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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.
Safety fears after two Scots wind turbines broke apart during Storm Gerrit
An energy firm is being asked to investigate the safety of all its wind turbines after two broke apart during a storm. The Sunday Mail told last week how one in Ayrshire spun out of control during Storm Gerrit, causing the 34-metre blades to fly through the air. But around the same time, a turbine in Fife, also owned by Surrey-based Constantine Wind Energy, was destroyed in bad weather. Colin Morrison, from Crail, who spotted the debris on farmland close . . . Complete story »
Faw Side wind farm near Langholm rejected owing to “significant” landscape and visual impact
A wind farm situated at what has been described as a “gateway to Scotland” has been refused. Community Windpower wanted to build 45 turbines along the A7 corridor between Langholm and Teviothead in Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders. The final decision on the Faw Side project lay with the Scottish government following a public inquiry. It has now ruled the scheme should not go ahead due to its “significant” landscape and visual impact. There were also concerns about the . . . Complete story »
Mansion wind turbine plans face refusal over airport safety fears
Plans for a 200-foot-high wind turbine to power a mansion are expected to be refused due to fears it would threaten the safe operation of a nearby airport. Mr and Mrs G Peters of Western Solar Ltd are seeking permission for a single turbine on land near the Grade II-listed Rhosygilwen Mansion in Pembrokeshire, which includes an arts and functions building known as Neuaddydderwen. The application for the 62-metre-high turbine and associated works, is to be considered at the January . . . Complete story »
Owners of sporting estate in Yorkshire moors to erect 65 turbines in Bronte country
A developer has submitted notice of their intent to build wind 65 turbines on some of Yorkshire’s most culturally and ecologically valuable moorland – close to a ruined farmhouse associated with the Bronte sisters. Calderdale Wind Farm Ltd have filed scoping documents with Calderdale Council via a consultant ahead of a full planning application in respect to the Walshaw Moor Estate at Heptonstall, near Hebden Bridge. The estate is owned by Boundary Mill retail entrepreneur Richard Bannister, whose family are . . . Complete story »
Giant turbine blades scattered by storms leads to safety calls from locals
The giant blades of a 34-metre wind turbine broke off and flew through the air during Storm Gerritt. Dramatic footage of the incident also revealed large parts of the fibreglass structure were left embedded in the ground due to the force of winds during Storm Gerrit in Galston, Ayrshire. The damage was caused a few miles from a residential area and has led to calls for a stricter safety crackdown on turbines close to homes and businesses. A resident rang . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine spins out of control and flies apart
Storm Gerrit brought winds of up to 85mph on Wednesday. In such conditions, wind turbines feather their blades and brake the rotor. The brakes seem to have failed in a turbine at Newhouse Farm, Auchencloigh, in Ayrshire, which spun out of control until the blades broke and flew off. The dramatic event was captured on video, as posted on Facebook: The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service had received report of a fire before the turbine broke apart. The wind turbine . . . Complete story »
‘Local’ wind farms owned by firms based abroad
Some of Scotland’s biggest ‘local’ wind farms are owned as far afield as the Cayman Islands and Canada, The Ferret can reveal, prompting claims the Scottish Government is “misleading” the public over its community energy targets. The Scottish Government has a target to bring much more “community or locally owned” renewable energy online by 2030. But its definition of local energy includes projects owned by farms, estates, and businesses, and the majority of projects installed so far are privately owned . . . Complete story »
Furious locals hit out at plans to build wind turbine twice the size of the Statue of Liberty at Scots beauty spot
Fuming locals have hit out at plans to build the UK’s highest wind farm at a popular beauty spot. Plans have been lodged for 16 turbines to be built on top of Hill of Fare on the Dunecht Estate in picturesque Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire. The turbines would be developed by Renewable energy firm RES. Campaigners say the mammoth machines are set to be 200m tall – twice the height of the Statue of Liberty – and bigger than the Kelpies . . . Complete story »
Hill of Fare wind farm opponents launch Nae Fare campaign
A community group fighting plans for the UK’s tallest wind farm on Royal Deeside has launched a new campaign, Nae Fare, to help its cause. The 16-turbine development is proposed for Hill of Fare near Banchory. Nearly three-quarters (71%) of people who took part in a public consultation last year were either against the project or undecided. Developer RES subsequently changed its plans – scaling the proposed development back from 17 towering turbines up to 820ft tall to 16 machines . . . Complete story »
Campaigners angry after wind farm moratorium rejected without discussion
Campaigners who want a temporary halt on the granting of permission for onshore wind farms in Wales say they are furious after Senedd Members decided not to discuss their petition because Climate Change Minister Julie James had written a letter saying she didn’t agree with it. The petition said that to “prevent wide scale and needless damage to the Welsh countryside”, there should be a moratorium on all onshore wind and ground-based solar developments above 10MW until the potential for . . . Complete story »
