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Wind Watch: Industrial Wind Energy News
Offshore Wildlife Accidents Complaints Wins
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission to provide information about industrial wind energy development to readers seeking such information. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the credited organizations or individuals and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
Czech voters reject wind farms and waste plants in local referendums
Residents largely rejected proposed wind farms, waste incinerators and mining projects in local referendums held alongside Czechia’s municipal elections on Oct. 9–10, according to results reported by ČTK on Saturday evening. Around 40 municipalities and city districts held referendums, roughly half concerning wind turbines. The ballots allowed residents to weigh in on projects affecting their immediate surroundings, from energy infrastructure to farmland development and railway crossings. Among the wind-farm results available so far, Dětřichov in the Svitavy district was the . . . Complete story »
Coastguard warning after wind turbine parts wash up on Earnse Bay
A coastguard team has issued a safety warning after wind turbine parts washed up on a popular beach. Furness Coastguard responded to reports of fibreglass debris on Earnse Bay, Walney Island, which were later identified as hatches from offshore wind turbines. A spokesman for the team said: “Fibreglass can be an irritant, especially if the glass fibres are exposed. “We advise people not to touch these items.” The debris was moved above the high water mark and reported to the . . . Complete story »
Offshore wind turbine foundations may cool ocean surface by mixing seawater
New research within the PELAgIO ECOWind project has revealed how offshore wind farms can influence ocean temperatures and mixing, and why their effects depend on local conditions. As offshore wind farms become an increasing part of the U.K.’s renewable energy future, scientists are working to better understand how they interact with the marine environment. A team of scientists, led by NOC’s Michela De Dominicis, has found that while offshore wind turbine structures can alter ocean mixing and temperature, their effects . . . Complete story »
MoD joins Lord Botham in objection to 200-metre-high wind turbines in North Yorkshire countryside because of ‘unacceptable interference’ with RAF base
The Ministry of Defence has objected to plans to install 200-metre-high wind turbines in a North Yorkshire beauty spot over fears they would cause major disruption to RAF operations. Proposals for Hope Moor Wind Farm, which will straddle picturesque areas of County Durham and the Yorkshire Dales popular with walkers, include 23 wind turbines reaching 200 metres above ground level. Such is the size of the proposed development, it has been deemed a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project [NSIP], meaning it . . . Complete story »
Labour’s 100ft wind turbines risk jamming defence radars
Labour will tear up planning rules to make way for wind turbines that the Government admits could interfere with defence radar systems. Under net zero plans, businesses, schools and farms would be able to install wind turbines close to 100ft (30 metres) high without needing planning permission to “lower their bills and make the best use of their land”. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s consultation on the plans acknowledges that such “wind turbines can cause interference with . . . Complete story »
Regions call for end to ‘free ride’ for solar and wind farms
A 25-year-old legal loophole which excuses power generation companies from paying council rates must be closed, representatives of one regional council say. Acting mayor of the Coorong district Jonathan Pietzsch has written to Premier Peter Malinauskas requesting a change to a law which he says has disadvantaged councils around regional South Australia and the communities which depend on them. Coorong councillors were told at a recent meeting that efforts to change the law, which had been championed by former state . . . Complete story »
Loughs Agency investigates two incidents at Donegal wind-farm construction site
The Loughs Agency has investigated two incidents at a wind farm under construction in Donegal, after a rock berm was breached and dirty water was separately discharged into a nearby watercourse. The incidents occurred at Drumnahough Wind Farm, a 56MW project being developed jointly by SSE and FuturEnergy Ireland. The first incident, involving the breach of a rock berm, occurred on Thursday, 17 September. Material moved beyond the berm and onto a lower embankment area. Response A spokesperson for Drumnahough . . . Complete story »
Turbine fire at Taiwanese offshore wind farm
Danish wind energy giant Ørsted has confirmed a wind turbine caught fire at its 583-megawatt (MW) Greater Changhua 4 offshore wind farm in Taiwan, though the exact cause of the fire is unknown and currently under investigation. Ørsted confirmed reports last week that a fire had broken out at a wind turbine at the Greater Changhua 4 wind farm on August 8. According to the company’s press release, the wind turbine “automatically tripped and ceased operation after its system detected . . . Complete story »
Offshore wind farm suffers its second turbine blade failure in two months
Danish offshore wind energy giant Ørsted has reported yet another incident involving damage to a turbine blade at the 583-megawatt (MW) Greater Changhua 4 offshore wind farm in Taiwan, the second in under two months. Ørsted confirmed an unspecified incident happened around noon on Friday to a turbine blade at its Greater Changhua 4 Wind Farm, off the coast of Taiwan. According to the announcement, no personnel were working on the turbine at the time of the incident and there . . . Complete story »
Ce célèbre château de l’Indre fait enterrer un nouveau projet de parc éolien qui doit s’implanter à proximité
[Court buries new wind project as far too close to a famous château, Indre’s premiere tourist site and a “major site in the Loire Valley”.] La justice enterre un nouveau projet éolien que la justice estime bien trop proche d’un château célèbre, premier site touristique de l’Indre et “grand site du Val de Loire”. La cour administrative d’appel de Bordeaux (Gironde), par un arrêt de mai 2026 venant d’être rendu public, a examiné un appel portant sur la légalité du . . . Complete story »
