Wind Power News: Europe
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch 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.
Allemagne: l’éolien, en crise, supprime des emplois
[Germany wants to establish a minimum gap of 1,000 meters between wind turbines and residential areas. According to leaks Tuesday in the press, the Ministry of Economy wants to measure this distance from building land. (translate article to English)] L’Allemagne veut instaurer un écart minimal de 1 000 mètres entre les éoliennes et les zones d’habitation. D’après des fuites mardi dans la presse, le ministère de l’Economie veut mesurer cette distance à partir des terrains constructibles. Cette nouvelle règle risque de tuer . . . Complete story »
‘Plans to put up add seven turbines to proposed north wind farm is rubbing raw acid in the wounds’ says campaigner
Wind farm opponents in Caithness have been dealt a double whammy in their long-time campaign to prevent their village being surrounded by hulking turbines. Reay residents are preparing to protest tomorrow evening against plans to add seven turbines to the 21 due to go up a mile south of the village. But they have now discovered that another developer is persevering with its scheme on Sandside Estate, to the west. Objector David Craig said local people are furious about what . . . Complete story »
Double whammy for Caithness wind farm opponents
Wind farm opponents in Caithness have been dealt a double whammy in their long-time campaign to prevent their village being surrounded by hulking turbines. Reay residents are preparing to protest tomorrow evening against plans to add seven turbines to the 21 due to go up a mile south of the village. But they have now discovered that another developer is persevering with its scheme on Sandside Estate, to the west. Objector David Craig said local people are furious about what . . . Complete story »
Plans outlined for Rampion wind farm extension in Sussex
A wind farm could more than double in size if plans go ahead. Energy company Rampion has applied to extend its wind farm off the Sussex coast westwards towards Bognor. If the proposal is carried out in full, the wind farm could stretch as much as 16 miles across the sea. The existing £1.3 billion wind farm generates enough electricity to power 350,000 homes. Hundreds of thousands more could be powered with wind energy if an extension is approved. A . . . Complete story »
General election: The real political issue of the week that almost everyone ignored
There was a Scottish story this week full of the real stuff of politics – and correspondingly little coverage. It involved Scottish and Southern Energy’s Seagreen offshore windfarm, off Montrose, which will pour many consumers’ bawbees into SSE dividends. This largesse did not extend to poor sods working out at sea. These Third World labourers were paid a basic £3.40 an hour by SSE’s Dutch contractors, Fugro Marine, which has offices in Aberdeen. On being caught red-handed, SSE conceded some . . . Complete story »
Germany faces power shortages if onshore wind grows too slow
Germany’s onshore wind crisis, which is already cutting into company profits and costing jobs, may also begin to weaken defenses against blackouts. That’s the conclusion of analysts who see electricity risks mounting in Europe’s biggest economy, where construction of new onshore wind parks has dropped to a standstill because of a flood of environmental complaints. German industry will need new power sources in coming years to ensure security of supply as coal and nuclear stations are decommissioned. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s . . . Complete story »
Plans officially lodged for huge wind turbines in Offaly countryside
A 30-year plan for wind energy production in Offaly and Kildare has been officially lodged with local authorities in both counties. The Offaly Express reported the intention of the company to submit such plans back in late October. Cloncant Renewable Energy Ltd, for which energy giant Statkraft Ireland Ltd is the majority shareholder, has lodged plans with the councils for the immediate construction of nine turbines, eight of which would be located in Offaly. The other turbine would be located . . . Complete story »
Giant windfarm plan for outskirts of Largs sparks Roman road row
Plans to construct giant wind turbines in the hills between Largs and Skelmorlie have been revealed. Concerned community councillors discovered the proposal for the string of 150m structures between Outerwards Farm and the south east of Skelmorlie while look into the apparent disappearance of what they say is a historic Roman road from the plans. Chairperson Helen Boyle says they have now called on North Ayrshire Council to step in and investigate. She said: “It has come to our attention . . . Complete story »
‘Dangerous’ wind turbine concerns
Calls are growing for a “dangerous” school wind turbine to be taken down after parts of it have come off for the THIRD time. Leading Copeland councillor David Moore has demanded the structure in in the grounds of Seascale Primary School is removed immediately amid safety fears. The school, in Croft Head Road, Seascale, has also described the latest incident as “unacceptable”, pledging to decommission it without “100 per cent” guarantees this will never happen again. Mr Moore, who has . . . Complete story »
Approval for development near Carsphairn that community council claims is “ill-considered, inconsiderate and entirely inappropriate”
Plans for a development near Carsphairn described as “ill-considered, inconsiderate and entirely inappropriate” have been approved. Windy Rig Wind Farm Ltd has been given permission to create a “layover” area to the south of the village to help transfer material to the windfarm site nearby. Councillors approved the proposal at the planning applications committee on Thursday, despite Dee and Glenkens Councillor Pauline Drysdale calling for a site visit. A report by case officer Andrew Robison revealed the proposed site near . . . Complete story »
