Two residents meet in a Bristol pub and agree to build a wind turbine. It is Bristol’s year as European Green Capital.

ACE starts to develop exclusivity agreement for the use of land with Bristol City Council which is ultimately signed in 2021.

ACE secures a grid connection agreement with Western Power Distribution for an 11kV supply to the turbine site. The works include the provision and installation of high voltage cable and substation equipment. 

On the 8th July 2020, ACE’s planning application, supported by comprehensive and detailed environmental, ecological, transport, and community reports, receives a unanimous vote for approval from Bristol City Council’s Planning Committee. The permission is granted for 25 years from commissioning. 

Pre-construction planning conditions are met and approved by Bristol City Council, thus allowing the project to progress.

The wind turbine receives loan funding from Thrive Renewables, Bristol & Bath Regional Capital, members of the Society of Merchant  Venturers, and a £0.5m grant from West of England Combined Authority (WECA) via the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. 

Contracts are signed with Enercon Energy UK for the supply of the turbine and Knights Brown Ltd for the balance of plant (civil and electrical) work.

Work begins on site with clearance and the construction of access roads.

The 22 18m long piles are installed. The pile foundation is needed because the soil quality is very poor.

The initial steel reinforcement is placed to start the formation of the concrete foundation for the turbine.

ACE signs a power purchase agreement with Bristol-based OVO Energy to sell the energy produced.

Two weeks after arriving in the UK, the three blades are delivered to the site with a police escort. The tower sections arrive two days later.

Following set up of the specialist crane, the tower sections are delivered and assembled and the nacelle and rotor are added over a four day period.

It then takes a further week to install all three of the blades.

The commissioning process begins to ensure the turbine is in working order.

After six years the turbine is finally fully operational.