Dundee College wants to build a 170ft wind turbine at its Kingsway campus.
The college says that, as well as providing power, it would form part of the educational activities related to its renewable energy courses.
Its planning application says: ”Dundee College and others have a vision to establish Dundee as a powerhouse for renewable energy, and the wind turbine is a part of this vision.”
It also admits that some surrounding properties, including St Paul’s Academy, could suffer from shadow flicker at certain times of the year.
The turbine, which would have a 50 kilowatt capacity, is earmarked for a site currently used as a garden.
Renewable energy consultants Logan Project Management say that within the campus the three-storey science block and the special programmes building would experience shadow flicker in the late afternoon on sunny days.
The nearest homes would be more than 500 feet away in Old Glamis Road to the east and may experience some flicker in June.
The 1,000-pupil school on Gillburn Road is laid out in several blocks, most of which Logan reckon would not be affected.
It says: ”Flicker may be most apparent at the southern facade of the two-storey link area facing the college site between wings, and the eastern facades of the western-most blocks.”
These areas could experience flicker for around 10 hours per year.
The consultants add: ”Shadow flicker is a temporary and reversible effect and can be fairly readily be addressed for a specific location through shutting down the wind turbine for the period until the turbine shadow has passed the location in question.”
At 170ft, the turbine would be one of the largest in or around the city, although considerably smaller than the pair that generate power for the Michelin factory at Baldovie.
Logan say: ”The turbine location, well in from the edges of the plot, has been chosen to minimise impact on surrounding residents and yet still operate effectively and generate a significant quantity of energy.
”The wind turbine will represent a new element within the view, seen to be taller and more slender than existing structures, but at a sufficient distance not to dominate the setting.”
Studies of the potential impact of noise from the rotating blades have been carried out and Logan has come to the conclusion it will not be a problem for nearby properties, although there may be some effect at night at the caretaker’s house on the campus.
The planning application can be seen here.