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Site address:
The Green Britain Centre, Swaffham

Running Since: August 1999

Number of turbines:1

Rotor diameter:66m

Hub height:67m

Capacity:1.5MW

Green electricity per year:3.1 million units

Homes powered (equiv):753

Tonnes of CO2 saved p.a.:1,221

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The Green Britain Centre, Norfolk

The UK’s first big windmill

When we built this turbine in 1999, your average windmill in the UK stood about 30m tall. This one was more than twice that height and three times the capacity - the UKs first megawatt class windmill.

A view of the Ecotech Centre building and turbine

It's no ordinary turbine either, it is the only one in the world with a publicly accessible viewing platform, 67 metres up and offering 360 degree views of the Norfolk countryside.

The viewing platform was designed by Sir Norman Foster, architect of the Gherkin and New Wembley Stadium in London.

The turbine is one of the big attractions at the newly opened Green Britain Centre: the centre has evolved from the popular EcoTech Centre, which attracted over a quarter of a million visitors since opening in 1999.

Other attractions at the Green Britain Centre include:

  • The Greenbird, the worlds fastest wind powered vehicle
  • One of Britains largest solar trackers
  • A wind turbine blade famously reported to have been detached by a UFO
  • Heirloom orchard and organic gardens
  • A Cafe, serving delicious homemade local and organic vegetarian food

Visitors can check out  greenbritaincentre.co.uk/whats-on or call 01760 726100 for more details.