August 2015

REG Windpower have committed to the proposed wind turbines at Pines Tip and Scarcewater south of Indian Queens in Cornwall being built as community-owned, and run for the benefit of the three parishes of St Stephens, St Enoder and Ladock. The two separate proposed developments are on Imerys Minerals Ltd’s former china clay waste tips and could produce enough energy each year to power 1,700 and 5,700 average homes respectively.

Low Carbon Ladock (supported by Communities for Renewables CIC) has led the discussions with REG Windpower to secure this opportunity on behalf of the three parishes. If planning permission is granted it is proposed the three organisations will work together to arrange the financing and construction of the community wind turbines, and to develop governance arrangements for a new community energy enterprise to be set up which involves people and community organisations from all three parishes.

The capital required to build the turbines would be raised from a community share offer and loan finance. All surplus income after operating and finance costs have been covered will be used to support local community projects in the three parishes. The economics of the turbines will depend on the Feed-in Tariff and energy prices at construction stage. On current assumptions the turbines could generate a local surplus income of around £1million per turbine over 20 years. There are 3 turbines at each site.