13 November 2024
A party powered by Gusty the wind turbine
It’s always good to host a party – but the event held on Benyon Estate land on Monday (November 4th) was a party with a purpose!
In partnership with Octopus Energy and the pro-growth campaign group, Britain Remade, we welcomed journalists and guests from the energy sector to a Turbine Build Party to demonstrate the technology needed to tackle climate change.
Among those also attending were Energy and Net Zero Secretary of State, Ed Miliband, our Estate Manager, Edward Benyon and Richard and Zoe Benyon.
The temporary 28m tall wind turbine, nicknamed Gusty Spinfield, went up on land at 62-64 Southgate Road in just two days. It produced the clean, green electricity to power the lighting, food and drink stands and DJ booth at the party.
Edward Benyon said: “This was a fantastic initiative to be a part of and we were pleased to provide Gusty with a temporary home to help highlight how clean energy can be created in an urban area such as Hackney.
“Green energy is crucial to the future of electricity generation in the years ahead as we move towards a carbon net zero economy. Urban areas have a part to play in this transition and at The Benyon Estate, we want to stimulate debate and encourage planning policy to be more proactive to these issues.”
Hackney Councillor Joe Walker, who was at the party, posted his support for the project on social media. “Hackney leading the way supporting this great pilot scheme to erect a wind turbine, led by the Benyon Estate in partnership with Octopus Energy,” he said
Britain Remade, a grassroots campaign seeking to remove the barriers blocking the deployment of new infrastructure, believes there is significant potential to expand renewable energy generation in urban areas.
The Labour Government has reversed the Conservative administration’s effective ban on building onshore wind turbines, but it can still take up to 11 years from conception to completion to get a new turbine up and operating.
The CEO of Britain Remade, Sam Richards, said: “If we are to get the growth we all want to see, if we are to have a clean grid by 2030 and if we are to give millions of households up and down the country cheaper energy we have to speed up the time it takes to build new sources of clean energy.
“It doesn’t need to take as long as it does to build the wind turbines, the solar farms or new nuclear power stations as it does - it’s the planning system holding us back not the technology. The government has made important strides in its first few months, but it needs to go further faster.”
The turbine, Gusty Spinfield, was installed earlier this year at the Glastonbury Festival, where it powered food traders and bars, and at Alexandra Palace in London, where it provided energy for the summer season.
Photos copyright © The Benyon Estate // Joel Rodriquez
Image 1
(from left to right): Cllr Jasmine Martins, Edward Benyon, Emily Thornberry MP, Mete Coban MBE, Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy, Cllr Sarah Young, and Cllr Joe Walker.
Image 2
Sam Richards, CEO at Britain Remade
Image 5
(from left to right): Edward Benyon, Sam Dumitriu, Head of Policy at Britain Remade, and Ed Miliband, MP and Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
Image 12
(from left to right): Sam Richards, CEO at Britain Remade, Richard Benyon
A party powered by Gusty the wind turbine
It’s always good to host a party – but the event held on Benyon Estate land on Monday (November 4th) was a party with a purpose! In partnership with Octopus Energy and the pro-growth campaign group, Britain Remade, we welcomed journalists and guests from the energy sector to a Turbine Build Party to demonstrate the technology needed to tackle climate change.
Albers in the news
Congratulations to Albers – one of our fantastic foodie tenants – who has been hitting the headlines with good news since the opening of its new café on Englefield Road earlier this summer.
Gusty the wind turbine coming soon...
The Benyon Estate is supporting a campaign to help remove planning barriers for the creation of new clean energy in urban areas. As a result of this there is a trial taking place on the yard at the rear of 62 and 64 Southgate Road.