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£48k turbine which made just £5 of power a month to be removed | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A wind turbine which cost the taxpayer £48,000 and generated an average of just £5 worth of electricity per month is being removed. | |
It was put up at the Welsh government's Aberystwyth office when it opened in 2009 as part of a range of environmentally-friendly features. | It was put up at the Welsh government's Aberystwyth office when it opened in 2009 as part of a range of environmentally-friendly features. |
But ministers came under fire last year over its output and now it has gone. | But ministers came under fire last year over its output and now it has gone. |
They say the turbine's manufacturer went into liquidation and they were not likely to find someone to maintain it. | They say the turbine's manufacturer went into liquidation and they were not likely to find someone to maintain it. |
Last year, the Welsh government confirmed in a response to a Freedom of Information request that between January 2012 and July 2013 the turbine generated 585 kilowatt hours of energy (kWh) - an average of 33 kWh per month. | Last year, the Welsh government confirmed in a response to a Freedom of Information request that between January 2012 and July 2013 the turbine generated 585 kilowatt hours of energy (kWh) - an average of 33 kWh per month. |
Taking 16p as an estimate for the price of electricity per kWh in the consumer market, that worked out at a value of £5.28 per month. | Taking 16p as an estimate for the price of electricity per kWh in the consumer market, that worked out at a value of £5.28 per month. |
At that rate it would have taken hundreds of years for the turbine to offset its cost. | At that rate it would have taken hundreds of years for the turbine to offset its cost. |
At the time ministers blamed mechanical problems for the poor performance. | At the time ministers blamed mechanical problems for the poor performance. |
But before it was installed, the turbine makers, Quiet Revolution, warned Welsh government contractors it would not be exposed to enough wind where it was positioned. | But before it was installed, the turbine makers, Quiet Revolution, warned Welsh government contractors it would not be exposed to enough wind where it was positioned. |
'Electrically isolated' | 'Electrically isolated' |
The turbine broke down in January and Quiet Revolution went into administration soon after. | The turbine broke down in January and Quiet Revolution went into administration soon after. |
A Welsh government spokesman said: "The manufacturer of the micro turbine recently went into liquidation, and as the prospects of finding a company able to take on the maintenance and repair are limited, we are considering options for its removal. | A Welsh government spokesman said: "The manufacturer of the micro turbine recently went into liquidation, and as the prospects of finding a company able to take on the maintenance and repair are limited, we are considering options for its removal. |
"The turbine developed a fault in January. | "The turbine developed a fault in January. |
"The safety equipment on the turbine locked the brakes on and electrically isolated the turbine. | "The safety equipment on the turbine locked the brakes on and electrically isolated the turbine. |
"Our contractor were in discussion with Quiet Revolution until 27 March to try and resolve the fault, when they received an email that the company had gone into administration. | "Our contractor were in discussion with Quiet Revolution until 27 March to try and resolve the fault, when they received an email that the company had gone into administration. |
"They have been unable to progress the matter with the administrator and, as such, the wind turbine has remained out of use." | "They have been unable to progress the matter with the administrator and, as such, the wind turbine has remained out of use." |