Wind Power News: U.K.
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted.
Too much wind and not enough puff
Wind farms appear to offer a perfect solution to the twin problems of global warming and the depletion of hydrocarbon reserves. The wind will still be blowing long after the last petrol-engined car has been crunched into a lump of metal. Britain may be running out of North Sea oil, but you need only stand on our coastline to realise it will never lack wind.
As we report today, however, a detailed study of some of Britain’s onshore wind farms suggests . . .
Feeble wind farms fail to hit full power
The first detailed study of Britain’s onshore wind farms suggests some treasured landscapes may have been blighted for only small gains in green energy.
The analysis reveals that more than 20 wind farms produce less than a fifth of their potential maximum power output.
One site, at Blyth Harbour in Northumberland, is thought to be the worst in Britain, operating at just 7.9% of its maximum capacity. Another at Chelker reservoir in North Yorkshire operates at only 8.7% of capacity.
Both are relatively . . .
Work set to start on wind farm
Work is due to start on a wind farm on a Valleys mountaintop on Monday – just days before planning permission is due to expire.
Campaigners described the news that Dutch energy company Infinergy Limited will start work on Mynydd Tyntyla, between Ferndale in the Rhondda Fach and Ystrad in the Rhondda Fawr, as a bolt out of the blue.
The firm was granted planning permission in April 2005 after a two-year appeal process. The company says the eight generators would . . .
‘We will fight for our village’s future’ say Widdrington residents
A village which has endured decades of opencast mining – and has been used as the site of a mass grave for slaughtered animals – is now facing the prospect of having giant wind turbines on its doorstep.
Countryside around Widdrington in Northumberland has been dug up for coal for 70 years, and in 2001 more than 150,000 cattle, sheep and pigs were either buried in pits or burned on a pyre near the village during the foot and mouth crisis.
Now . . .
Smear campaign
There seems to be a concerted smear campaign against Sustainable Shetland and Leslie Lowes’ letter (‘We need the income’; SN 18/3/10) referring to personal attacks and ‘anti wind-mill militant tendency’ would seem to be a part of it.
From my experience, those involved with Sustainable Shetland could hardly be termed militant in any sense of the word. It would be hard to find a more genuinely concerned bunch of people. I would hope the Windfarm Supporters Group would have similar concerns . . .
Pendle villagers win first round in mast fight
Battling villagers have won the first round in a ‘David versus Goliath’ battle with phone giants BT over a 60-metre high mast and expected wind farm which could ruin a haven for badgers, buzzards and bats in Pendle.
The telecoms firm wants to branch out into renewable energy and had unveiled proposals for an anemometer at Moor Isle Farm, Wood End Road, Reedley Hallows, to gauge wind speeds in the area.
But neighbours and residents in nearby Higham and Fence have launched . . .
Dozens fill wind farm protest
Worried residents packed out a meeting to discuss the huge wind turbine ‘monsters’ which they fear are set to destroy the landscape according to campaigners.
Nearly 100 people crammed into East Huntspill Church Hall to discuss an action plan to prevent several 400ft propellered structures from being built.
Temporary measuring masts are the first step in the planning process before a wind farm is introduced.
Approval has been given to energy giant EDF for a mast to the south west of Withy Farm . . .
Cumbrian MP’s message to wind farm developers: Pack up and leave
The rejection of a windfarm near Penrith has sent a clear message to developers: “Stay away from Cumbria and build offshore,” an MP said.
Penrith and the Border MP David Maclean said the decision of the inspector, which was endorsed by the Secretary of State, to throw out plans for a nine-turbine site that energy company Wind Prospect hoped to build near Skelton was the best news for Cumbria this year so far.
He said: “We have won on every point we . . .
MoD scuppers turbines
The Ministry of Defence wants to stop more wind turbines being put up in parts of north Cumbria because of fears they will hamper checks on which countries are carrying out nuclear tests.
The MoD has said that it will object to windfarms within 31 miles of its Eskdalemuir seismological recording station in case the vibrations interfere with readings.
The station monitors compliance with the nuclear test ban treaty and is the only one of its kind in the UK.
The move to . . .
Victorious Cumbrian villagers now fear second turbine bid
Villagers in Cumwhinton are waiting to see whether fresh plans for a windfarm are put forward after proposals for three turbines at Newlands Farm were thrown out this week.
Planning inspector Paul Griffiths ruled that the 377ft-high turbines would have a “significant detrimental impact” on nearby Cringles Farm and Beech Cottage.
However, he left the door open for a smaller windfarm by allowing a meteorological mast to be put in place for three years to test the site’s suitability for wind energy.
Bolsterstone . . .
