For immediate release: Tuesday 15 June 2010
Contact: Rachel Anderson, Communications Officer, +44 (0) 1923 299 400 or +44 (0) 7795 680 803
JOIN RES FOR ‘MUSIC UNDER THE TURBINE’
ANNUAL OPEN DAY AT ECO-FRIENDLY HQ
On Saturday 19 June, RES is inviting the public to join them for ‘Music Under the Turbine’ at the Beaufort
Court Wind Turbine in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire. The event will be part of UK Wind Week and will offer
visitors the chance to take part in a series of fun and educational activities and find more about wind energy.
Wind Week is organised by RenewableUK, the country’s leading renewable energy trade association, in
conjunction with RenewableUK members and partner organisations in the UK and Europe. As last year, Wind
Week coincides with Global Wind Day on 15 June.
As well as enjoying a picnic under the turbine listening to live music, visitors can wander the Wind Sculpture
Trail, learn more about renewable energy, peruse the stalls in the Green Village, buy hot and cold food and
drinks and try something new out the Alternative Bike Arena. There will also be lots to keep the children
entertained with face painting, giant chalk drawing, wind farm clay modeling and wind sock making. Entry is
free but visitors will be asked to donate to the chosen charity for the day, the Watford Peace Hospice.
The Beaufort Court wind turbine, which is owned by RES, has been operating at their headquarters site next
to the M25 in Kings Langley since 2003. The 50m high structure has a generating capacity of 225kW and
supplies electricity to the office buildings and the local grid.
Anna Stanford, Head of Communications at RES, said:
“Our wind turbine is a popular local landmark and we always get a great response from the public to our
open events. Visitors come to find out more about the benefits of renewable energy and it’s also an important
way for us to involve the community in our work. This year, we have an exciting programme of live music
from local and UK bands, environmental stalls and lots of children’s activities. We’re looking forward to
welcoming people for a celebration of all things windy!”
Adam Bell, Embrace Campaign Coordinator at RenewableUK said:
“Wind Week is a wonderful opportunity for people across the UK to come and see how their local wind farm
works and learn more about this exciting form of renewable energy. The wind industry has a great deal of
public support throughout the UK. As the windiest country in Europe, we are perfectly placed to harness the
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power of the wind to generate green, renewable energy that will power our homes in the future whilst reducing
overall levels of carbon dioxide emissions. The wind energy industry is providing the UK with thousands of
new jobs and improving the economic prospects of many local communities across the country.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. RES is one of the world’s leading independent renewable energy project developers with operations
across Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific. At the forefront of wind energy development since
the 1970s, RES has developed and/or built more than 4.7GW of wind energy capacity worldwide,
including around 10% of the UK’s wind energy. The RES Group is active in a range of renewable
energy technologies (biomass, solar, onshore and offshore wind, wave and tidal), as well as
sustainable building design. For more information, visit www.res-group.com
2. Music Under the Turbine runs from 11am – 4pm at Beaufort Court, Egg Farm Lane, Kings Langley.
RES is encouraging people to leave their car at home on 19 June and come on foot, by bike, by bus
or by train – there will be no parking on site. A shuttlebus will run throughout the day starting in
Kings Langley High Street at 12.30pm: Egg Farm Lane - Kings Langley High Street - Kings Langley
Carnival. Flag it down if you need a ride. For further information, visit www.beaufortcourt.com
3. Recent statistics from the UK Wind Energy Database reveal that onshore wind developments in the
East of England currently account for almost 15% of the region’s adopted 2010 onshore renewable
energy target of 820MW. Over the past twelve months there has been a small increase of 5% in
operational onshore wind capacity but there is still 142MW of capacity in the planning system
awaiting approval, or the equivalent of enough electricity to power 83,000 homes.
CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Rachel Anderson
Communications Officer, RES
+44 (0) 1923 299 400
+44 (0) 7795 680 803
rachel.anderson@res-ltd.com