Renewable Energy

Wardell Armstrong proposed that the site should adopt a theme of renewable energy, but carried out in a way that did not harm the heritage of the site:

• Some renewable energy technologies such as biomass (converting energy crops and green waste into energy) could operate at a profit
• Other renewable energy technologies could demonstrate their potential, even if they could not make a profit
• Businesses manufacturing renewable energy components such as bio-mass boilers could operate on site, providing employment
• Training schemes could give local people the skills that will be needed as renewable energy becomes more important
• Restoring the buildings sensitively but still incorporating good insulation and possibly photo-voltaic cells in the roof could demonstrate how other conservation projects could become energy efficient

Each element alone might not be sufficient to generate enough income, but located together on one site they might attract visitors who would then see what else was taking place.

A large anemometer was put on top of the nearby tip to measure wind speed, to see if there was sufficient to justify putting a wind turbine there. The study concluded that a turbine would not be profitable, but might break even and be an interesting demonstration.

Local residents went on organised trips to:

• Sherwood Energy Village
• the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales
• eco-housing at Hockerton, and
• renewable energy projects in Holland.