the residents of nearby sensitive receptors.
In accordance with the standards BS5228 and ETSU-R-97 ‘The Assessment and Rating of Noise from Wind Farms’ were undertaken as part of the planning applications and environmental statements for each site. An assessment of the potential noise impact was carried out at each site, taking into account the type of noise which is produced by wind turbines and the published guidelines concerning the acceptability of noise levels from wind developments.
Over the past two years, TNEI has provided full wind resource assessment services for ten onshore sites across the Midlands and Mid-Wales. The proposed developments consist of six single turbine sites, three 2 turbine sites and one 3 turbine site. A number of turbine types were considered for each site to enable the client to select the most appropriate model. Turbines assessed were mainly large-scale (2 – 3MW) models however, the performance of smaller turbines (330 – 500kW) was also assessed at suitable sites.
Services provided were comprehensive and included regular onsite wind mast data download and verification, monthly mast reports, six month energy yield reports and full energy yield reports based on 12 months of measured onsite wind data. Site terrain and topography ranged from fairly flat and non-complex to complex hilly sites and sites located within urban areas. Guidance was also provided to the client on turbine class selection based on detailed analysis of onsite wind climate conditions.
TNEI has also carried out a number of preliminary feasibility studies for clients to give an approximate indication of energy yield before a large wind mast measuring regime is carried out. We are building on this service and are currently developing and validating a more advanced, higher resolution approach for predicting likely onsite wind resource.
Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2010