15 Jun, 2016 By Mary
Global Wind Day 2016 – Ireland

Global Wind Day 2016 is being celebrated through the month of June here in Ireland. Irish wind farm events are running in partnership with events taking place, across Europe and around the globe. Global Wind Day is coordinated by Wind Europe and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) to raise awareness of the positive benefits of our clean, safe and renewable wind energy.

This year in Ireland we’re celebrating through the month of June with wind farms across Ireland hosting an array of events to celebrate wind energy with family open day visits and tours, 5k and 10k runs on wind farms, educational events, business events and more. The activity dates vary and some are hosting public wind farm open-days so that families can learn about wind energy and see the turbines in operation themselves, whilst others are inviting schools for fun, games and facts on wind.

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It is also a day for discovery of the work that has already begun by pioneers around the world. In more than 75 countries around the world, wind farms are in operation, generating energy from a clean and renewable source.

Some events need pre-registration and booking so please check out the listing below.

Come and help celebrate Irish renewable wind energy around Global Wind Day 2016, find the nearest event to you at the listing below, and keep checking in as new events are added:

Global Wind Day Events around Ireland 2016. Photo Credit: IWEA

How it all began:

The Wind Day was first held in 2007, as the European Wind Day organised by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). The main idea was to connect a network of partners as well as using centralised communication tools, press releases and distribution of gadgets and coordinate of event organised by national wind energy associations and companies active in the wind energy field. The Wind Day in 2007 reached 18 countries, with a participation of around 35,000 people. By 2008, the event’s reach extended to 20 European countries and attracted 100,000 people.

In 2009, EWEA joined forces with the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and extended the reach from European associations and companies to coordinate Wind Day events across the globe. That year, the 300 events in 35 countries across the globe reached up to 1,000,000 people.

In 2010 and 2011 between 220 and 230 events took place in around 30 countries. Since 2009, Global Wind Day has reached more than 1,000,000 people plus the thousands of people engaging and supporting the event through online means such as social media.

Last year was a great success in Ireland with over 1000 people visiting wind farms across the country. This year sees a number of wind farms across Ireland hosting an array of events to celebrate wind energy. The activity dates vary and some are hosting family days whilst others are inviting schools for fun, games and facts on wind.

Events organised around Ireland to celebrate Global Wind Day – Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA)

14 Jun, 2016 By Mary
Donside Community Archimedean Screw Hydropower Scheme

The Hydro scheme is located in Donside Village in Tillydrone, on the banks of the River Don. The Village is a relatively new, sustainable community based on the site of an old papermill. The hydro scheme will use the existing mill lade with the addition of a 100kW Archimedes screw. Donside Community Hydro plan to raise the money to build the scheme via a community share offer. Aberdeen Community Energy says Donside Hydro will generate £30,000 every year for community initiatives.

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Photo Credit: Highland Eco-Design

The scheme which is at design stage will generate enough electricity to power 122 households.

System Elements

Available head 1.75m
Max. flow rate 10,000 l/s
Screw bladed length 5.61m
100kW Archimedes Screw
Screw weight 20 tonnes

The proposed Donside hydropower scheme
The proposed Donside hydropower scheme

Community Benefits

Aberdeen Community Energy (Ace), a community benefit society set up by members of the Donside Community Association (DCA), will be launching a community share offer over the next few weeks to back the Donside Hydropower scheme.

The proposed hydropoweer scheme will draw water from the River Don to create renewable electricity that will be sold to the national grid. Surplus profits from the initiative will be channelled into a community fund that will be used to achieve social and environmental benefits for local, deprived communities. Ace together with their partners at the DCA have been working towards launching the scheme for the past three years and are finally in a position where they can share the project with the world, and open it up to investment.
The Donside Hydropower scheme will help Scotland on its journey towards 100% renewable electricity by 2020, and it will also create a sustainable community that truly works for its inhabitants and riverside setting. Aberdeen Community Energy are already working closely with members of the Donside and Tillydrone areas to identify priorities for the community fund, with their immediate focus being on improving the riverside for public use. They are also looking at the longer term outcomes, and have set up a social enterprise called Sinergy that will route surplus income into projects that will deliver sustainable benefits for the wider area.

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With construction planned for late May 2016, Ace said potential investors in the scheme could expect an “ethical, low-risk investment opportunity” delivering around a 5% return on their investment. Ace, which has so far raised around £150,000 from loans, grants and investment from Ace directors, is also seeking conversations with businesses or individuals who may be interested in supporting the initiative financially in the short term, as either a lender or investor.
The community share offer will be available for investment from April 2016. A launch event will take place at an Aberdeen city centre location in the weeks after the share offer is live.