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.
Bürger gehen gegen Windkraft in Warrenzin auf die Barrikaden
[Citizens take to the barricades against wind power in Warrenzin] In der Region wird derzeit vielerorts über die Pläne für den Ausbau der Windkraft diskutiert. Auch in Warrenzin überlegen Bürger, wie sich sich dagegen wehren können. Gegen den Vorentwurf 2023 des Regionalen Planungsverbandes Mecklenburgische Seenplatte, der Vorranggebiete für Windenergieanlagen ausweist, formiert sich auch im Demminer Bereich Widerstand. Denn „um bis zum Jahr 2045 die Treibhausgasneutralität in Deutschland sicherzustellen“, so das Dokument, müssen in der Planungsregion bis Jahresende 2032 „mindestens 2,1 . . . Complete story »
Nei til vindmølleparker
Nedbygging av norsk natur går nå i rekord-fart. Norske distriktskommuner skriker etter flere arbeidsplasser og samtidig gir dårlig kommuneøkonomi i distriktskommunene motivasjon til å godta at naturen og tradisjonelle næringer må gi plass for ny industri. Vi har spesielt sett det i mange år i havbruksnæringen, den gir sårt tiltrengte arbeidsplasser i distriktene og gir penger direkte i kommunekassen gjennom havbruksfondet. Dette gjør at mange kommuner føler de er nødt til å gi plass for denne industrien og tillater en . . . Complete story »
Wind farm noise constituted nuisance to nearby residents, High Court rules
A High Court judge has found that wind farm noise levels at certain times of the day constitute a nuisance to nearby residents. [download the judgement] In a decision that is understood to have implications for the operation of wind turbines, Ms Justice Emily Egan held that noise levels from the two-turbine Ballyduff Windfarm at Kilcomb, near Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, amounted to an “unreasonable interference” with the enjoyment of two couples’ properties. The cases are the first private nuisance claims . . . Complete story »
Norway ends dispute with reindeer herders over wind farm
Norway has reached an agreement with Sami reindeer herders that allows the country’s largest wind farm to stay in operation, ending a dispute over Indigenous rights, the energy ministry said on Wednesday. Norway’s supreme court ruled in 2021 that the Storheia and Roan wind farms in Fosen in central Norway violated Sami rights under international conventions – prompting huge protests last year over the protracted process to implement the ruling. An agreement was reached in December with one group of . . . Complete story »
Scots scientist charged over ‘enormous’ £7m wind farm fraud scheme
A Scots scientist has been accused of scamming wind farm investors out of £7.4million. Dr Paul Dougan, a former renewable energy firm boss and Oxford graduate, has been accused of using investors’ cash to buy up a string of properties across Scotland and the UK in an “enormous” case brought by prosecutors in Northern Ireland. The 54-year-old, from Glasgow, faces a catalogue of offences alongside an ex business partner. He is accused of a total of 24 charges, including acquiring . . . Complete story »
Ted Hughes: Former poet laureate’s estate backs campaigners fighting giant wind farm on Calderdale moorland
The Mytholmroyd-born poet was famous for his evocation of the natural world, inspired by the Calder Valley landscape he grew up in. Stop Calderdale Windfarm, marshalling objections to Calder Wind Farm Ltd’s proposals for a 65-turbine wind farm on more than 2,300 hectares of land at Walshaw Moor above Hebden Bridge, says the Ted Hughes Estate – run by poet’s widow Carol Hughes – is behind their campaign. Calderdale Wind Farm Ltd says the wind farm could be England’s biggest . . . Complete story »
EDF wind farm to pay £5.5 million to vulnerable customers after overcharging grid
Energy company EDF will pay £5.5 million into a fund designed to help vulnerable customers after regulator Ofgem found that it had overcharged the grid. Ofgem said that EDF’s Dorenell Windfarm Limited (DWL) charged “excessive prices” when it was asked to reduce its output. “Ofgem considers that DWL charged excessive prices to reduce output where this was required to keep the system balanced, and the breach pushed up costs for consumers,” Ofgem said in a statement on Monday. The regulator . . . Complete story »
Icy blast of bankruptcies loom for Swedish wind-power sector, experts warn
Two Swedish economists have issued a warning that the country’s wind-power industry is on the brink of a wave of bankruptcies. Christian Sandström and Christian Steinbeck analysed wind-power companies’ annual reports in Sweden and their work revealed “significant financial problems”, they told Swedish media outlet Kvartal on February 28. “The total loss for the years 2017–2022 amounted to 13.5 billion Swedish krona [€1.2 billion], which meant a loss margin of 39 per cent,” they said about the sector. Such heavy . . . Complete story »
Brand einer Windkraftanlage im Ortsteil Clausnitz — Fire at a wind turbine
Zum Brand einer Windkraftanlage im Ortsteil Clausnitz gab die Polizeidirektion Chemnitz folgende Presseerklärung ab: Zeit: 27.02.2024, 15:30 Uhr Ort: Rechenberg-Bienenmühle, OT Clausnitz (740) Die Einsatzkräfte kamen am gestrigen Nachmittag bei einem Brand zum Einsatz. Ein Windrad in der Geleitstraße war auf bislang unbekannte Art und Weise in Brand geraten. Servicetechniker hatten dort Reparaturarbeiten durchgeführt und anschließend ein brennendes Windrad festgestellt. Die Feuerwehr konnte brennende, herabfallende Geräteteile löschen. Derzeit wird geprüft, wie das Windrad in Brand geraten konnte und ob ein . . . Complete story »
Armadale Wind Farm turbines would have ‘startling’ effect on landscape, planning officers says as councillors are advised to object to the development
North councillors are being advised to object to a planning application to build a wind farm which it is feared would “overwhelm” the north Sutherland village of Armadale. Brookfield Renewables is seeking permission to build a nine-turbine wind farm on an area of hill land and common grazings overlooking the village. Members of the North Planning applications Committee will consider the application at their meeting in Inverness next Tuesday, March 5. The final decision will be taken by Scottish Ministers . . . Complete story »
