Wind Power News: U.K.
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.
Cursory debate over Sallachy
Having watched live the North Planning Application Committee meeting of April 26, during which planning permission was granted for a wind farm at Sallachy, I am questioning why I submitted an objection, as objections were minimally referred to and appeared to be given little consideration, writes Alice Clutterbuck. The previous application, thrown out by Scottish Ministers in 2015 – deemed unsuitable for this wildland area – was “cut, pasted and moulded” into shape, resubmitted and approved by councillors in approximately . . . Complete story »
Grantshouse: New wind farm development bid in Borders village
A bid for a new “modest” wind farm in a Borders village has been placed on the agenda. Scottish Borders Council has received a scoping request from Harrogate-based renewable energy company Wind Estate UK Ltd for four turbines with tip heights of 150 metres on land to the east of Blackburn Mill Farm at Grantshouse. A report accompanying the request from Green Cat Renewables says: “The applicant is proposing the creation of a modest, four-turbine wind farm. “The proposed development . . . Complete story »
Farm Blog: Major landscape changes could be here soon
The landscape of southern Britain could soon look quite different, even bearing in mind the massive changes already made. Construction of large solar farms, which merit their own symbol on Ordnance Survey maps, has continued at a pace and anyone driving up the A34 just to the north of Winchester can’t fail to have noticed the massive solar structures being installed there. These panels are just a stone’s throw from the pumps that extract oil from one of the many . . . Complete story »
Sallachy Wind Farm objections casually dismissed
The shocking North Planning Applications Committee meeting of April 26 granted a wind farm on designated wildland at Sallachy, despite many concerning objections from highly reputable organisations such as NatureScot, Mountaineering Scotland, the John Muir Trust, and SSE Renewables. These were either casually dismissed or ignored. Watching the meeting live, I was horrified at the lack of debate or due consideration, other than a nod to Rogart Community Council’s objection to the massive 560 per cent increase in HGV traffic . . . Complete story »
Perth wind turbine plan draws criticism from nature body
Scotland’s nature agency is standing in the way of insurance giant Aviva gaining consent to erect a 77 metre high wind turbine in Perth on its second attempt. Scottish Ministers overruled local councillors who granted Aviva permission to position a turbine at Pitheavlis on appeal two years ago after Historic Environment Scotland (HES) said the development would have “a significant adverse impact” on the setting of the company’s A-listed office buildings. The insurer sent Perth and Kinross Council a revised . . . Complete story »
Wind farms cash in on contract loophole
Britons face paying tens of millions of pounds more than expected for electricity from offshore wind farms after developers used a contract loophole to cash in on the energy crisis. At least two newly constructed offshore wind farm projects have delayed activating their contracts to supply power to consumers at a fixed price, enabling them to sell it at higher prices in the market instead. Kwasi Kwarteng, the business secretary, is understood to believe that the developers of the Moray . . . Complete story »
Turbine at largest floating wind farm needs repairs
A turbine which is part of the world’s largest floating wind farm is to be removed for repairs, BBC Scotland has learned. The six-turbine floating Kincardine Wind Farm – which is nine miles (15km) off the Aberdeenshire coast – began operating fully in October last year. No-one from the project was available for official comment. However, it is understood the turbine in question could be out of action for up to three weeks. All other turbines in the array will . . . Complete story »
Kincardine facing turbine repair job
The pioneering 50MW Kincardine floating wind farm off the coast of Aberdeen, Scotland, has suffered a significant technical set back just months after it became fully operational. A major component in one of the five V164-9.5MW Vestas turbines at the site is understood to be in need of replacement. The turbine is to be removed from the array and towed to an undisclosed port location while the work is carried out. It is also understood the other four turbines that . . . Complete story »
Motorists could soon power wind turbines and streetlights while behind the wheel
Wind turbines spun by the airflow from passing vehicles installed on a major road in Shropshire will generate enough electricity to run all the streetlights for the nearby town in a UK first. The vertical wind turbines, invented by a British company, can harness even a moderate breeze, which they say is generated by a car driving at 50mph, as well as by natural wind, and catch airflow moving in either direction. They will be installed on 181 streetlights on . . . Complete story »
Dumfries and Galloway Council pulls out of Mochrum Fell windfarm hearing
Dumfries and Galloway Council has pulled out of a hearing into a controversial Glenkens windfarm development, just weeks before it is due to take place. Officials were due to appear at the Scottish Government session into Falck Renewables’ proposal to build taller turbines at Mochrum Fell. But economy and development boss Steve Rogers says that will now not be happening – a move branded “regrettable” by a Scottish Government official. More than 600 people objected to Falck’s plans for eight, . . . Complete story »
