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IN THE HOME STRAIGHT

11 July 2003

UK's Tallest Wind Turbine is nearing completion

Engineers working on the UK's tallest wind turbine are now entering the home straight to completion of the massive 85m (278ft) structure. The turbine's generator has arrived on site and the tower and nacelle are in position. The operation is likely to end either late today or on Saturday with a spectacular manoeuvre. The turbine's hub and blades will be lifted, as one, into place using three giant cranes at Ecotricity's site near Swaffham.

Dale Vince, Ecotricity's Managing Director says, "We are nearly there and really pleased with the way its going, we hope to finish today but the weather is looking fine for tomorrow so we should have no problems. The lifting process is the one time we don't want too much of a wind blowing!"

When complete the turbine will provide enough power for over 200 homes. The second turbine was built by the popular demand of local people. Combined with the first turbine, erected in 1999 that stands near the Ecotech centre, it will supply 75 % of Swaffham's total home electricity requirements, boosting Norfolk's total wind power by 30%. Swaffham II was built following demands from local people after the success of the town's first turbine.

Ends

Notes to Editors -
1. Ecotricity is the only licensed electricity company dedicated to building urgently needed new green energy capacity to replace conventional polluting sources of electricity.

2. The building of Swaffham II is also part of Ecotricity's ambitious strategy to supply one million homes with its groundbreaking new green electricity tariff. The tariff, which is available to households throughout the country, won't cost customers more than conventional electricity, because Ecotricity match local electricity supplier prices.

Swaffham II facts
Rotor diameter - 70m
Capacity - 1.8MW
Hub height - 85m
Carbon dioxide - (CO2) savings 3,500 tonnes
Generation kWh - 4 million
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) savings - 40 tonnes
Equivalent homes -1,258
Nitrogen oxide (NOX) savings - 10 tonnes

For further information contact:
Richard Tibenham tel: 01453 769326 email: richard.tibenham@ecotricity.co.uk or
Clare Summers tel: 01453 769303 email: clare.summers@ecotricity.co.uk