COUNTRYSIDE campaigners have hailed the latest study which suggests some UK wind farms operate at a tiny fraction of their maximum capacity.

Dorset Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) president Terry Stewart, a prominent figure in the fight against the proposed wind farm at East Stoke, hopes the study will generate further opposition to the green energy scheme.

The analyses, first published in the Sunday Times, revealed more than 20 wind farms produce less than a fifth of their potential maximum power output.

One site in Northumberland, believed to be the worst in Britain, operates at just 7.9 per cent, said the report.

Dorset CPRE say wind statistics for the site of the proposed wind farm at East Soke, near Wool, show it will be unable to operate at more than a quarter of its full capacity.

Green energy company Infinergy, which has submitted plans for the four huge 125-metre turbines at the Master’s Quarry site, says the farm’s maximum output would be 9.2 megawatts, enough to power 5,200 homes.

Mr Stewart said: “The wind in Dorset is intermittent, and in the recent cold period there were many days with no wind at all.

“The developer is motivated by the massive subsidies that they can receive from erecting these visual monstrosities.”

Meanwhile, Infinergy chief executive Charles Sandham said he “strongly believes” Master’s Quarry is a good site with ample wind speeds.

He added: “We research local wind speeds by putting up an anemometer mast, which measures wind speeds and direction on-site for at least a year.

“We also conduct correlations with local met stations to investigate wind speeds over a typical 20-year period and determine the lifetime performance of the wind farm.

“If the wind farm under-performs it is the developer that gets hit.

“This way developers naturally avoid unsuitable sites – if the turbines don’t turn, there is no income.”