GREEN SCHEMES being mooted for Angus Council’s HQ could see a 60-metre wind turbine become a feature of the Forfar skyline.

Officials admit achieving planning approval could be difficult but say detailed investigation of the idea—and a scheme for biomass heating—is worthwhile in view of potential environmental and financial benefits.

The two proposals have been developed from a brief given by councillors last year to investigate renewable energy generation at the council’s Orchardbank HQ, west of Forfar.

A report going before councillors tomorrow concludes that installing a wind turbine would create even better carbon dioxide reduction returns than the biomass scheme, assuming all the electricity generated is consumed on site.

“Unfortunately the wind turbine would need to comprise a tower of 51 metres in height and a rotor diameter of 30 metres giving an overall height of 60 metres,” states corporate services director Colin McMahon.

“The turbines at the Michelin factory in Dundee have 70-metre towers,” adds the report.

“It could be very difficult to obtain planning permission for such a development. Nonetheless a wind turbine system offers many advantages.”

Early work has indicated a capital cost of £483,000 for the turbine scheme but officials say more detailed scrutiny on issues including siting and technical matters is required.

Operating savings from the turbine are forecast at £64,000 a year, with a resulting CO2 reduction of move than 250,000 kg a year.

The report continues, “A biomass district heating scheme could be feasible and highly desirable given its ability to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions from heating the four buildings to zero. It would also enable Angus Council to make fuel cost savings of £12,600 per year at the current gas rates.

“Such a scheme could, with appropriate provision for future expansion, enable Angus Council to sell renewably generated heat energy to other sites within the Orchardbank development, and presents a potential opportunity to create a flagship project.

“Given the impact and continuing increases in energy costs for the council and the imminent introduction of the Carbon Reduction Commitment Obligation, it is recommended, since the report identifies two feasible schemes, that the further work is undertaken to finalise these schemes to the point where viability and delivery can be established,” the director adds.