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.
Wind farms are shrinking golden eagle habitats as blades make them scared
Wind farms are shrinking golden eagles’ habitats as they are afraid of the blades, a study has found. The birds of prey are eight times less likely to fly near turbines when they are rotating compared with when they are switched off, scientists from the ecological company Natural Research Projects have found. It is thought the birds are avoiding areas where turbines are situated because the noise and movement makes them feel threatened. Another theory is that the circling blades . . . Complete story »
Action group mobilises to fight Garvary Wind Farm plan
A group campaigning against the planned Garvary Wind Farm is seeking volunteers and donations. Struie Action Group was initially founded some five years ago in opposition to the Beinn Tharsuinn Wind Farm, which was consented but never built. The action group is now being revitalised following the submission of a planning application to site 37 turbines, measuring 180m in height, on upland moorland east of the A836 and some 4.5km north of Lairg and 5.5km south of Bonar Bridge. Two . . . Complete story »
Application made for Orkney wind farm on uninhabited island
Orkney Islands Council (OIC) has handed in its planning application for a six-turbine wind farm on the uninhabited island of Faray. The scheme is one of a trio of proposed wind farms which make up Orkney’s Community Wind Farm Project. The developments would help trigger the installation of a new interconnector between Orkney and the mainland. An independent report commissioned by the council said the link, which has been conditionally approved by Ofgem, could be worth more than £800 annually . . . Complete story »
Epic failures on wind energy
Well done to the Ferret and The Herald for the excellent article on wind farms, obscene profits and tax avoidance (“Scottish wind farm owners linked to foreign tax havens”, The Herald, July 13). We have known for years that LLPs who operate wind farms send their revenues to tax havens overseas, where they are (not) taxed. From there benefits can flow to individuals anywhere in the world. Nothing accrues to the UK Exchequer. Putting it right is very complicated, because . . . Complete story »
UK ‘sacrificing’ fishing sector for offshore windfarms, says industry
The government has been accused of sacrificing the fishing industry for a second time since Brexit in order to burnish its green credentials with a huge programme for offshore wind turbines. The prime minister, Boris Johnson, last year said the UK had an opportunity to become “the Saudi Arabia of wind”, as part of a goal to become carbon neutral by 2030. But in an echo of Brexit political divides, fishing officials said on Wednesday the government had failed to . . . Complete story »
French energy suppliers to build massive new wind farm in West Lothian
A massive new wind farm will be built on the southern fringe of West Lothian. The 14 turbines-all but three up to almost 600ft tall- will be built on a forestry site south of Fauldhouse and bring windfall cash into the Breich valley villages. Plans currently before Scottish ministers were sent to West Lothian and South Lanarkshire Council for consultation. The wind farm will be built and operated by the French energy supplier EDF. Plans were approved at the monthly . . . Complete story »
Appeal launched over Skelmorlie wind farm refusal
A renewable energy firm refused permission for a controversial wind farm in Skelmorlie have launched an appeal. ERG and Burcote Wind have lodged a challenge with the Scottish Government over the refusal of their Rigghill Wind Farm proposal. The company now hopes to overturn the decision and build 10 turbines which would be 150m tall. A spokesperson for Rigghill Wind Farm said: “We were extremely disappointed that North Ayrshire Council’s Planning Committee decided to refuse our application earlier this year. . . . Complete story »
Hawick hill fort site wind farm seeks longer lifespan
A bid has been lodged to extend the operational life of a wind farm near an ancient hill fort site in the Borders. Councillors rejected the 12-turbine Pines Burn development near Hawick in 2017 due to landscape concerns. However, it was approved the following year by the Scottish government after an appeal by Energiekontor UK. The company has now applied to Scottish Borders Council to extend the operational life of the project from 25 to 30 years. Proposals for the . . . Complete story »
Windfall: one third of Scotland’s biggest wind farms linked to tax havens
Nearly a third of Scotland’s biggest wind farms have owners with links to offshore tax havens in the Cayman Islands, Luxembourg, Guernsey and Jersey. An investigation by The Ferret has also revealed that 39 of the largest 50 wind farms are ultimately owned outwith Scotland in England, Spain, France, Germany, Norway, China and elsewhere. Campaigners allege that the wind industry’s tax havens have deprived public services of “many millions” of pounds, while boosting private profits. Scotland’s renewable energy wealth is . . . Complete story »
Third of Scotland’s big wind farms linked to tax havens including Cayman Islands
Nearly a third of Scotland’s biggest wind farms have owners with links to offshore tax havens in the Cayman Islands, Luxembourg, Guernsey and Jersey. An investigation by The Ferret has also revealed that 39 of the largest 50 wind farms are ultimately owned outwith Scotland in England, Spain, France, Germany, Norway, China and elsewhere. Campaigners allege that the wind industry’s tax havens have deprived public services of “many millions” of pounds, while boosting private profits. Scotland’s renewable energy wealth is . . . Complete story »
