Wind Power News: England
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.
Wind turbine near Heath and Reach out of action ‘for months’ as it waits for replacement part
A nearby resident claims it’s been out of service for up to four months. A wind turbine close to the A5 at Heath and Reach has been temporarily put out of action because of a mechanical fault – with one resident claiming that it hasn’t been working for months. The structure at the Checkley Wood wind turbine substation is awaiting a replacement part, according to Conservative Central Bedfordshire Council ward councillor Mark Versallion. And it appears to have been out . . . Complete story »
Hopes that new prime minister could stop controversial construction of pylons through Suffolk
Hopes have been raised that new prime minister Rishi Sunak will stop a 110-mile line of electricity pylons being built through the Suffolk countryside. The 50m-high pylons, running from Norfolk to Essex, are being proposed as part of National Grid’s ‘East Anglia GREEN’ project – which seeks to carry electricity from wind farms off the Norfolk coast down to the Greater London area. Thousands of people across the region have expressed concern over the scheme’s visual and habitat impacts, with . . . Complete story »
Sussex wind farm criticised by Middleton campaign group
Proposals for wind turbines the size of the Eiffel Tower have been slammed by campaigners calling for the project to be scrapped. Zoe Visram, a member of the Middleton-on-Sea Coastal Alliance (Mosca), has criticised new plans which would see cables for the Rampion 2 extension cut across the South Downs. Mosca, which has opposed the plans for several years, also condemned Rampion for cutting the project down to 90 turbines, saying this number was still far higher than initial suggestions. . . . Complete story »
Rampion offshore wind farm scaled down in West Sussex: reaction from Arun
Proposals to build Rampion 2 – an extension to the existing Rampion wind farm – have been scaled back following concerns. It is estimated that the offshore turbines – which would be around 13 kilometres from the coast between Brighton and Littlehampton – could power one million homes. But some locals have expressed concerns over the size and quantity of wind turbines which are expected to be 325 metres tall. Chris Tomlinson, development and stakeholder manager for Rampion 2, confirmed . . . Complete story »
Plans submitted for lifetime extension of wind farm near Lancaster
A planning application which would extend the lifespan of an existing south Cumbria wind farm has been submitted to South Lakeland District Council for review. The Armistead Wind Farm, which sits to the east of the M6 between junctions 36 and 37, has been operational since 2013 and was originally given permission to run for 25 years. But having carried out comprehensive regular maintenance work on the six-turbine scheme and reviewed its ongoing operational performance, operator Banks Renewables has applied . . . Complete story »
Against Navitus wind farm in Dorset
Navitus Bay has reared its ugly head again, with Ade Chapmanlaw running a petition to revisit it, and Jeff Williams in his letter supporting this. It has already been decided and should be put to bed completely. I do hope that our councillors and MPs will fight this tooth and nail. There is no difference now than then, except it is our local eco warriors trying to have chosen to open the debate up again. I do not want these . . . Complete story »
Damaged turbine to be replaced
A giant wind turbine blade which dislodged and plummeted to the ground is set to be fitted in the coming weeks having been repaired, the energy provider which runs the site has confirmed. No-one was hurt during the incident – which occurred in March last year at the EDF-run Park Spring Wind Farm near Grimethorpe – but mystery still surrounds why it became loose. The three turbines were erected in 2015 and helped to generate almost nine megawatts of energy . . . Complete story »
Mass objections to turbines the ‘size of Blackpool Tower’ in Cumbria
Residents have passionately spoken out against plans for a large-scale renewable energy park potentially to Cumbria. Members of the Solway Plane Action Group are publicly objecting Ridge Clean Energy’s (RCE) proposals for the Great Oaks Renewable Energy Park, near to Wiggonby, Great Orton – which would see the pairing of a 40.8 MW project of four wind turbines and solar farm. The residents have spoken out due to the scale of the project, in which each turbine is set to stand . . . Complete story »
Five Estuaries’ turbine plan could enable East Anglia Green
Wide swathes of countryside across north Essex could be dug up under plans to extend an offshore wind farm. If approved, Five Estuaries Wind Farm’s blueprints will see the Galloper Offshore Wind Farm extended by up to 92 miles squared to allow the construction of 79 new turbines. And the plans for the site, which is located 22 miles off the coast in the North Sea, could also enable a separate, controversial proposal for 111 miles of pylons. National Grid . . . Complete story »
Hull wind turbine blaze ‘likely to have been caused by an electrical or mechanical fault’
Today’s spectacular wind turbine fire at Cargill’s Hull factory is likely to have been triggered by either an electrical or mechanical fault. The huge turbine was installed in early 2008 by the site’s then owners Croda International after securing planning approval the year before. At the time it was Hull’s first large wind turbine. Until then, similar onshore wind farm developments in the East Riding had featured clusters of between seven and nine turbines in open countryside designed to feed . . . Complete story »
