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.
West Cumbrian wind farm lifespan extensions applications made
Requests have been made to extend the life of two Cumbrian wind farms. Allerdale Council are currently considering requests to extend the operational lifespan of Siddick Wind Farm in Siddick, and Oldside Wind Farm in Oldside. Both wind farms are owned by Curlew Power Limited. Siddick Wind Farm is made up of seven turbines, while Oldside Wind Farm is made up of nine. The applications, which have been submitted separately, request approval for the extension of the turbines’ lifespan by . . . Complete story »
Wind turbines could be 8m taller, to save birds
An energy giant behind two huge wind farms set to be built off the north Norfolk coast claims fewer birds will crash into the rotor blades if they are installed higher off the sea floor. Swedish firm Vattenfall said taller turbines would make the sites safer for species including kittiwakes, gannets and black backed gulls. But the RSPB said it was unconvinced the redesign – meaning blades would pass a minimum of 30 metres above the sea instead of 22 . . . Complete story »
Have a say on ‘climate emergency’
Dorset council have an on-going public consultation on their draft ‘climate and ecological emergency strategy’. The document contains many controversial items including a commitment to lobby for the return of the rejected Navitus Bay offshore wind farm. It is also mooted in the document that planning policy should be eased to enable the industrial deployment of on-shore wind turbines and solar panels. The document projects 700 wind turbines and/or 30 square miles of solar panels within Dorset. There is a . . . Complete story »
Hornsea Three wind farm approval a ‘gamble’ with future of ‘globally important’ sea birds
The UK Government’s decision to green light plans for a major offshore wind farm has sparked concerns about the potential impact on sea birds. It was recently announced that the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Alok Sharma had granted development consent to Ørsted for its 2.4 gigawatt (GW) Hornsea Three project. The wind farm will be built in the Southern North Sea off the North Norfolk coast and will produce enough green energy to power around . . . Complete story »
Bird charity warns of harm from new wind farm
The bird charity RSPB has criticised a government decision to permit an offshore wind farm expected to harm birds feeding in the North Sea. The giant Hornsea Three development lies 75 miles away from Flamborough Head, England’s biggest sea bird colony on the Yorkshire coast. The RSPB says kittiwakes will need to fly through the area, dodging turbines, to reach feeding grounds. The developers have promised to compensate for the impact on the birds. They plan to do this by . . . Complete story »
Campaigners fear ‘destruction of Norfolk’ after windfarm decision
The go-ahead for one of the world’s biggest wind farms off the north Norfolk coast has been met with despair from campaigners. Danish company Ørsted has been granted development consent for its Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm. The project will see cables laid in a 35-mile long trench from Weybourne to Swardeston, south of Norwich, to connect the 2.4giggawatts of power generated by the turbines to the National Grid. Ray Pearce, 60, who will live metres away from the . . . Complete story »
Hornsea Three offshore wind farm approved by government – despite RSPB claiming damage to Flamborough and Filey seabird colonies could be ‘irreversible’
The government has given planning permission for the construction of the Hornsea Three offshore wind farm in the North Sea. The development proposal was first submitted to the HM Planning Inspectorate for consideration in 2018 and was today recommended for approval (December 31). However, the RSPB has already released a statement in which they say the wind farm will have a detrimental impact on seabird populations in areas such as Flamborough Head and the charity’s Bempton Cliffs nature reserve on . . . Complete story »
Huge wind farm off Norfolk coast approved despite concerns
One of the world’s biggest wind farms will be built off the Norfolk coast after the government gave it the go-ahead – despite concerns about the impact on wildlife and villages in the county. Danish company Ørsted has been granted development consent for its Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm. It will see cables laid in a 35 mile long trench from Weybourne on the coast, to Swardeston, south of Norwich, to connect the power generated by the turbines to . . . Complete story »
Controversial wind farm plans reduced
Controversial plans for a wind farm near East Huntspill have been resubmitted – but opponents have vowed to fight them all the way. EDF Energy Renewables has submitted revised plans with Sedgemoor District Council for five 126-metre high turbines at Withy End Farm. Although EDF has reduced the number of proposed turbines from nine, in a bid to reduce the “visual and ecological impact” on the area, opponents insist Withy End Farm is still the wrong place for a wind . . . Complete story »
Wind farm campaigners boosted by RSPB objection
Campaigners fighting a proposed wind farm in West Huntspill were given a boost after the RSPB lodged an objection against the plans. In a letter to Sedgemoor District Council, the bird charity claims it was not aware Ecotricity, the wind farm applicants, had submitted a planning application without a further study into bird movement over the Poplar Farm site. The RSPB said Ecotricity also agreed with Natural England and Somerset Wildlife Trust to carry out a “further radar-based study” at . . . Complete story »
