Supporters of renewable energy have welcomed a rise in wind turbine applications across the Bradford district.

On Monday, the Telegraph & Argus revealed applications were at an all- time high of 16 last year compared to 13 the previous year and 11 in 2009.

The proposals include a mix of 15-metre domestic installations, scoping reports for planned installations and applications for larger turbines up to 76 metres high.

Councillor Martin Love, one of Shipley’s ward representatives and a member of the Green Party, said: “Any increase in renewable energy generation is to be welcomed.

“Something Bradford has got a lot of is hills and wind. We should utilise them for energy generation wherever we can. However, for Wind turbines to be effective we need bigger ones. If you double the size of the turbine it quadruples the amount of energy produced.”

Queensbury and Denholme have been earmarked for wind energy in Bradford Council’s draft Core Strategy Development Plan Document.

Developer Banks Renewables is proposing to install up to four turbines on nearby Thornton Moor.

Councillor Val Slater, Bradford Council's executive member for planning, said: “Renewable energy ultimately means a cleaner district and less pollution. Although there is an increase in applications for wind turbines we don't actually receive that many.”

Brighouse-based Evoco Energy is one of the companies selling domestic wind turbines to householders in the district.

Director Fraser Marwick said an increase in applications was good for the environment. “Wind turbines produce clean energy and, unlike some other technologies, wind turbines are also quite efficient in the energy generation that they provide for the cost of them,” he said. The company hit the headlines last month when customers were told to turn off their turbines after blades came off three Evoco machines near Huddersfield during high winds.

Mr Marwick said all affected turbines were being updated and customers were being compensated for their losses while the turbines were turned off.

Phil Dyke, of Banks Renewables, said: “The West Yorkshire landscape and the wind speeds recorded in the area make it suitable for this sort of development.”