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Wind Power News: U.K.
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.
Survey says 57 percent of U.K. fishermen saw lower catches, profitability around wind turbines
Early results from a survey of fishermen who work around offshore wind projects in the United Kingdom show “more than half of those surveyed have cited a negative outcome on catches and profitability,” according to the Plymouth Marine Laboratory. The research group is conducting a survey of fishermen through Jan. 21 to assess the impact on the fishing industry from wind power developments. Most of the fishermen responding to the survey so far fish within 6 and 12 nautical miles . . . Complete story »
World’s first floating wind farm Hywind Scotland faces shutdown for ‘heavy maintenance’
Norwegian energy giant Equinor will temporarily remove all five floating wind turbines from the pioneering Hywind Scotland array later this year after discovering a need for “heavy maintenance” on the Siemens Gamesa machines deployed there, Recharge has learned. The 6MW turbines will be towed back to Wergeland on the west coast of Norway as part of a maintenance programme that is likely to take around four months and will disrupt power output from the project operating 24km off Peterhead since . . . Complete story »
Proposal for wind farm in Northern Irish beauty spot refused
An application for planning permission to build a wind farm at a Northern Irish beauty spot has been refused. The Department for Infrastructure (DFI) has issued a Notice of Opinion to refuse planning permission for the proposed Unshinagh Wind Farm within the Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Deemed ‘regionally significant’, the planning application was for a windfarm comprising 14 three-bladed horizontal axis wind turbines. After considering it, civil servants – who are running the DFI . . . Complete story »
Part of damaged blade missing at Humber Gateway offshore windpower facility
A part of a blade from one of the wind turbines at the Humber Gateway offshore wind farm in the UK has broken off after the wind turbine blade sustained damage. According to information in a Notice to Mariners from Humber Gateway OWF Control Room, the part of the damaged blade, approximately 20 metres long, has fallen into the sea and is likely adrift or submerged. The Notice was issued on 8 January, with the part that detached reported as . . . Complete story »
Questions raised over Blaenau Gwent wind farm plans
Questions have been asked around why so many planning applications to build wind turbines in Blaenau Gwent have been made recently. At a meeting of Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council’s Planning Committee on Thursday, November 9, councillors were updated on several planning applications for wind farms currently being processed by Welsh Government planning inspectors at PEDW (Planning and Environment Decisions Wales). Councillors were told that that a decision on proposals by Pennant Walters Ltd for Mynydd Cefn-y-Carn is expected after . . . Complete story »
Llanhilleth windpower project assessment finds several potential negative impacts
A wind farm planned for a mountain and which would stretch across two Gwent boroughs could have a number of potential negative impacts, an assessment has found. An examination of plans for an eight-turbine development at Mynydd Llanhilleth by Torfaen Borough Council’s planning department has identified up to eight potential negative impacts should it go ahead. They range from potential noise issues impacting nearby residents and the visual impact of the turbines – that would measure up to 180 metres . . . Complete story »
Farmer ‘bribed’ with strip club visit if he ‘agreed to have wind turbine on land’
A farmer was “bribed” with a visit to a strip club if he agreed to having a wind turbine on his land, it has been claimed. The meeting minutes from a Nelson Community Council gathering, near Caerphilly, South Wales, report one resident was offered money and a night out at a lap dancing club. Major green energy companies are trying to persuade landowners across Britain to sign up for wind generators and pylons by offering them financial incentives. The minutes . . . Complete story »
Wind farm legal action launched over wildcat fears
Plans for a new wind farm in Aberdeenshire are set to be challenged in court following concerns over the protection of wildcats. Swedish energy giant Vattenfall received the go-ahead to build a second site at Clashindarroch last year. However, conservation group Wildcat Haven believes it could endanger the local wildcat population. It has now pursued a judicial review over the approval granted by Scottish ministers. Vattenfall’s 14-turbine Clashindarroch II wind farm was approved by Scottish ministers in June last year. . . . Complete story »
Scottish wildcats: Aberdeen wind farm decision goes to judicial review
A decision by Scottish Ministers to grant planning permission for a wind farm on the habitat of an endangered species is to be challenged in a judicial review. Wildcat Haven has raised almost £250,000 through donations in four years, which is how it is funding the legal fight. Its petition to save the Clashindarroch Forest in Aberdeenshire for wildcats has racked up over one million signatures. An application for a wind farm on the site was made by Swedish company . . . Complete story »
Safety fears after two Scots wind turbines broke apart during Storm Gerrit
An energy firm is being asked to investigate the safety of all its wind turbines after two broke apart during a storm. The Sunday Mail told last week how one in Ayrshire spun out of control during Storm Gerrit, causing the 34-metre blades to fly through the air. But around the same time, a turbine in Fife, also owned by Surrey-based Constantine Wind Energy, was destroyed in bad weather. Colin Morrison, from Crail, who spotted the debris on farmland close . . . Complete story »
