Safety scare wind turbine at Culloden school to be switched back on

WIND turbines beside several Highland schools – including Culloden Academy – are being switched back on after a six-month shutdown sparked by a scare about the possible safety threat to children.

The switch off came after a turbine collapsed forcing the closure of one Highland school and concerns were voiced about the lack of fencing around the turbines to protect the kids in event of a malfunction.

But Highland Council announced it has completed a comprehensive risk assessment of wind turbines located in school grounds which confirms safe operation and gives the go ahead for the turbines to restart soon.

However the turbine at Holm Primary School in Inverness proved to be ineffectual in terms of energy performance, according to the investigation, and will be decommissioned.

Schools across the Highlands had embarked on schemes to construct "micro" turbines, backed by the local authority, because they save cash and boost energy credentials.

But in May, 16 machines in schools across the region including Inverness, Ross-shire, Caithness and Sutherland stopped rotating after councillors voiced concerns about their safety.

An urgent investigation was ordered to be carried out by independent consultants Building Research Establishment (BRE) over concerns about the stability of the structures and fencing and exclusion zones.

It followed temporary closure of Raasay Primary School, Skye, when the collapse of a turbine and moves to set up new ones at Inshes Primary School and Nairn Academy.

The council has announced each site has now been assessed and following servicing and site works the turbines will be re-energised on a school-by-school basis during November.

Risk assessments concluded that following the implementation of site specific measures – principally fencing, servicing and training - they can be safely operated and should be re-energised.

A spokesman said: "The clear conclusion of the risk assessments is that the turbines will operate safely at wind speeds up to 134mph. Applying a further safety margin, the council will ensure that no turbine is operational in wind speeds exceeding 100mph.

"Procedures will be in place to ensure that turbines are isolated and made safe before such extreme conditions prevail.

"Further site specific measures will be carried out, before re-energising, in line with the recommendations of BRE and resulting from the conclusions of our own risk assessments."

The council says it believes it has broken new ground in assessing and managing the risks associated with wind turbines in schools in the review by BRE.

But the investigation also found the turbines at Holm and also primaries at Rosehall in Sutherland and Eigg on the Small Isles proved to be ineffectual in terms of energy performance and will be decommissioned.

Another turbine at Craighill Primary, Tain, proved to be poorly sited and will be decommissioned.

Risk assessments at another 12 primary schools concluded that following the implementation of site specific measures – principally fencing, servicing and training – they can be safely operated and should be re-energised.

Steve Barron, council depute chief executive and director of housing and property, said: "There has been a great deal of interest and some concern about the planning and installation of wind turbines on school sites. As a result of this, we commenced a review of the risk assessment process and the installations of wind turbines at council schools.

"The council takes the issue of safety within schools very seriously and where additional measures are deemed necessary these will be planned and undertaken in consultation with head teachers and the council’s health and safety team.

"It is important to note the continued commitment of the council to reducing carbon emissions and energy costs through the use of renewable energy technologies. The deployment of wind turbines forms an important part of our plans to meet challenging national targets for carbon reduction. Following the proper assessment of risks, selection of appropriate locations and deployment of protective measures we intend to continue with our turbine programme."

Turbines to be switched back on are:

• Inverness: Culloden Academy.

• Ross: Gairloch Academy; Hilton of Cadboll Primary; Inver Primary.

• Lochaber: Acharacle Primary.

• Sutherland: Dornoch Academy; Stoer Primary.

• Caithness: Bower Primary; Castletown Primary; Crossroads Primary; Pultneytown Primary; and South Primary.

• The turbine at Scoraig Primary School, West Ross, is in a remote location on the peninsula and has been back in operation since the summer following its assessment.