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.
‘Dangerous’ wind turbine concerns
Calls are growing for a “dangerous” school wind turbine to be taken down after parts of it have come off for the THIRD time. Leading Copeland councillor David Moore has demanded the structure in in the grounds of Seascale Primary School is removed immediately amid safety fears. The school, in Croft Head Road, Seascale, has also described the latest incident as “unacceptable”, pledging to decommission it without “100 per cent” guarantees this will never happen again. Mr Moore, who has . . . Complete story »
‘Dangerous’ Seascale wind turbine removal call
A “dangerous” wind turbine in a school ground in Cumbria is a “risk to the community”, a local councillor said. Councillor David Moore spoke out after “big lumps” of the structure at Seascale Primary School flew off and landed in a nearby garden. It is the third such incident since the turbine was installed in 2010. The school said it was talking to engineers and pledged to decommission it if there was not a “100% guarantee” it could never happen . . . Complete story »
£1bn Rampion wind farm will be shut for weeks due to fault
A billion-pound wind farm has been closed for more than two weeks after a technical fault brought it to a standstill. Rampion Wind Farm, which is 13km off the Sussex coast, is still out of commission after an electrical problem on October 26. A spokeswoman for Rampion said the repairs would be complicated and time-consuming. “A fault has occurred on our High Voltage electrical system,” she said. “We are in the process of repairing this and will have the wind . . . Complete story »
Rampion offshore wind farm shut down for more than a week
A £1bn offshore wind farm has been out of action for more than a week. The Rampion project, off the Sussex coast between Brighton and Worthing, has been shut down since 26 October due to a fault in an electrical distribution system. Power for about 350,000 homes is generated from the farm’s 116 turbines, which were opened in November 2018. The outage would have “no impact on energy supply” in the area, the National Grid said. The wind farm’s operators . . . Complete story »
Wind farm cable routes which would carve up countryside to be reviewed
The energy secretary has agreed to review plans which could see miles of countryside carved up to accommodate offshore wind farms. Andrea Leadsom, secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy, will re-assess plans for mass cabling and substation infrastructure across Norfolk and Suffolk. Confirmation of the review follows months of campaigning from residents, environmental groups and MPs. Last month, Norwegian energy firm Equinor’s proposed routes for 60km-long cable trenches connecting 61 new turbines off the Norfolk coast to . . . Complete story »
6,000 new jobs claim from wind power is ‘misleading’, say campaigners
Campaigners are challenging figures that suggest offshore wind farms will bring 6,000 new jobs to the area – claiming there will be no permanent posts in Suffolk. The forecast for the growing renewable power industry follows the go-ahead for a number of wind farm developments and others currently seeking consent or expected in the future. The independent report by Energy & Utility Skills Limited into the industry’s future skills and labour requirements suggests it could bring 36,000 jobs nationwide by . . . Complete story »
Decision made on future of ‘noisy’ wind farm
Campaigners have been dealt a blow after a wind farm was approved to stay until August 2029. The seven turbines at Askam and Ireleth wind farm were granted permission limited to 20 years but its operators wanted it to stay another decade following a change in the law. Last month, the council’s planning committee heard residents’ concerns about noise and postponed its decision. Cannock Wind Energy Limited applied to ‘modify’ the 106 agreement. It was put in place when planning . . . Complete story »
Plans revealed for Solway windfarm
Plans to build new off-shore windfarms off the Solway Coast have been revealed. The Crown Estate has opened the formal tender process for companies wanting to build new windfarms to apply to use seabed areas it has released in the Irish Sea. Workington MP Sue Hayman, who is also shadow environment secretary, said the areas of seabed released look to be located south of Robin Rigg. She said: “I think off-shore wind provides far more renewable energy than on-shore. “If . . . Complete story »
Wind farm ‘to stay for a decade’
Neighbours hoping to stop a ‘noisy’ wind farm look set to be dealt a severe blow next week. Barrow Borough Council is recommending the 20-year-old Askam and Ireleth wind farm remains until August 2029. The seven turbines were granted permission limited to 20 years but its operators want it to stay another decade following a change in the law. Last month, the council’s planning committee heard residents’ concerns about noise and postponed its decision. But ahead of a meeting of . . . Complete story »
Two more cable trenches could be dug across countryside for wind farms
The expansion of two wind farms off the Norfolk coast could lead to six years of construction work and the digging of another two cable trenches across the countryside. Norwegian energy firm Equinor is leading a project to build 34 new turbines at Dudgeon wind farm, 30km from Cromer, and 27 turbines at Sheringham Shoal wind farm. The turbines would be up to 326 metres high. Each project will bring more than 100MW of renewable energy, according to a report . . . Complete story »
