Wind Power News: January 2008
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort 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.
Blade flew 40 meters [Vingen flög 40 meter]
Ett flera ton tungt rotorblad lossnade från vindkraftverk [The several-ton rotor blade broke off from a wind turbine last Friday morning on Gotland. “People walk with their dogs in this area!” said Hardy Pettersson of Nãs. The blade created a meter-deep crater. The turbine is one of a group of nine installed in 2002. They are Vestas V52 models rated at 850 kW. Each rotor blade is 25 meters long and weights several tons. The detached blade landed 40 meters . . . Complete story »
Belgium wind farm contracted to Electrabel
French utility Suez SA’s Belgian unit will construct Belgium’s largest wind farm. Electrabel announced it has signed an agreement with six Belgian municipalities for the construction of the country’s largest onshore wind farm. As part of the project, 20 turbines, each with a capacity of 2 to 3 megawatts, will be constructed; the total project is estimated to generate about 40 to 50 megawatts. Electrabel said it must now seek planning permission. The company expects the turbines to supply annual . . . Complete story »
Consent for Scotland's third largest wind farm
Consent for a wind farm in Perthshire capable of meeting electricity demand for more than 100,000 homes was granted today by Ministers. The 68 turbine Griffin wind farm near Aberfeldy will have a generating capacity of 204 Megawatts (MW) of electricity. Energy Minister Jim Mather said: “Renewables capacity is already greater than the installed capacity of nuclear in Scotland. The decision to approve Griffin windfarm is an important milestone in the Government’s energy strategy for Scotland – which will include the . . . Complete story »
German utilities warn of power bottlenecks due to wind integration — report
German utilities are warning the government of bottlenecks in power transmission grids due to the difficulties of integrating higher shares of wind energy, Handelsblatt reported. The paper cited reports on the state of transmission networks German utilities are required to submit to the German grid regulator by tomorrow. The number of incidents has risen significantly over the past two years, the report said. Vattenfall Europe AG’s transmission unit recorded 155 days where the situation was critical on grids last year, . . . Complete story »
Crowd rejects wind turbines in state forests
Perhaps a proposal to build an oil refinery in a national park would draw a crowd this angry. Or maybe not. It would have to be a very popular park. About 500 people packed a public hearing in Western Maryland tonight to protest a plan to build 40-story wind turbines in state forests. A Pennsylvania-based company, U.S. Wind Force, would like Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley’s administration to lease the firm about 400 acres of Savage River and Potomac state forests . . . Complete story »
Zoning board hears windmill testimony
On a fittingly windy day, the Fayette County Zoning Hearing Board heard testimony Wednesday from people in favor of and against requests for special exceptions that would allow the construction of 18-wind powered turbines in Georges and Springhill townships. Several neighbors implored the zoning board to put conditions on the windmills if they are granted, expressing concerns about issues such as noise and flickering. “I’m very concerned because one is going to go basically in my back yard,” said Tracy . . . Complete story »
Local concerns aired at Merranblo Inquiry
A windfarm at Merranblo would ‘ruin’ one of the wildest places in Britain, it was claimed on day seven of the public inquiry into the project. Orkney Skyline Concern representative Colin Kirkpatrick asked the inquiry to take into account the potential impact on the coastline between Yesnaby and Stromness. This was an area that had been captured on canvas and film by leading artists like Stanley Cursiter and that continued to inspire new generations of creative Orcadians, Mr Kirkpatrick said. . . . Complete story »
I can't let wind farm destroy countryside
The world’s most famous white horse hill carving will be the scene of a protest by disgruntled residents, ramblers and dog walkers on Sunday against the creation of a huge wind farm nearby. Westmill Wind Farm is being built at a former RAF airfield near Swindon, not far from the dramatic 3,000-year-old, 360ft-long Uffington White Horse. The £5 million green power scheme, hailed a milestone for the industry, involves five 164ft turbines (just a foot smaller than the peak of . . . Complete story »
Lowca's turbines likely to stay
The Lowca wind turbine that hasn’t turned for 12 months will probably be allowed to stay. Members at next week’s Copeland planning panel meeting are being recommended not to pursue enforcement action against site operator E-On after it breached planning approvals that require a turbine that hasn’t operated for a period of six months to be removed. The energy company says it is seriously trying to rectify the situation and explains that the turbine had a fault in the gearbox . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine restrictions proposed
FREETOWN – With alternative technologies growing more popular, town voters will be asked at a Special Town Meeting to approve a zoning bylaw governing wind turbines. “We’re trying to be proactive. We want to make sure this is done right,” said selectmen chairman Lawrence N. Ashley. Ashley said there are two wind turbines in town, a number that could easily grow as people try to cut dependence on foreign oil and find renewable sources of energy. The proposed bylaw would restrict . . . Complete story »
