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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.
‘No let-up in fight’ against Powys wind farm developments
There must be no let-up in the fight against the development of industrial scale wind farms – this was the message at a fundraising launch for a campaign group battling against proposals for large-scale Powys projects. Scores of people filled the Alexandra Hall in Llangammarch Wells on Friday, September 15, for the launch of RE-think’s fundraising campaign – which collected more than £2,000. In total, over £2,600 was raised to support the group’s fight against industrial scale wind farms and . . . Complete story »
How not to go green: The Shetland wind farms
In the midst of a rapidly escalating ecological crisis, the sourcing of renewable energy has taken centre stage in the debate around tackling climate change. Scotland has taken a leading role in creating cleaner energy infrastructure, to the point that according to Renewable Scotland, just shy of 80 per cent of the country’s green energy is sourced from wind generated power. The Scottish Government has set their sights on the location for their next big green energy project. Located in . . . Complete story »
Wind farm accused of using loophole to pull in £647m
An offshore wind farm in Scotland has netted £647 million through a net zero loophole and by receiving payments when not producing electricity, a think tank has claimed. The Renewable Energy Foundation (REF) alleged that consumers had effectively overpaid hundreds of millions of pounds for the Moray East wind farm in north-east Scotland as a result. Moray East comprises 100 9.5MW turbines in the Moray Firth and is majority-owned by Ocean Winds. According to analysis by the REF, between June 2021 . . . Complete story »
Energy plan would “desecrate Montgomeryshire”
Montgomeryshire is being urged to “stand up” against the shock news that an energy giant wants to carve through the old county with a pylon corridor linking a proposed windfarm near Cefn Coch with the National Grid in Shropshire. The group that successfully fought a similar plan 12 years ago – Montgomeryshire Against Pylons (MAP) – is readying itself for another fight after Bute Energy’s shock announcement last week. MAP said that the current proposals “will affect our area forever . . . Complete story »
Defunct wind turbine blades give industry a waste problem
Almost 100 giant turbine blades from Scotland’s first wind farm are being sent into storage while the industry battles to solve major problems over their recycling. Hagshaw Hill, near Douglas in South Lanarkshire, which opened 28 years ago, is being “repowered” as the first generation of turbines is dismantled, throwing more than 80 blades on to the scrapheap. ScottishPower Renewables plans to replace them with larger turbines after government permission was granted for a 14-turbine wind farm. The new turbines . . . Complete story »
Wind farms ‘gaming system to inflate millions earned when asked to halt production’
Wind farm owners appear to be “gaming the system” to inflate the tens of millions of pounds that they are paid not to produce electricity, a study has found. A paper published in the International Journal of Industrial Organisation concluded that companies were “exaggerating” claims about the amount of energy they expected to produce at times when the transmission network risked being overloaded. The behaviour increases the likelihood that wind farms will be paid to shut down, as well as . . . Complete story »
Locals at war with plan to blight Welsh hills with giant wind turbines and pylons
High above a sweeping valley that cuts through a majestic stretch of Welsh countryside, a buzzard’s wings caress the warm, thermal breeze. On the ground below, other feathers have been ruffled – by plans to build ‘monstrous’ 700ft hillside wind turbines that could tower as high as The Shard near locals’ homes. The proposed wind power development, which is set to include a zig-zagging 60-mile line of pylons carrying the energy generated by the turbines, is tearing communities apart and . . . Complete story »
Planning rules changed to allow wind if local councils approve
Residents have been promised lower energy bills if they consent to wind farms near by, after a ban on turbines was relaxed in a deal with Tory rebels. Planning rules were changed last night to make it clear that a single local objection cannot block onshore wind, as Rishi Sunak moved to head off a Commons defeat. However, wind turbines will remain harder to build than other projects, leading to accusations that Sunak had “bottled it” and predictions of only . . . Complete story »
Outright ban lifted for onshore wind farms
The Government streamlined planning rules and broadened the ways that suitable locations can be identified yesterday after pressure from backbench Tory MPs. Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, said: “To increase our energy security and develop a cleaner, greener economy, we are introducing new measures to allow local communities to back onshore wind power projects.” It will only apply in areas where developments have community support but will build on our “enormous success” as . . . Complete story »
Yousaf speeds up wind farms but green groups are not impressed
New wind farms will be approved much faster under plans revealed by Humza Yousaf to try to accelerate the end of Scotland’s reliance on fossil fuels. Despite promising to take firm action on climate change, the first minister was criticised by environmental groups for an “underwhelming” set of policies. The cornerstone of the green pledges in Yousaf’s programme for government committed to agree a deal with industry that would “halve the consenting time” for new large-scale projects. Previous analysis by . . . Complete story »
