Free family open day will mark 30 years of wind farm near Lancaster

Visitors will be able to take a tour of the site and get up close to an operational turbine with one of Thrive’s experts as part of the event, which takes place from 10am to 3.30pm on Saturday September 21,

There will also be wind energy themed activities for families to enjoy, including face painting, crafts and more at the nearby Victoria Institute.

Thrive will be running a complimentary minibus shuttle service between the Victoria Institute and wind farm site throughout the day.

Adrian Warman, head of operations at Thrive Renewables, said: “We’re really looking forward to welcoming local people onto site to find out more about how wind can help power our everyday lives.

"As we enter our 30th year building and operating clean energy projects, it’s even more special to be bringing people together at one of our longest standing projects, celebrating the progress of renewables as well as their role in the future as we work to establish a cleaner, fairer energy system here in the UK.”

Entry to the free event is by ticket only, booked on a first come first serve basis.

Tickets for the event and further information can be found via Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/caton-moor-wind-farm-free-community-open-day-tickets-1006715562347?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Since 2015, Thrive’s voluntary Community Benefit Programme has awarded five energy efficiency grants to community centres in the area, helping them cut bills plus increase warmth and comfort for people who use the spaces.

The Victoria Institute is one of its grantees, using grants awarded in 2016 and 2018 to improve insulation and upgrade its boilers. Other grantees nearby include the Halton Community Centre, who used the funding to install energy efficient lighting and taps, as well as upgrading their solar PV and solar thermal system.

Thrive Renewables’ eight turbine Caton Moor wind farm is located in an area of open access moorland. Operational since 2006, the turbines have a total capacity of 16 MW, with a forecasted annual output of 47 GWh, which is enough clean electricity to power more than 11,700 average UK homes.