hilbre island

Nature reserve installs a Proven Energy turbine.

The Challenge

Hilbre Island, Wirral is a nature reserve which is renowned for its beauty. It is a site of scientific interest, a wetland of international importance, a special area of conservation. It has also been recognised by Ramsar and is a regionally important geological and geomorphalogical site.

These accolades have been greatly helped by the island’s remoteness but that did not help the ranger who lives on the island and who depended on a noisy diesel generator for power – a solution which resulted in the use of an average 600 litres of diesel every calendar month.

The Solution

Wirral council looked for a more cost effective and less environmentally damaging solution and installed a Proven 2.5kW wind turbine. A concern at the time of installation was one which is common with wind turbines ‘will local wildlife be affected?’

The council had the foresight to research this myth and was quick to forge ahead with the installation in the knowledge that it was very close to a RSPB observatory, right in the midddle of Dee Estuary.

The Benefit

Several years have passed since this installation and Hilbre Island still enjoys constant off-grid energy from the Proven Energy turbine installed there. This permanent power has enabled modernisation of the island’s living facilities as well as reducing the environmental impact caused by necessary habitation.

Since installation there has been no evidence of a bird or bat strike with this turbine, what’s more it has been noted that some of the birds actually use the Proven 2.5 as a landmark in the mating ritual displays they perform. Having initially thought that the RSPB would oppose this, turbine locals were very happy to note that their observatory now uses a wind turbine of its own.