Planning permission has been given for a wind turbine at Gourdie Industrial Estate despite claims it could affect the sensitive processes used by a neighbouring chemical sciences business.
Fruit and vegetable processing company Dundee Cold Stores Ltd had applied for consent to build the turbine at its Whittle Place site.
The turbine will generate 850kw of electricity, most or all of which will be used to power the plant.
Although the height of the column will be 65 metres just over 200 feet the distance to the tip of the blades will add another 26 metres.
By comparison, the Michelin turbines have a hub height of 85m and a rotor diameter of 71m.
The committee heard from David Vale, chairman of chemical sciences company Ceimig Ltd, which has premises on the industrial estate.
He objected to the application as the turbine would be only 50 metres from his company’s premises.
Mr Vale said the products his firm made were ultra-pure and sophisticated and must not be prone to vibration.
In addition, he said the distance between the turbine and Ceimig’s premises meant that if the structure fell over it could hit the building and lead to the release of hazardous and flammable chemicals.
Supporting the application, Ian McLean of renewable energy consultants RD Energy Solutions said the risk of the turbine falling was very low.
He said there had been a study done elsewhere into the effects of vibration from wind turbines and he did not believe there would be an adverse effect on the neighbouring business.
Mr McLean acknowledged the study had been done for a range of 100 metres and he was not aware of any for the effects within 50 metres.
However, he said the results for 100 metres were such as to indicate there would not be a problem at that distance either.
City development director Mike Galloway said it had been estimated that the turbine would offset the emission of more than 1000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.
“It will therefore be a strong step in helping meet the regional and national carbon reduction targets.”
He said there were a number of tall structures in Dundee which were closer to neighbouring properties than their height.
If that was not permitted there would be very little development in the city at all.
The committee unanimously approved the application.