For information regarding this project please email
David Tudgey david.tudgey@ambitioncommunityenergy.org Project Development & Asset Manager
The latest update from our Wind Turbine
Temp closure of the route of cycleway NCN41 through the site 21/05132/F – Land On The South East Side Of Severn Road Avonmouth Bristol
Dear Cyclists & Pedestrians,
We are writing to inform you that the cycle path that passes through the site of the Ambition Community Energy CIC (ACE) wind turbine project will be closed for two weeks, from February 2nd to February 20th, 2023. This closure is necessary for the safety of all during the construction of a 4.2MW, 115m diameter wind turbine, which will be wholly owned by the community of Lawrence Weston and will generate electricity equivalent to the consumption of all homes in Lawrence Weston.
We understand that this closure may cause inconvenience and we apologise for any disruption it may cause. However, we hope that you will understand the importance of this project and the significant contribution it will make to Bristol’s Net Zero carbon ambition.
Banksmen at either end of the cycle path can assist with transportation for cyclists & pedestrians for their onward journey on the path.
For daily updates on path closure & times please call our INFO NUMBER: 07713 222 969
Sincerely,
Board of Ambition Community Energy CIC, Jan 23 2022
P.S: Please note that this cycle path will be closed to all users including pedestrians.
Ambition Community Energy have been won an award
“We are ecstatic to have received the Finance & Innovation Award at the Community Energy England Awards. This recognition is a testament to the relentless dedication of our volunteers and the project development team at Ambition Community Energy CIC. It was an honour to share this momentous occasion with our esteemed investors, Thrive Renewables, Bristol & Bath Regional Capital, Bristol City Council, and members of the Society of Merchant Venturers. Without their financial support and backing, our community-owned wind turbine project – set to be the largest onshore turbine in England – would not have been a reality. Their timely tailored approach to financing through at-risk development investments and construction loans enabled us to develop and construct this project when conventional finance was not an option. We are deeply grateful for their support and take great pride in this achievement, which was made possible through the collective efforts of our team, volunteers, investors, and grant funders.”
David Tudgey, Project Development & Asset Manager on behalf Ambition Community Energy C.I.C
Ground works start at the Turbine Site
Concrete for the foundations is poured for England’s biggest onshore wind turbine and it is community owned!
Ambition Community Energy CIC (ACE), an offshoot of Ambition Lawrence Weston, a community-based charity in Bristol, has reached an important milestone. It has completed the electrical and civil engineering work needed to build England’s largest onshore wind turbine. The turbine is on its way from three factories in Europe and it will be operating in spring 2023. The total cost of development and construction is £6 million.
ACE secured senior debt funding from Thrive Renewables in March 2022. It was added to other: loan funds from Bristol and Bath Regional Capital (BBRC), Bristol “City Funds” and some members of the Society of Merchant Venturers, and a grant from the West of England Combined Authority (Local Energy Scheme which is funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)). ACE reached its investment target following receipt of planning permission in July 2020 and the signing of a lease for the plot of land in November 2021.
Development of the turbine project has been a long process. It began in 2016, following Bristol’s year as European Green Capital in 2015. It obtained its early funding from the DECC Urban Community Energy Fund, Bristol City Council (BCC), and Power to Change. That initial funding was followed by contingent development loans from Bristol Community Energy Fund (via BCC/Power to Change /BBRC/City Funds). A determined effort was needed from the ACE team to overcome several procedural hurdles. First they had to gain planning permission; strong arguments were advanced on both sides and even the Planning Officers seemed to see it as a finely balanced decision, so that it was a great relief when the planning committee voted unanimously in favour. Then there was the government’s removal of subsidies to onshore wind of less than 5MW, which persists until today and, finally, the introduction of the Written Ministerial Statement 2015 which has been an effective ban on development of new onshore wind for most developers. This project has been developed in spite of government policy rather than because of it! Alongside these finnical, planning challenges there have been numerous environmental and engineering challenges which is why any additional unnecessary barriers to obtaining planning have led to an effective ban onshore wind to date.
At 150m tall with 4.2MW capacity, the ACE turbine has two remarkable characteristics: it is England’s biggest onshore turbine and it is 100% community-owned. The turbine will generate electricity equivalent to Lawrence Weston’s domestic use, around 3,000 homes, and save 120,000 tonnes of CO2e over its lifetime. ACE estimates that about £100,000 a year could be provided as a donation to be invested back into the local community. Funds are expected to help fund a development plan for Lawrence Weston and to contribute to a new £1.7 million community hub for the area, which will provide support, training and debt advice to local residents.
For communities to succeed in the future with new onshore wind projects the development finance needs to be made available to allow them to explore sites with local authorities & regional hubs supporting access to land, with the local DSO and National Grid providing access for large onshore wind turbines (above 1 MW connections), and the national planning system need to assist communities and not frustrate them. Bristol Energy Network which Ambition Lawrence Weston is a member of hopes to replicate the success of Ambition Community Energy C.I.C. project in 2023 with their Sustainable Innovative Financial Foundations for Wind Turbines project which has been awarded conditional funding from the West of England Combined Authority’s Green Recovery Fund. This new project along with regulatory changes by the government is hoped to be a new beginning, a “Renanoce of onshore wind” led with communities actively participating in a new smart local energy system.
Our community energy journey:
Lawrence Weston to tackle fuel poverty with wind turbine
View our planning application
How we are working to make it happen –
Ambition Community Energy (ACE), a group working for Lawrence Weston Community in Bristol has issued an invitation to tender for supply, delivery, erection and commissioning of the turbine for the project. ACE received £0.5m capital grant from the West of England Combined Authority, itself funded by the Low Carbon Challenge Fund of the European Regional Development Fund. As a result our tendering process is public on the WECA web site and may well attract european bidders. This is undoubtedly the fairest and most competitive way to achieve value for the project, and we are grateful to WECA for facilitating it. You can find the link here:
In July 2020 ACE’s planning application was approved by our City Council’s Planning Committee. The turbine is to have a maximum tip height of 150m, is to be built on Council land in Avonmouth, and is expected to be operational by early 2022. In order to qualify for the WECA capital grant, we must have the turbine operational by this date. The permission was granted for 25 years from commissioning.
See the tender document directly here Invitation to Tender (PDF 126kb) for full information.
WECA Green Business Grants
WECA offer Green Business Grants on their web site; the Green Business Grants programme is part of the Low Carbon Challenge Fund . This £4.2m project has £1.7m grant available. It is managed by WECA and funded from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Established by the European Union, ERDF helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. This is confirmed funding and will be unaffected by the EU transition.
Wind Turbine – Case Study
The West of England Combined Authority has awarded £500,000 capital grant to an innovative, onshore wind turbine in Avonmouth, Bristol as part of our Local Energy Scheme. The project is being developed by the local community in Lawrence Weston, working collaboratively with its partner organisations. The funding comes from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). see here for case study
Wind Turbine ‘Dry Run’
On Sunday 21st November 2021 with police escort, the wind turbine had a dry run to ensure it could be delivered from the docks to the site. see pictures below:
