Join Unity Wind Today to support our Community Wind Project

Why do we need Wind Power? At present wind is the only renewable source sufficiently developed for use. Onshore wind is more efficient than offshore, and quicker to build. Turbines last for about 25 years. We can think again then, when other options (such as tidal or wave power) may be better.

Unity Wind Limited was set up as a not-for-profit Industrial & Provident Society (I&PS) in 2007 to install community wind turbines in the region.

Our Aim To produce clean energy, while improving the local economy and ‘empowering’ local people. It is fairer if people benefit financially from turbines in their area and have a say on the size and site of each project. We also believe that people should take responsibility for their energy use by producing as much as is reasonable from local renewable sources.

There are many advantages to an I&PS.

• It keeps the project safe for the community. The maximum investment is £20,000. No one can become a majority shareholder and take over the company.
• It is very democratic. All shareholders have one vote so people who cannot afford to invest much have an equal say. The minimum share is only £1.
• The directors give their time freely and grants can be accessed to fund the very expensive planning application, so initial costs are lower and maximum benefit goes to the community.
• Once installed, the turbine will produce a return for shareholders, many of whom will be local. A proportion of the profits are kept to fund other local clean energy production and energy saving projects. So people who cannot earn through investing, can still benefit from the local fund.

We hope you support the principle of community ownership of renewable energy.

Our first project - North Walsham leads the way. The first site offered us was in a field on the approach to North Walsham, beside the A149 near Focus. We hope to install two 2.3 MW turbines producing clean energy for about 4000 people. Before applying for planning permission we have had to carry out many assessments - noise, ecology, visual impact, shadow flicker, electromagnetic interference, etc, etc, to show the turbines will not harm anything. We have been working at this over the last two years and will apply for planning consent this summer.

What benefits are there for the North Walsham area?

1. We hope many local people will become shareholders, and so profit from the electricity. Our very low share price and the system of continual investment encourages local participation. We aim to pay at least 2% above bank rate or inflation – whichever is highest.
2. We aim to pay £20,000 per year into a charity for local people to spend as they wish. Local members/ shareholders – from North Walsham and the surrounding villages – will administer the fund.

You can help us get planning permission.
However much work we put in, and however good the results, success may well depend on local support. Show yours by joining (investing) for as little as £1. Use Paypal right here on our website, or print out the application form and send it to us with a cheque.

Before planning consent, do not invest more than you can afford to lose! Once we have planning consent we will launch another appeal for shareholders/ members to raise money for the turbines.

>> Turbines at North Walsham