12m wind-check mast set to be fixed to Assembly Rooms roof
A TEST mast is to be placed on top of Derby's Assembly Rooms to monitor how much energy could be produced from wind power.
And a solar panel is also being fixed to the same 12m mast to see if it would get enough sunshine to generate electricity to power the building.
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If planning permission is granted for the test – known as a "power predictor mast" – then Derby City Council would be able to work out how much it could save on its energy bills.
It could then calculate how long it would take to pay back the cost of any energy-saving measures, then decide whether it would be worth going ahead with any wind or solar-powered scheme.
The mast would be in place for a 12-month period.
Councillor Matthew Holmes, cabinet member for planning and environment and deputy leader for the city council, said it could be "very exciting". He said: "We are still in the very early stages of proposals for a power predicator mast.
"If the planning application is successful we hope to get an idea of the amount of wind and sunlight we can harness to potentially power the Assembly Rooms.
"This could be a very exciting project for the climate change team and for the city as a whole."
Derby City Council has set itself a target of cutting carbon emissions by 25% by the end of 2013-4.
Wind turbines are a key part of its plans.
In an application to its planning committee, the council's climate-change team says wind turbines or solar cells could cut the council's carbon footprint and save cash.
The Assembly Rooms has been chosen for the proposed scheme as its staff are keen to promote green technologies.
It is also in the city centre, with a large flat roof and plenty of space for the mast, the application says.
It says: "The mast should be fairly inconspicuous in this location. It is grey and should blend into the sky at this place."
It is the latest in a long line of high-profile applications related to wind turbines in the city.
Nine turbines, each measuring 8.5ft high, have been fitted to the roof of the South Tower at the Kedleston Road campus of the University of Derby.
It is part of a £266,442 investment by the university in three environmental energy projects.
And water giant Severn Trent wants to build two wind turbines, which could be the tallest structures in Derby, at its Spondon plant to increase the amount of energy it generates from renewable sources.
10 Comments
by Dom Starkey, London
Friday, July 30 2010, 10:23AM
“David, its ironic that to back your claim of pseudoscience you link to that well respected journal - Youtube.
I am going to back my claim that climate science is not pseudoscience by actually linking to peer reviewed papers that indicate that climate change is real, ongoing and influenced by the actions of mankind.
http://www.knmi.nl/publications/showAbstract.php?id=706
http://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/abs/10.1175/2008BAMS2634.1
http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2009/2008JC005237.shtml
http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2009/2009JD012105.shtml”
by David Gale, Derby
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 7:00PM
“The Global Warming Religion is pseudoscience http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ow8gtr8HDA”
by David Gale, Derby
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 5:45PM
“I know this might sound completely off the wall and avant garde but has anyone given a thought to an energy strategy for Derby, rather than just the parochial empire that is Derby City Council?”
by chadman, Derby
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 4:19PM
“Perhaps the energy saved will offset that used by the street lights along the riverside steps that are often burning in broad daylight? I've lost count of the times I've reported this to the concil house and Balfour Beatty. But they still haven't fixed them”
by Richard Musi, London
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 4:15PM
“Dear all,
In response to the comments, the Power Predictor is a tool which avoids a poor investment in a wind turbine or solar panels. Thus saying it is windy outside doesn't help you decide which turbine is most effective for your household, or doesn't tell you how long it would take to payback such a product.
Data available on the internet is typically modelled data, which assumes the world is flat and which cannot be trusted for investment decisions as it often seriously over or under estimates energy generation potential.
With the introduction of the Feed in Tariffs in the UK on the 1st April 2010 (not an April Fool's joke), generators are now paid for all Renewable Energy produced, even if they use it all on their premises. They can also export any electricity they don¿t use and get paid for this too. This has cut payback time dramatically (less than 5 years for a good site).
It's therefore no surprise that Derby Council is looking into Renewable Energy and many more people will be doing so in the near future....
Best Regards,
Richard Musi
www.bettergeneration.com”
by Richard Musi, London
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 4:13PM
“Dear all,
In response to the comments, the Power Predictor is a tool which avoids a poor investment in a wind turbine or solar panels. Thus saying it is windy outside doesn't help you decide which turbine is most effective for your household, or doesn't tell you how long it would take to payback such a product.
Data available on the internet is typically modelled data, which assumes the world is flat and which cannot be trusted for investment decisions as it often seriously over or under estimates energy generation potential.
With the introduction of the Feed in Tariffs in the UK on the 1st April 2010 (not an April Fool's joke), generators are now paid for all Renewable Energy produced, even if they use it all on their premises. They can also export any electricity they don¿t use and get paid for this too. This has cut payback time dramatically (less than 5 years for a good site).
It's therefore no surprise that Derby Council is looking into Renewable Energy and many more people will be doing so in the near future....
Best Regards,
Richard Musi
www.bettergeneration.com”
by annie, derby
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 2:18PM
“look out the window...yep its windy today no not windy....”
by burtonftw, derby
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 1:25PM
“i read 12m as £12m, thought that was a bit steep for a fan on a roof.
can the council install a mast in my back garden? any electric i don't use can go back into the grid. it's windy out too.”
by Kevin in sunny Alvaston, Alvaston
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 1:10PM
“Here we go again!
"In an application to its planning committee, the council's climate-change team says wind turbines or solar cells could cut the council's carbon footprint and save cash."
Now who owns The Assembly Rooms? the council do.
So once again the council is asking it's self if it can put up the mast.
No wonder the council lose so much of our council tax.
If it's ok can we have a mast on the council house for about three years.Then decide it's been a waste of time.”
by David Gale, Derby
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 11:58AM
“Is it April 1st already?
They'd be better off talking to some of the university's maths and engineering students to come up with a predictive model, since the pertinent solar and wind data is already available. Great PR scam by Tim Awfully Nice but Dim!”