Games Monitor

The Evening Standard reports that 'French-owned EDF Energy are not bidding to run the 393ft-tall turbine on the Games site as they were concerned about a lack of wind.

The company, London's largest electricity supplier, said it would not be able to sell enough wind energy from the 2012 Olympic site into the national grid in future years to justify the turbine's £2 million start-up costs.

The ODA has now awarded the contract to British wind power experts Ecotricity and insists the turbine will have a “key role” in meeting its targets.

The ODA dismissed claims that Hackney's proposal for a turbine on the adjacent Hackney Marshes would be used to help the Games meet targets.

Ecotricity will pay a £60,000-per-year rent for the 0.6 hectare site in Eton Manor in the north of the park.

Eton Manor will host temporary pools for Olympic swimming and venues for Paralympic archery and tennis tournaments.

Delays have dogged the turbine project since it was unveiled in October 2006. Planning permission was granted in 2007 but safety tests have put back building work by two years and it is not due for completion until next year.

There were concerns that ice could form on the 131ft-long blades and pose a danger to the public. But the ODA said in a statement: “The risk of ice formation on the turbine blades is extremely low.”'