An application looks set to be made to extend the operational life of a Harrogate wind farm by another five years.

The Knabs Ridge Wind Farm, located on Penny Pot Lane, was commissioned on August 27, 2008, with a 20-year consent to operate.

A screening application made by Natural Power this month, on behalf of the wind farm, hopes to extend the facility’s ability to create renewable energy until 2033.

The proposal also asks the council to determine whether an Environmental Impact Assessment would be required for such an extension.

The site currently includes eight wind turbines and a substation across 80 hectares of land. It can generate a maximum of 10.4 megawatts of electricity when operating at its full power.

No physical changes are proposed to be made to the turbines or the landscape during this extension of operation. As a result, no further natural resources would be used on the site.

Natural Power says that the extension would enable the site to further contribute to the government’s target of achieving net zero by 2050.

It adds that the proposal would have a negligible impact on the environment – as the wind turbines are already operational and do not emit pollution – and that it does not believe an environmental impact assessment is necessary.

Due to its location, the report acknowledged that the extension would continue to affect a small number of residencies in the area, such as the Menwith Hill Camp, Kettlesing and Burnt Yates. However, it stated that this was only a small number.

Natural Power determined that the extension of this operation would have a low impact and therefore no significant effect on the surrounding areas.

A decision will be made by North Yorkshire Council at later date.