March 29, 2012
England

Claim and counter-claim over Redcar offshore windfarm

by Dave Robson, Evening Gazette, www.gazettelive.co.uk 29 March 2012

Claims that the firm developing Redcar’s offshore windfarm released a lot of hot air about its energy-saving credentials have been denied.

Before EDF Energy Renewables began offshore construction work in February, it distributed leaflets stating the windfarm would save 200,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year.

But Malcolm Covell, of New Marske, a keen follower of the national debate about windfarms, was sceptical and carried out his own calculations using standards approved by Renewables UK, the body representing the wind industry.

He said that by using “old, discredited figures” calculated in 2001, EDF came up with a 250% exaggeration of the true figure of only 80,000 tonnes.

But the company denies deliberately misleading anyone, saying “the most recent form of calculation was not available when the Teesside project was first conceived”.

Mr Covell said: “They made a very basic mistake in not using figures agreed by the wind industry back in 2008.

“The question, is why didn’t EDF update their figures to meet the 2008 agreed industry standards?”

But an EDF spokesman said the firm “totally refutes” any suggestions the CO2 reduction figures used are incorrect or have been exaggerated.

“When the power output of the Teesside windfarm is compared to the same amount of electricity provided by a coal-fired power station, the saving would be about 200,000 tonnes.

“When compared with a mix of power generation sources, including gas for example, it would be between 80,000-90,000 tonnes.

The spokesman said: “Both figures are correct.

“Whichever way it is measured, the Teesside Offshore Windfarm will be making a significant contribution to helping to meet future Government targets for reduced CO2 emissions.”


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/03/29/claim-and-counter-claim-over-redcar-offshore-windfarm/