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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.
Ted Hughes: Former poet laureate’s estate backs campaigners fighting giant wind farm on Calderdale moorland
The Mytholmroyd-born poet was famous for his evocation of the natural world, inspired by the Calder Valley landscape he grew up in. Stop Calderdale Windfarm, marshalling objections to Calder Wind Farm Ltd’s proposals for a 65-turbine wind farm on more than 2,300 hectares of land at Walshaw Moor above Hebden Bridge, says the Ted Hughes Estate – run by poet’s widow Carol Hughes – is behind their campaign. Calderdale Wind Farm Ltd says the wind farm could be England’s biggest . . . Complete story »
EDF wind farm to pay £5.5 million to vulnerable customers after overcharging grid
Energy company EDF will pay £5.5 million into a fund designed to help vulnerable customers after regulator Ofgem found that it had overcharged the grid. Ofgem said that EDF’s Dorenell Windfarm Limited (DWL) charged “excessive prices” when it was asked to reduce its output. “Ofgem considers that DWL charged excessive prices to reduce output where this was required to keep the system balanced, and the breach pushed up costs for consumers,” Ofgem said in a statement on Monday. The regulator . . . Complete story »
Armadale Wind Farm turbines would have ‘startling’ effect on landscape, planning officers says as councillors are advised to object to the development
North councillors are being advised to object to a planning application to build a wind farm which it is feared would “overwhelm” the north Sutherland village of Armadale. Brookfield Renewables is seeking permission to build a nine-turbine wind farm on an area of hill land and common grazings overlooking the village. Members of the North Planning applications Committee will consider the application at their meeting in Inverness next Tuesday, March 5. The final decision will be taken by Scottish Ministers . . . Complete story »
Lethen windpower plan near Grantown is rejected by Ministers
A controversial plan for 17 wind turbies near Lochindorb some 10km north-west of Grantown has been refused by Scottish Ministers. The Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit announced the refusal last night. Scotland Against Spin reported: “The Scottish Ministers acknowledge that there are environmental effects from the proposed development resulting in significant visual and landscape impacts as well as impacts on some SLQs (Special landscape qualities) of the (Cairngorms National) Park and on the special qualities of the SLA (Special landscape . . . Complete story »
Grantown wind farm planners ‘Gambled and lost’ say campaigners
Anti–wind farm campaigners are celebrating last night’s announcement that a plan for a 17-turbine wind farm on a historic beauty spot north of Grantown has been rejected. As the Strathy announced earlier, the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit have refused the controversial application lodged by Fred.Olsen Renewables to develop an area near Lochindorb on the Dava Moor. This afternoon Graham Lang of Scotland Against Spin celebrated: “This is an excellent result.” He told the Strathy: “Although the council did lodge . . . Complete story »
Councillors recommended to reject plans for wind farm with 200 metre high turbines
Planning officers have advised a council’s planning committee to object to proposals for a wind farm consisting of nine 200-metre-high wind turbines. RWE Renewables UK have submitted a statutory pre-application consultation to Conwy’s planning department, seeking backing for the huge wind turbines at Alwen Forest Wind Farm, a 738-hectare site located 4km north-west of Cerrigydrudion. If permission is granted, six of the proposed wind turbines would be located in Conwy county within the coniferous woodland, forming a ridge between Alwen . . . Complete story »
Wind farm operators investigated for ‘overstating production’
Ofgem is investigating claims that wind farm operators have overestimated the amount of energy they are set to generate, saddling customers with millions of pounds in extra costs. Wind farm operators are often paid to switch off their turbines when generation outstrips demand to prevent the electricity grid from being overloaded. So-called curtailment payments are based upon the amount of energy that a wind farm company says it will produce. Some operators overestimate their output, according to reports by Bloomberg, . . . Complete story »
Wind farms are overstating their output — and consumers are paying for it
“It looks like some operators are gaming the system.” [Podcast (with transcript): The Big Take: Why Wind Farms Are Paid Millions to Turn Off] Dozens of British wind farms run by some of Europe’s largest energy companies have routinely overestimated how much power they’ll produce, adding millions of pounds a year to consumers’ electricity bills, according to market records and interviews with power traders. These extra costs are linked to a growing problem with Britain’s outdated electricity network: On blustery . . . Complete story »
UK wind turbine bursts into flames as shocked farmers watch in horror
Walkers in a tranquil Welsh countryside were left astonished as they recorded a video of a wind turbine erupting in flames and subsequently exploding. The unexpected and dramatic event took place while they were on their stroll, adding an element of shock to what was initially a routine walk in the scenic landscape. Nick Blasdale, 61, and his wife Alison, 59, were left shocked when they saw burning parts of a turbine fall more than 100ft to the ground. Firefighters . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine catches fire and explodes in Blaen Bowi
Walkers enjoying a Sunday stroll were shocked to see a wind turbine burst into flames, disintegrate and explode. The wind turbine, located at Blaen Bowi Wind Farm, at Moelfra Hill near Newcastle Emlyn caught fire shortly before midday. Fire fighters from Newcastle Emlyn and Carmarthen were called to the fire at 11.46. They arrived to find the turbine well-alight with pieces of debris falling to the ground nearby. Nick and Alison Blasdale, who were on a countryside walk at the . . . Complete story »
