Households Supplied

The latest Ourack Wind Farm design consists of 17 turbines (up to 180 m) with a potential capacity of around 100 megawatts (MW). Based on typical assumptions, this could generate enough electricity to meet the approximate annual domestic electricity needs of around 64,000 average UK households.

How is this calculated?

1. Theoretical maximum output:
   Capacity × hours in a year
   105 MW × (365 × 24) = 105 × 8,760 = 919,800 MWh
   This represents a theoretical maximum, assuming optimum wind conditions throughout the year.
2. Applying a capacity factor:
   Onshore wind farms typically operate at around 30–40% of their theoretical maximum. For this calculation, a 30% capacity factor is used:
   919,800 MWh × 0.3 = 275,940 MWh
   Wind assessment work suggests the capacity factor may be higher than 30%, but actual performance will depend on site-specific conditions.
3. Household equivalence:
   Ofgem suggests annual household electricity usage is approximately 4,238 kWh. For this calculation, 4,300 kWh is used for simplicity:
   275,940,000 kWh ÷ 4,300 kWh = ≈64,172 households

Disclaimer: These figures are indicative and based on standard industry assumptions. Actual generation will vary depending on wind conditions and operational factors.