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Wind Power News: Europe
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.
Energy company criticised over use of ‘incognito security guards’ at consultation events
An opponent of plans to build a network of pylons across mid Wales has expressed concern that the firm behind the project has hired ex-military personnel to monitor public consultation meetings incognito. Dr Chris Langley has attended meetings in Llandeilo and Llandovery hosted by GreenGen Cymru, which has the same ownership as Bute Energy, which wants to build a parallel network of wind farms. ‘Agitated’ He said: “GreenGen Cymru is holding a series of consultation events about its route of . . . Complete story »
Angry campaigners against plans for England’s biggest wind farm near Hebden Bridge join forces for public meeting
Three groups have united to host a public forum to explore concerns they have over a giant windfarm proposed for thousands of hectares of moorland near Hebden Bridge. The Pennine Heritage Trust, in partnership with Hebden Bridge Literary and Scientific Society and Stop Calderdale Wind Farm, have organised the forum, which will be held next month. It is in response to Calderdale Wind Farm Ltd’s proposals for a 65-turbine wind farm on more than 2,300 hectares of land at Walshaw . . . Complete story »
Ill winds generate little electricity
Sir, – Herbert Petrie (Letters, April 17) is wrong when he claims that Scotland “can generate electricity for 25 million homes every day”. Most of Scotland’s generating capacity is wind power and there are scores of days each year when the country is becalmed – often at night when there’s no solar energy. For example, on 24 Feb at 23.55, UK wind turbines across the land and sea with a capacity of 23,076 MW were generating a minuscule 160 MW and this . . . Complete story »
RAF fears fighter jets flying as low as 250ft could hit 650ft wind turbines
Military chiefs have objected to plans to extend a Scots windfarm amid fears RAF jets could crash into its huge turbines. Energy firm Boralex wants to build 22 turbines up to 650ft high to extend the Cabrach wind farm in Clashindarroch, Aberdeenshire. The new blades would reach far higher than the 18 existing 360ft turbines at the site and another 14 turbines measuring 590ft that are due to come online. But the Ministry of Defence has objected due to concerns . . . Complete story »
‘We’d never have moved here if we knew more turbines were coming’
When Trevor Smith and his wife Dawn moved to the Cabrach, they thought they had found the home of their dreams. After falling in love with the tranquillity during four holidays in the north-east, they decided to make the massive move from the increasingly busy Isle of Wight. In summer last year they moved into their perfect home, a converted former church, and began settling into their new community. Just four months later they learned of the large wind farm . . . Complete story »
Battle lines set on Lewis over Spiorad na Mara
The decision to refuse the request from Northland Power for a strip of common grazing close to the shoreline for siting a 120 metre mast was taken unanimously by an unusually well attended meeting of shareholders in New and North Shawbost grazings. Northland hope to develop the “Spiorad na Mara” windpower facility just off the coast of Lewis. One of those who attended told the Gazette: “We were all given an opportunity to say what we felt. Everyone was wholeheartedly . . . Complete story »
Council secures court order prohibiting further development at wind farm where bog slide occurred
Donegal County Council has secured a High Court order prohibiting further development of a wind farm at a site that was the subject of a large bog slide that had “significant environmental consequences”. Mr Justice David Holland’s order restrains Planree Limited and Mid-Cork Electrical from finishing their “largely complete” 19-turbine project on primarily blanket bog in Cashelnavean, Co Donegal, until further court order. The development entities can apply to vary or discharge the order, which came in enforcement proceedings issued . . . Complete story »
Øyfjellet: 150 meter bred rotor falt ned fra ødelagt vindturbin [Rotor assembly detaches from wind turbine]
Like over byen Mosjøen i Nordland ruver Øyfjellet. I 2021 åpnet Norges største vindkraftanlegg her. På det værharde fjellet står 72 vindturbiner. Men 27. januar i år ble tallet 71. Årsaken? Under ekstremværet Ingunn løsnet en 150 meter bred rotor og falt ned. Ingen dyr eller mennesker kom til skade da rotoren falt over 100 meter og ble knust. Hvordan kunne dette skje? Fikk problemer allerede i juni Det er Øyfjellet Wind AS som har konsesjonen på vindkraftanlegget på fjellet. . . . Complete story »
Her er 15 av 34 vindturbiner ute av drift [15 of 34 wind turbines out of operation]
Over én tredjedel av vindturbinene i Nord-Odal står stille på grunn av feil. Hittil har kommunen gått glipp av flere millioner kroner på stillstanden. – For Nord-Odal kommunes del er det jo litt tragisk, sier nyvalgt ordfører i kommunen, Odd Kjetil Østvand-Sløtte (Ap). Odal vindkraftverk som ligger i Nord-Odal har totalt 34 vindturbiner, men nå er 15 av turbinene ute av drift. Hittil har kommunen gått glipp av 3 millioner kroner på grunn av stansen. Det merkes i en kommune . . . Complete story »
Vindturbinblad knakk og falt av [Wind turbine blade snapped off]
Et 71 meter langt vindturbinblad knakk og falt av en turbin på Engerfjellet i Innlandet onsdag. Ingen ble skadet. – Vi fikk beskjed av en grunneier at en vinge hadde falt av, sier daglig leder i Odal vindkraftverk, Lars Tallhaug. Han sier videre at heldigvis var ingen personer i nærheten da det skjedde, og at deres hovedfokus er sikkerheten til de som jobber og oppholder seg i vindkraftverket. Ifølge Tallhaug skjedde hendelsen rundt klokka 19.30 onsdag kveld. Turbinbladet veier rundt . . . Complete story »
