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Wind Power News: U.K.
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission 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. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
Highland fury as pylons march south with Scotland’s wind power
How democratic does this look to you? Pylons are marching across the landscape of the Highlands, Moray, Aberdeenshire and Angus to bring (mostly) wind energy from rural areas to (mostly) power England. That’s hard to dispute because Scotland produced 113% of its electricity consumption through renewables in 2022 – so we are wind-full unless Scots can use or store that energy locally in a way our Margaret Thatcher-devised, Westminster-controlled energy system doesn’t currently allow. So instead, 34% of all energy . . . Complete story »
Call for immediate moratorium on wind farm developments
This open letter to First Minister John Swinney was sent earlier this month. Dear First Minister, We are calling for an immediate moratorium regarding all further wind farm decisions and related infrastructure. The purpose of a wind farm is to efficiently generate sustainable energy at a reasonable cost. That is not the case under the current policy approach—this is evident in our electricity bills. We are citizens from across Scotland who are deeply concerned about the direction the government has . . . Complete story »
Golden eagle collision fears raised over wind farm plan
A pioneering project to boost golden eagle numbers in the south of Scotland has raised collision risk concerns about a wind farm plan in the Borders. Fred Olsen Renewables wants to construct eight turbines at Scawd Law near Walkerburn. The charity Restoring Upland Nature (RUN) – formerly the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project (SSGEP) – has objected to the scheme due to its potential impact on the nearby birds. The company has said the wind farm – which it . . . Complete story »
Why wind farm developers are pulling out at the last minute
Building a wind turbine requires significant amounts of steel, copper and aluminium, all of which doubled or tripled in price between 2020 and 2023. An exponential increase in demand for scarce high-voltage cabling has already led to high-profile cancellations of offshore wind farms in the US. Rising demand for rare earth metals used to make magnets in turbine generators has also been snared by geopolitical issues. Complete story »
Proposed wind turbines would tower over Bluestone resort
Formal plans for three 328-foot-high wind turbines close to Pembrokeshire’s Bluestone holiday park and the former Oakwood theme park have been lodged. In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, High Wycombe-based Slebech Investments Limited seeks permission for three wind turbines of up to 100 metres height on land at Newhouse Farm, Canaston Bridge, close to the two parks, and close to the border with Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The proposed site on agricultural land across three fields is some 3.5 . . . Complete story »
Proposal for 22 huge wind turbines could have ‘harmful impact’ say opponents
A plan to replace one of the UK’s first wind farms with turbines which are more than double the size of those currently on the site has caused huge concern in a rural area of Cornwall. A planning committee will consider next week whether 22 115-metre high turbines will have a harmful impact on the landscape. Cold Northcott Windfarm Ltd has proposed repowering and extending its site at Laneast, near Launceston, including the removal of 23 existing wind turbines and replacing . . . Complete story »
Councillor Richard Gale ‘very disappointed’ over last-ditch Acheilidh Wind Farm vote
An East Sutherland councillor has failed in his last-ditch attempt to persuade his fellow councillors to object to a controversial wind farm application in the area. Cllr Richard Gale said this week he was “very disappointed” that Highland Council had voted last Thursday to raise no objection to Acheilidh Wind Farm, which is to be built on open moorland 8km west of Rogart. This is the third time that councillors have considered the application by Energiekontor for the 12-turbine, 79.2MW . . . Complete story »
Orsted says Irish Sea is full
Wind turbines extract kinetic energy from the air to produce electricity. When they do this, they leave trails of slower and more turbulent wind stretching behind them. These trails, known as wind wakes, can stretch vast distances – even 100km. If one wind farm is caught in the ‘shadow’ of another’s wake, the slower wind speed will mean it generates less power. One wind farm ‘waking’ another is sometimes known as ‘wind theft’. Complete story »
Call for investigation into Chernobyl legacy at Highland renewable energy sites
Fears have emerged that groundworks for major renewable projects across the Highlands could be exposing radioactive contamination from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster almost 40 years ago. Campaign group Communities B4 Power Companies is demanding an urgent investigation after highlighting what it sees as “very serious health risks” and “potential legal repercussions” as a result of digging up areas of deep peat to install pylons and turbines. The group has commissioned a report into potential Caesium-137 contamination of peatlands in the . . . Complete story »
Growing anger over plans for huge wind farm near Hebden Bridge as petition hits milestone
Petition calling for ban on wind farms on peatland has reached 10,000 signatures. Campaigners fighting plans for a large wind farm near Hebden Bridge have been backed by more than 10,000 people who have signed a petition calling for a ban on wind farms on peatland. Campaign group Stronger Together to Stop Calderdale Windfarm said they were delighted that so many people had signed the Parliamentary petition. “This means that the government must respond to them,” the campaign group said. . . . Complete story »
