The construction of Swaffham's first giant wind turbine prompted an unprecedented request from the local community for another. With a second generator, which is Britain's tallest, now fully operational, the town can cliam to be the 'greenest' in Europe - and possibly the world. SUE SKINNER reports. , 14 August 2003

Greenest Town on Earth

They have become as much a part of the distinctive Swaffham skyline as the water tower and graceful parish church.

The town's first wind turbine, with its unique public viewing platform, was installed at the Ecotech Centre in 1999 and was joined last month by a taller sister, Swaffham ll, which stands just over half a mile away on the opposite side of the A47.

Together the two structures create a gateway effect for approaching motorists and are capable of providing power for three quarters of Swaffham's population - about 2,300 homes - as well as boosting Norfolk's wind power output by 30%. Following installation of the generator at Ecotech, Swaffham Town Council unanimously agreed to ask Gloucestershire-based 'green' power company Ecotricity to build a second one for the town.

"It was totally as a result of the request," said managing director Dale Vince. "We didn't have a plan at all and we were surprised - pleasantly. We had a letter from the town council and that was the first we knew of it. It's the first time anything like that has happened in th country - we think it's the first turbine to be built by public demand."

The subsequent proposals fro Swaffham ll attracted a dozen letters of support and only one written objection, but went to appeal after Breckland Council failed to reach a verdict on the scheme within the statutory 16-week period. The delay was due to the development control committee's decision to wait until officers had produced area-wide guidelines on turbines, following strong opposition to projects elsewhere in the district. The council finally granted planning permission last October, removing the need for a two-day public inquiry which had been scheduled to take place the following month. But it was a frustrating process for Mr Vince, particulary as the Swaffham councillors had specifically called on their Breckland colleagues to back the plans.

"I think people have always been supportive of wind energy," he said. "The problem is that local councils and elected politicians are not always representative of what local people want. Swaffham is a fantastic example of that. Even this popular turbine that people wanted us to build had to go to pulic inquiry - it's madness."

The foundations for Swaffham ll, which required about 600 tonnes of concrete and 45 tonnes of reinforced steel, were put in place at the site off Sporle Road earlier this year. In May the project was given an official launch, when four pupils from Swaffham First and Nursery School joined Mr Vince for a sod cutting ceremony.

The Enercon E66 1.8MW generator was manufactured in Germany and transported to Swaffham in sections ready for assembly, which was completed in a matter of days last month. With a hub height of 85m (278ft), it is 18m taller than its sister and is the tallest onshore wind turbine in the UK. When one of the three rotor blades, which themselves are longer than the wing of a jumbo jet, is upright, the structure as a whole towers to around 117m (383ft).

"Technology had moved on and we were able to build it taller," explained Mr Vince. "The higher up you go, the more wind you find, and the Swaffham area is not massively windy from a wind energy point of view. The extra 20m makes the difference and it has a higher output."

Annually the machine is capable of generating more than four million units of electricity - the equivalent to 1,258 homes - which results in emissions savings of 3,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide, 40 tonnes of sulphur dioxide and 10 tonnes of nitrogen oxide. Electricity is fed into the local grid but the supply from the two turbines is now available to households across Norfolk at prices matching those of conventionally-produced power. Residents in Swaffham and Breckland, however, will be given priority.

"These are the people who asked us to build it and we feel a great loyalty to them," said Mr Vince. "We are hoping to encourage people to sign up. We know people like it and like what it does. I don't think people can understand that they can change where their power comes from and that can make a big difference to the environment. Swaffham is now the greenest town in the world - as far as we know - and certainly in Europe, in terms of where its energy comes from.

"The first one has proven itself and that's why people wanted a second one. It's gone down fantastically. I really like the fact that local people are so into it and behind it. I love to come to Swaffham and see the machines and meet people. It's a great thing that's going on there. For a local community to actually ask you to build something is giving a voice to the silent majority. They can help us to change the world."