Banks Renewables seeks to extend lifespan of Yorkshire wind farms to 40 yrs

UK’s Banks Renewables is looking to extend the lifespan of its four wind farms in Yorkshire that have been in operation for between seven and 11 years and were originally permitted for 25 years.

The family-owned developer wants to increase the operational duration of the Hook Moor wind farm to the east of Leeds, the Penny Hill facility near Sheffield, the Marr wind farm to the west of Doncaster and the Hazlehead wind farm near Barnsley to 40 years. The wind farms have a capacity of around 10 MW, 20 MW, 8 MW and 6 MW, respectively.

The company has filed planning applications for the 15-year lifespan extensions with the relevant local authority. The applications are expected to be reviewed in the coming months.

In Banks’ last financial year the four wind farms produced enough power to meet the annual needs of more than 29,000 homes, according to the announcement.

“Our Yorkshire wind farms have all been operating efficiently for many years, and our aim is to maximise the significant environmental, energy security and community benefits they can deliver, a process which extending their respective permitted lifespans would allow us to do,” said Lewis Stokes, senior community relations manager at the Banks Group.

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