UK - Miller Research set wind turbine example

South Wales consultancy Miller Research has taken its own advice on sustainability by installing a wind turbine at its headquarters.

The consultancy, whose services include providing guidance to public and private sector clients on developing sustainable communities, has installed the 50ft (15-metre) tall device on land close to its offices at Llanvetherine, near Abergavenny, in Monmouthshire.

The £25,000, 6kw Proven 6 structure, is capable of generating more than enough electricity to meet the entire annual power requirements of the niche-sector research business.

Surplus electricity will be sold to the National Grid generating an income of some £1,000 a year for the business.

Nick Miller, director of the £600,000-a-year turnover company said a key reason for the installation of the wind turbine was as a demonstration project for clients.

Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing Jane Davidson, officially unveiled the turbine.

Mr Miller, said: “The decision to install the turbine was in part to encourage other people’s thinking, as marketing for the business and to reduce costs and our carbon footprint. It’s also as a very positive and evident demonstration of our own solid commitment, as a business, to sustainability.

“We have been looking into the possibility of installing the wind turbine here at Llanvetherine for quite some time, as we are a values-driven company with a strong commitment to sustainability, whether economic, social or environmental.

“We were delighted the Welsh Assembly Government Minister, Jane Davidson, accepted our invitation to unveil the generator and underline her and the Welsh Assembly Government’s commitment to sustainability.”

Ms Davidson said: “Microgeneration projects like this demonstrate what businesses can do to generate their own low-carbon energy, to reduce costs and help tackle climate change. I hope this can be become an example to other businesses. Microgeneration will have an increasingly important role in the energy mix.”

The Llanvetherine wind turbine will be able to generate about 11,000 kWh a year, which equates to the annual needs of three average homes.

Mr Miller said: “This project has been very well received locally, especially from the farming community who are very interested in reducing costs in the face of rising energy prices. We have also generated keen interest among many of our own clients.”

The wind turbine was sourced from Proven Energy, in Kilmarnock, Scotland, via Green Earth Energy, Pontrilas, Hereford, which also installed the equipment.

The wind turbine, which has a life expectancy of some 20 years, should pay for itself in 10-15 years depending on future energy costs.

Established in 1995 Miller Research (UK), employs seven full-time consultants, supported by a part-time business manager.

The company provides specialist research, evaluation and regeneration consultancy, working mainly with public sector clients across the UK on a wide range of projects from skills research and programme evaluation to town centre regeneration.

Miller Research is also careful to select ethical projects and sources organic, local and Fairtrade supplies wherever possible. The team recycles as much waste as possible and uses public transport wherever practicable.

Recent work by Miller Research (UK) includes working to help strengthen the retail viability of market towns, tourism planning for small towns and the evaluation of the basic skills strategy for Wales.

For more information, please contact Trevor Sievert at ts@windfair.net