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.
Blaenau Gwent residents horrified as plans for five massive wind turbines are approved
Blaenau Gwent is set to face a major change to its landscape with the planned construction of five large-scale wind turbines, despite residents vocalising their reservations. The project’s approval has sparked alarm among residents who have voiced their concerns about the impact on the landscape and the potential disruption to their daily lives. The proposed turbines will have a maximum tip height of 180 metres, which is roughly the same height as the Gherkin building in London. Cwm resident and . . . Complete story »
Plea to block wind farm over thousands of forecast bird deaths
Conservation groups are urging ministers to reject plans for an offshore wind farm which the developer predicts will kill tens of thousands of seabirds. Five charities, led by RSPB Scotland, have written to the first minister to argue that approving Berwick Bank in the Firth of Forth would undermine efforts to protect nature. SSE says it has already amended its designs to minimise any potential risks to Scottish seabirds. The Scottish government, which is considering whether to approve the project, . . . Complete story »
Councillors asked to oppose Skye wind farm revamp
Highland councillors have been asked to oppose a planned modernisation of a wind farm on Skye. Developer Renantis has proposed removing 12 turbines at Ben Aketil Wind Farm and replacing them with nine new ones. It also intends to build a battery storage scheme. The new turbines could have a maximum blade tip height of 200m (656ft) – twice the height of the existing machines. Highland Council planning officers said “re-powering” the 18-year-old wind farm near Dunvegan would have adverse . . . Complete story »
‘Shadow flicker’ complaint sparks shutdowns of Aviva’s wind turbine in Perth
Aviva has been invoking shutdowns of its wind turbine in Perth after a neighbour’s complaint was backed by the council. The 77-metre tall turbine, next to the insurance company’s office at Pitheavlis, was officially opened in November last year. Aviva says the turbine, along with existing solar panels at the site, should generate 100% of its electricity demands. But it has already suffered a setback after Perth and Kinross Council found it had breached a planning condition. Perth and Kinross . . . Complete story »
Ofgem launches investigation over claims billpayers were overcharged to switch off turbines
One of Britain’s largest wind farms is facing an investigation into claims it overcharged customers to switch off its turbines. Regulator Ofgem has launched an inquiry into the owner of Moray East, a wind farm with 100 turbines off Scotland’s east coast. Concerns have been raised over Ocean Winds potentially over-claiming cash from billpayers in the form of so-called constraint payments. These are made when wind farms such as Moray East are told to switch off because the UK’s creaking . . . Complete story »
Government admits no assessment on farmland loss to pylons
The Scottish Government is under fire after admitting it has not carried out an assessment of the loss of agricultural land to pylons. This comes despite growing concerns from farmers about the impact of a proposed 70-mile power line development. The project, planned by SSEN (Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks), would see 190ft pylons erected between Kintore and Tealing, potentially disrupting prime agricultural land in rural areas, including Angus. In the Scottish Parliament, North East MSP Tess White voiced her . . . Complete story »
Fury as ‘unnatural’ larger wind turbine approved despite fears it could harm heritage sites
Octopus Energy Generation has been given the green light to erect a taller and more powerful wind turbine in Cornwall, despite resistance from the local community. The energy firm sought permission from Cornwall Council to upgrade an existing turbine with one that stands 22 metres higher, and boasts a blade “sweep” area two and a half times larger, on land west of Helsbury Park Woods, Michaelstow, near Bodmin. The proposal was brought before Cornwall Council’s east area planning committee on . . . Complete story »
It’s the anger that gets you …
At first there was a marked reticence to participate in the project Denise Davis was launching. The Highlanders she lives among are not renowned for sharing their feelings. But, little by little, the testimonies trickled in. It became a steady stream – then an avalanche. The contributors’ words are awash with feelings: grief, rage, despair, horror. Tears flowed as they were written. Collectively they are a howl of pain from deep within the soul of rural Scotland. Now they have . . . Complete story »
‘Sally’s experience is not unusual’ – calls for turbines closest to homes to be decommissioned
“We need to explore with SSE decommissioning some of the closest turbines to human dwellings and, in one instance, a school.” That was the conclusion from Westside resident Sally Huband at the end of a two hour meeting into the health impacts of low frequency noise from wind turbines. Around 60 people, including three SIC councillors and many residents from the Toft and Mossbank area, had followed the invitation to Thursday night’s meeting in the Tingwall Hall. They heard from . . . Complete story »
“Gulliver” wind turbine slammed for sounding like jet planes
A towering structure in a town’s skyline has been slammed for suddenly sounding like a squadron of noisy jet planes. The Gulliver wind turbine at Ness Point in Lowestoft received a major overhaul from renewable energy company Thrive Renewables last December. [The turbine is a NEG Micon NM92, with a maximum generating capacity of 2.75 MW. It was erected in 2005.] But the huge blades have recently gone from spinning without notice to being “extremely noisy”. Now the disruptive sound has . . . Complete story »
