Wind power idea being investigated
February 2011
The Wilton Centre has teamed up with energy company Wind Direct to explore the possible generation of renewable energy on-site.
Wind Direct installs wind turbines on commercial and industrial sites across the UK and such a measure at The Wilton Centre would allow the sixty tenants to reduce their carbon footprint.
It would also protect them against volatile energy prices because the Wind Direct approach allows businesses to fix the cost of their electricity for up to ten years, with no capital outlay.
As the first stage of the process, Wind Direct needs to secure planning permission to erect a temporary 70-metre high met mast to collect wind speed data over the next two years.
Nicola Mortimer, Wind Direct's Head of Development, said: "Once we have done this, we will be in a much better position to determine whether the centre could be generating clean, green energy on site for use by both the company and its tenants."
Dr Richard Short, Wilton Centre Facility Management's Engineering Manager, said: "We are constantly striving to improve energy efficiency at the centre and reduce our carbon footprint so investigating the possibility of generating our own electricity using wind power is a natural step. The Wind Direct approach allows us to provide the centre and our tenants with clean, green electricity without generating any development costs."