Wind Power News: U.K.
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.
Claims made by environmentalists about the so-called virtues of large-scale wind and solar farms simply demonstrate engineering and technical ignorance, compounded by a serious misunderstanding of how the electricity generating industry functions
It is an irrefutable fact that due to the variability of the weather wind and solar cannot, and will never, ensure security of supply for UK electrical energy, which requires in the order of 346 TWh per annum (2019 figure). They are also all at sea about fracking and have fallen for all the misleading propaganda, as any geologist worth his salt will confirm. Fracking has turned the US economy around and it could do the same for the UK. . . . Complete story »
The Kintyre wind farm ‘gold rush’
All the power generated at the Beinn an Tuirc 3 wind farm, on the Kintyre peninsula, belongs to Amazon. Complete story »
Renewables company loses appeal against refusal of wind farm development consent
A reclaiming motion by a renewables company against a Lord Ordinary’s decision not to grant them a remedy against a decision of the Scottish Ministers has been refused by the Inner House of the Court of Session. NLEI Ltd had sought to develop a windfarm at a site on the Queensberry Estate near Crawfordjohn, Sanquhar and Wanlockhead. The Scottish Ministers refused to grant consent for the development, leading to the judicial review petition. The appeal was heard by the Lord . . . Complete story »
Decision to stop wind farm construction near ‘historic’ village upheld
Appeal judges have upheld a decision to stop the construction of a wind farm which would “adversely” affect the natural beauty surrounding a “historic” Scottish village. Lawyers acting for NLEI Ltd have failed to persuade judges at the Inner House of the Court of Session to overturn a ruling made last year by colleague Lord Ericht. The firm originally went to the Edinburgh-based civil court following a decision made by the Scottish Government in January last year. The Scottish Ministers . . . Complete story »
Plans for new onshore wind farm lodged with Orkney Islands Council
Proposals for a new onshore wind farm in Birsay on the mainland of Orkney have been submitted to the local authority. The Nisthill Windfarm plan has been developed by farmers Paul Archibald, of Nisthouse, and Adrian Breck, of Ludenhill, along with renewable energy developer Infinergy. The four-turbine development will be situated on farmland between the Loch of Swannay and the Loch of Hundland, with a proposed 40-year lifespan. In all, the 180 metre-to-tip turbines will have an installed capacity of . . . Complete story »
Power failure during high winds caused giant £2million wind turbine to spin uncontrollably and collapse
A £2m wind turbine was knocked over by the wind after raging storms and 50mph gales made the blades on the 300ft rotary turn at twice their normal speed. The turbine, which was almost the height of St Paul’s Cathedral, was torn apart by the raging winds and eventually collapsed to the ground in February. Families in the nearby village of Gilfach Goch, South Wales, said the noise sounded like ‘thunder and lightning.’ An investigation, launched by manufacturer Nordex, found . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine toppled by too much wind; Gusts of 50mph brought 300ft structure crashing to the ground
A wind turbine nearly double the height of Nelson’s Column was toppled by too much wind after 50mph gusts caused it to “overspeed”, an investigation has found. The 300ft structure crashed to the ground with its blades completely snapped at the £20 million Pant y Wal wind farm in Gilfach Goch, near Bridgend. The incident prompted an urgent safety inquiry into the entire farm, as families living nearby described sounds of “thunder and lightning” before it fell on the morning . . . Complete story »
Huge 300ft turbine that crashed to the ground had spun too fast, investigation concludes
An in-built safety system designed to bring a wind turbine to a safe stop failed and ultimately led to its collapse at a Welsh valleys wind farm, it’s been confirmed. The Nordex-designed 300ft wind turbine crashed to the ground at Gilfach Goch in February this year becoming separated from its base and completely destroying its blades. Locals reported hearing loud noises coming from the Pant-y-Wal wind farm throughout the night of February 13 before waking up to see the turbine . . . Complete story »
Court upholds Lowther Hills wind farm rejection
The refusal of plans for a 30-turbine wind farm in the Lowther Hills has been upheld at the Court of Session. Developers argued an error in law had been made in reaching a decision on the fate of the plans near Wanlockhead. However, judges have now decided that the Scottish government was entitled to reject the scheme. They concluded that although an error in law may have been made it was not material in the ultimate decision to refuse the . . . Complete story »
‘Slow erosion of Cambrian Mountains is a tragedy’ says ex-Times editor
Former Times editor and author Sir Simon Jenkins has voiced his support for the Cambrian Mountains to be protected. Sir Simon has called the slow erosion of the beauty of the Cambrian Mountains ‘a tragedy’, and is supporting the campaign to have the area designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. He said: “The omission of the Cambrian Mountains from Welsh national park status in the 1960s was a tragic mistake, as the gradual erosion of the visual beauty of . . . Complete story »
