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The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has scrapped plans to deliver a wind turbine on the Olympic Park site.
The ODA said it remains committed to its sustainability targets and work is now underway to identify alternative options for renewable energy infrastructure across the Olympic Park.
A wind turbine had been proposed for Eton Manor in the north of the site as part of the ODA's target to deliver 20% of the Olympic Park’s legacy energy requirements from renewable sources from 2014 onwards when the site is fully operational.
A number of factors have changed the industry environment in which the Olympic Park wind turbine project was being delivered and led to a thorough examination of the turbine proposals on the Eton Manor site. For example, new wider safety legislation which applied to design elements of this particular wind turbine (specifically the internal operator lift) came into effect - the preferred bidder's turbine supplier for the project felt unable to comply with these new regulations before the Games and withdrew from the project.
This resulted in further engagement with the wider industry. Subsequent industry feedback was that the new requirements that apply to this particular turbine design and the challenging delivery timetable mean the project would not be appropriate at the Olympic Park location. This resulted in limited commercial interest in the project and led to the ODA’s decision that it is no longer feasible for the turbine to move ahead.
ODA Chief Executive David Higgins said: "We have carried out an exhaustive process with the industry and suppliers over the last two years to find a viable way of delivering a wind turbine on the Olympic Park site. However, the industry environment has changed and that means the project is no longer feasible.
"We have a strong track record in sustainability and we remain committed to meeting the challenging renewable energy targets we have set ourselves. Our focus is now on researching a number of alternative renewable energy options across the Olympic Park site to help contribute to these targets and compliment the other state-of-the art new energy infrastructure we are building."
(CD/GK)
