Scene Connect Ltd. ("Scene") was appointed by the Othona community ("Othona"), to prepare and submit a planning application for a proposed wind turbine at its site near Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex. The work was organised into four broad work stages, to take place between January and July 2022:
1. Project initiation and baseline setting
2. Initial Engagement
3. Preparation of Planning package and supporting environmental information
4. Planning determination
Othona is an open and inclusive Christian Community of anywhere between 10 and 100 people. It draws on a wealth of other inspirations and welcomes people of all ages, abilities, backgrounds and beliefs to its two centres in Essex (this site) and Dorset. The site at Bradwell-On-Sea provides accommodation, catering and education. As an off-grid community, Othona cannot rely on the decarbonisation of the public electricity network, nor can it pursue large scale energy infrastructure such as nuclear or offshore wind for its own transition to net zero. It is wholly dependent on small-scale renewable generation and battery storage. Furthermore, as it cannot export excess renewable energy to the grid, it needs to achieve zero carbon emissions from its energy, not just net zero (where any emissions generated onsite would be offset by emissions avoided from energy export).
The proposed 25kW wind turbine, together with the existing wind turbine, solar PV panels, biomass boiler and battery storage, will not quite get Othona to net zero - there will still be some periods of low-wind and low-solar when the diesel generator will be required, given the amount of storage available.