ON the November 18, after a year-long trial (October 1, 2008, to September 30, 2009) Glyndebourne Productions Ltd have finally released the data obtained from the meteorological mast on Mill Plain, as required by Hazel Blears, the minister at the time of the planning application.
The raw data is accompanied by a 24 page 'wind resource analysis' report.
This is a complicated document, which obscures rather than clarifies the actual data.
The real figures paint a picture of a proposed turbine, which produces an embarra
ssingly small output. It appears that the wind was not strong enough over the year of testing.
In an attempt to justify these figures, Glyndebourne argues that the actual readings should be scaled up to reflect the fact that the year in question was not very windy. The wind's effectiveness was not enough to produce the 28 percent load factor, which was predicted and was a key factor in the original planning application.
In fact, of the two types of turbine that could be erected, one, based upon the real figures would have a load factor of 20.9 percent, some 25.4 percent less than the predicted figure; the other would have a load factor of 18.3 percent, some 34.6 percent less than the predicted figure.
As a comparison, the proposed erection of a wind turbine at East Meon in Hampshire did not go ahead because the load factor was only 23.8 percent, and therefore not viable.
The report mentions, but does not incorporate, a requirement for further reductions in the calculated output.
Firstly, a 6 percent reduction to account for the turbine to be stopped during easterly winds, secondly, a further 1 percent reduction to account for the fact that the meteorological mast was significantly offset from the site of the proposed turbine.
In the light of these facts and figures, it would clearly be folly to proceed with the project on the basis of insufficient wind strength and leave Mr Christie with a modern 'folly'.
I would ask him to reconsider the erection of a giant, 230 foot wind turbine in what is now designated a new National Park and seek alternative ways of cutting Glyndebourne's carbon footprint if he is serious in wanting to reduce global warming.
Richard A Saunders, Ringmer
