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 do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Major pylon plans in the Monadhliath are ‘on radar’ of conservation charity
A large-scale renewable energy development in the Monadhliath is ‘on its radar’, one of Scotland’s leading outdoor groups has said. SSEN Transmission is currently consulting on its Melgarve Cluster Project and held two virtually exhibitions earlier this week after public displays in Laggan and Fort Augustus were cancelled on Covid safety grounds. The project is intended to connect three wind farms in the Monadhliath to the National Grid via the substation at Melgarve. The proposed work would see around 5.5 . . . Complete story »
Group fighting proposed wind farm off West Sussex coast launch petition
Concerned residents who are fighting proposals for a new wind farm have urged the public to sign a petition. The plans for the Rampion 2 wind farm could see up to 116 turbines 325-metre-tall, the same height as the Eiffel Tower, placed off the West Sussex coast. A petition has been launched by campaigners to stop the building of the turbines, which would be 2.35 times the height of Rampion1 turbines. Zoe Visram is a member of the Middleton-on-sea Coastal . . . Complete story »
More details revealed on proposed major renewable energy connections through the Monadhliath
More details have been shed on a major renewable energy development in the Monadhliath which will enable three proposed wind farms to connect to the National Grid. SSEN Transmission released further information on its large-scale plans for the Melgarve Cluster Project via two virtual exhibitions held earlier this week. A public consultation has been due to take place at Laggan Village Hall on Tuesday afternoon, but that was cancelled by the energy giant last week citing the current dangers posed . . . Complete story »
Amanda Holden backs war on offshore wind farm
Amanda Holden is backing a campaign to halt a wind farm that would have turbines taller than the Eiffel Tower from blighting one of Britain’s most beautiful coastlines. The Britain’s Got Talent judge is angry at plans by German energy company RWE to erect the giant towers of up to 1,066ft within sight of the West Sussex coast. She has offered her support to thousands of local campaigners battling to stop the new site called Rampion 2, which will occupy . . . Complete story »
Ministers under fire for approving Dumfries and Galloway wind farms during pandemic
It is now a year since the Scottish Government failed to give the green light to an onshore wind farm application. The last one not to receive Holyrood’s approval was the North Lowther bid in January 2021. However, the next ten were all been granted, including three in Dumfries and Galloway – Windy Standard, Cornharrow and Fell Windfarm. That totals 37 turbines for the area which campaigners say is already at saturation point. The Scottish Government has ruled on 19 . . . Complete story »
Plans submitted for a new wind farm near picturesque Grantown
Plans for a brand new 17-turbine wind farm just outside Grantown have been submitted to the Scottish Government. Wind energy firm Fred. Olsen Renewables say the wind farm will be the first of its kind in Scotland. The proposal states that it will create a “unique” kind of fuel poverty programme which will help local residents to reduce their energy bills while addressing fuel poverty in the region. How big are the turbines going to be? Current plans have earmarked . . . Complete story »
‘Late’ windfarm objections prompt calls for planning rules overhaul
Council planners are seeking action from Stormont over last minute objections that are clogging up the system. The committee of elected representatives that approves or rejects major development proposals wrote to DfI minister Nicola Mallon asking her to urgently consider a rule change. The move came after ‘late’ objections to a major windfarm redevelopment prevented the committee from reaching a decision. Planning officers had recommended approving a proposal from Scottish Power to ‘re-power the Rigged Hill site when it came . . . Complete story »
Glenkens windfarm proposal appealed to Scottish Government for third time
Proposals for a windfarm in the Glenkens are the subject of an appeal to the Scottish Government – for a third time. Energiekontor UK lodged documents at Holyrood for its plans at Cornharrow near Dalry just two days before Christmas. The move was made possible as the council had failed to make a decision on the plans for seven turbines as tall as 180m within the required timeframe. It’s the third time the German energy firm, which already has plans . . . Complete story »
Wind power is neither clean nor cheap, and cherry-picked figures belie the truth
It has been heartening of late to read so many letters pointing out the failings of wind power and why we should never have over-deployed on weather-dependent energy. If only the independent engineers and economists had been heeded over this last decade, then perhaps we wouldn’t be in the current mess, with unaffordable bills and no energy security as wind regularly goes AWOL, forcing prices up to eye-watering figures of £4000 MWH to keep the lights on. Not investing in home-produced . . . Complete story »
Tax haven firms own £7.7bn of UK offshore wind power lines
Transmission cables from the 24 offshore wind farms around the UK – which have a combined value of nearly £7.7bn – are all owned by companies with links to corporate tax havens. A Ferret investigation has found that five companies which part-own the cables – HICL Infrastructure, 3i Group, International Public Partnerships Limited, Equitix, and Dalmore Capital – have links to either Luxembourg, Guernsey, Jersey or the Cayman Islands. Tax experts called The Ferret’s findings “very significant” and said that the exchequer could be . . . Complete story »
