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 are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Approval of 78m tall wind turbine taken to Secretary of State for redetermination
A planning dispute which has rumbled on for three years will reach a conclusion as the case is brought before the Secretary of State. An application to install a 78 metre wind turbine in Hempstead was initially submitted to the North Norfolk District Council in December 2014. However it was refused by NNDC in July 2015, before an appeal was submitted and granted by the Planning Inspectorate in December 2016. The District Council has now asked for a statutory review . . . Complete story »
Wind farm blades eroding after few years at sea
An investigation by ITV News Meridian has revealed that turbine blades at the world’s largest offshore wind farm off Kent have developed a fault. Actress and activist Emma Thompson has even fronted a controversial Greenpeace campaign, claiming wind power costs have halved. However, this video has since been removed from their website and social media sites. Erosion repairs to the turbines could cost millions of pounds as the owners are forced to carry out emergency repairs to 140 of the . . . Complete story »
Debate over windfarms threatens to tear a small Norfolk community apart
An act of vandalism in a small Norfolk village has symbolised the growing community divisions over the construction of windfarm infrastructure. The once close-knit community in Necton, near Swaffham, has become divided between residents who are for or against substations, which are linked to off-shore windfarms. The rift began with the construction of a substation linked to an offshore windfarm operated by energy company, Dudgeon, and grew further when Swedish company Vattenfall unveiled plans to build a second, much larger . . . Complete story »
Go-ahead for wind turbines near Hadrian’s Wall
Planning permission has been granted for two wind turbines in the heart of Hadrian’s Wall Country, near Bardon Mill. The turbines will generate electricity for Longsyke Farm and its associated holiday cottage. The farm is located just 1,300m from the Roman Wall, two miles north-west of the Sill National Landscape Disovery Centre, and 1.5 miles from the popular Steel Rigg car park. The structures, which will stand at just over 15m to the tip of turbine, will also be located . . . Complete story »
“The best outcome we could hope for” – countryside campaigners welcome Norfolk wind farms announcements
Countryside campaigners have welcomed decisions by the energy firm proposing to build two giant wind farms off the Norfolk coast which it says will reduce the impact on the environment. Vattenfall, which is behind plans for the Norfolk Vanguard and Boreas wind farms, has said it will use a more advanced method for currency transmission, high voltage direct current (HVDC), which would narrow the cable corridor by more than half from 100m to 45m and mean no relay stations will . . . Complete story »
“We can crack open a bottle of bubbly now” – landowners celebrate Vattenfall wind farm cable decision
Landowners on the cable route for a major offshore wind farm are celebrating the energy firm’s decision to pursue a transmission option which would halve the corridor width and remove the need for onshore relay stations. Swedish company Vattenfall is behind the plans for the Norfolk Vanguard and Boreas wind farms, which would require a 60km cable trench to be dug from Happisburgh to Necton – a source of huge concern for farmers and environmental campaigners. But the firm has . . . Complete story »
Wind farm firm scraps plan for relay stations in Norfolk countryside
The energy firm behind one of the world’s biggest offshore wind farms has scrapped plans to build large electricity plants in the Norfolk countryside. Vattenfall, which wants to build two wind farms around 50 kilometres off the east Norfolk coast, said today it will use more advanced technology which will mean a cable corridor it hopes to dig across the Norfolk countryside will be narrower. It also means no relay stations will be needed. The Swedish energy company had put . . . Complete story »
Seven-year legal bid to overturn huge wind turbine in Woodborough is rejected by country’s top judges
Protestors against a huge wind turbine in Woodborough suffered another legal defeat at the hands of three of the country’s top judges in London today (February 16). The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett, and Lords Justices Sales and Flaux unanimously threw out the latest challenge aimed at blocking the plan for 67.6 metre high turbine at Woodborough to provide power for a local farm which stands in the Green Belt. Today’s highly complex judgment at London’s Appeal Court came as . . . Complete story »
Wind farm consultation dubbed ‘cosmetic’ – but energy firm says went beyond what was required
A public consultation for a huge wind farm has been dubbed “cosmetic” by a community group – but the energy firm behind it insists it went beyond what was required. Danish firm Orsted plans to build the biggest offshore wind farm in the world 120km off the north Norfolk coast at the same time as two other wind farms called Vanguard and Boreas, planned by energy company Vattenfall, are also being constructed. But digging a 55km long cable corridor for . . . Complete story »
Energy firm reveals final cable route for huge wind farm in Norfolk – and cuts construction time to eight years
The time it will take to dig a huge cable trench across Norfolk for an offshore wind farm has been slashed. The energy firm behind what will be the biggest offshore wind farm in the world if built said today it had changed some its plans after feedback. Digging a 55km long cable corridor for the Hornsea Three wind farm, from Weybourne in north Norfolk to south of Norwich, has sparked widespread concerns about the impact on the rural landscape, . . . Complete story »
