Coal Clough Wind Farm

Coal Clough Wind Farm is one of the oldest onshore wind farms in England. The wind farm, which was built for Scottish Power, produced electricity from originally 24 Vestas WD34 wind turbines. It had a total nameplate capacity of 9.6 MW of electricity,[1] enough to serve the average needs of 5,500 homes. It is situated near Burnley, Lancashire in the parish of Cliviger, near Coal Clough Farm, on the edge of Stiperden Moor in the South Pennines. For just a few weeks it was the largest wind farm in the UK, until the much larger Penrhyddlan and Llidiartywaun wind farms (now called Llandinam) in Powys, Wales overtook it. It narrowly remained the largest in England until Coldham opened in Cambridgeshire in November 2005. The record was then taken yet again by Scout Moor Wind Farm just 7 miles (11 km) to the south west until May 2009 where Whitelee Wind Farm took and now holds it with 215 units with a total output capacity of 539 Mw. In 2009 Scottish Power announced plans to replace the existing turbines with eight 2 MW units with an estimated maximum height 110 metres (361 ft).[2]

See also: List of onshore wind farms in the United Kingdom
Coal Clough Wind Farm
Coal Clough Wind Farm
CountryEngland, United Kingdom
LocationBurnley, Lancashire, North West England
Coordinates53.749°N 2.152°W / 53.749; -2.152
StatusOperational
Commission date9 December 1992 → (Re-com) 30 April 2015
Owner(s)Scottish Power
Site elevation365 metres (1,198 ft)
Power generation
Units operational[present] 8 x 2 Mw
Make and model[1992 - 2015] - Vestas: WD34 [2015 - present] Gamesa: G80
Nameplate capacity[Present = 16 Mw]
External links
Websitescottishpowerrenewables.com
CommonsRelated media on Commons

After many ups and downs during the years, the announced planning on re-powering the wind farm was soon granted and work quickly began onsite mid 2014 to early 2015. It involved the decommissioning & removal of the existing 24 turbines, the laying of new cabling and drainage, removal of current WD34 bases and placement of new foundations, upgrading/building service roads, substation installation, the erection the newer & more efficient turbines you see in full operation today etc.[3][4]

The new and improved Coal Clough Wind Farm is set to be in operation for their full 25 years "Usefulness" life span, and will then be decommissioned and removed from site to be either refurbished & sold on to businesses worldwide or sent to be recycled.

Specifications [5]
Manufacturer Gamesa
New Models G80
Tower height - G80 70 metres (230 ft)
Blade length - G80 40 metres (131 ft)
Total maximum height - G80 110 metres (361 ft)
Turbine weight
Maximum turbine effect 2.0 megawatts (2,700 hp)
Installed turbines 8
Total nameplate capacity (maximum output) 16 megawatts (21,000 hp)
Electricity generated per annum
Capacity factor 30%

Notes
  1. RES Archived 2010-09-20 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 2010
  2. Scottish Power leaflet Accessed 2010
  4. http://www.burnley.gov.uk/attachments/09_0758_Non_Technica_Summary_Dec_2004.pdf
  5. thewindpower.net Accessed 2010
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