Wind farm 'maps' generate new row

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Wind farm 'maps' generate new row
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judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22790
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 05 9:36 pm Post subject:

If I look out of my bedroom window I can see the windfarm they are in the process of building. So far they have erected 13 of the intended 17 turbines. I am very much in favour of wind power, but even so it is a shock to have these huge structures suddenly appear - literally overnight - in my beloved view.
I don't think it is nimbyism to feel that way. I love watching turbines and I would far rather have them than a power station across the valley, but they are so huge and so out of place in this beautiful landscape that it is difficult to come to terms with the sight.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42223
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 05 9:42 pm Post subject:
I think that's fair enough. What people like the RSPB seem to fail to consider is that the power has to come from somewhere, barring some huge societal shift which just isn't going to happen. Still, it could be worse, they could be building a coal fired jobbie in your field of view.

Bernie66

Joined: 14 Jan 2005
Posts: 13967
Location: Eastoft

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 05 9:44 pm Post subject:

sean wrote:

I think that's fair enough. What people like the RSPB seem to fail to consider is that the power has to come from somewhere, barring some huge societal shift which just isn't going to happen.
Still, it could be worse, they could be building a coal fired jobbie in your field of view.

Or a new "Tony approved" nuclear one; think i will go for the wind turbines.

gil
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Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18420

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 05 10:16 pm Post subject:

and we get the best of both worlds here

On the hills the windfarm, and Chapelcross nuclear power station towards the Solway Firth. OK, it's being decommissioned now...

Rumoured plans to build a replacement on the same site may or may not have been scuppered by the thought that when global warming gets worse, the Solway plain will be even more prone to flooding.

I'm wholly in favour of wind, solar and water power. I think turbines look OK, and the sound doesn't bother me. Just not more than one clump of them visible from one place. Anyone here already experienced the disruption caused on narrow winding roads by construction traffic ? We've got that joy to come.

ele

Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 814
Location: Derby

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 05 11:15 pm Post subject:

sean wrote:

I think that's fair enough. What people like the RSPB seem to fail to consider is that the power has to come from somewhere, barring some huge societal shift which just isn't going to happen.

What's confusing me is that the RSPB have their own green energy package which includes wind energy sources, so I'm guessing that they are pro windpower but not in environmentally (bird) sensitive areas.

https://www.rspbenergy.co.uk/Home/Products/RSPB/WhatIsGreenEnergy.aspx

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22790
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 05 10:04 am Post subject:

gil wrote:

Anyone here already experienced the disruption caused on narrow winding roads by construction traffic ? We've got that joy to come.

Gil,

We found that was one of the benefits! Before they could get the towers and the blades up to the site, they had to do several months of road widening. I didn't realise that you could simply pick up a hedge and move it back ten feet - but you can!
Now our direct route into Newtown - which used to scare the willies out of me - is much safer to use.
Unfortunately, they are going to put all the hedges back to where they were when the work is complete!

Dave.T

Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Posts: 6
Location: Cumbria and raining again !

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 05 10:40 am Post subject:

I agree with Gil, I live on the other side of the Solway, at the moment authorites are trying to press ahead with more wind farms, local objections have been overturned. The sites may of been designated of scientific and natural importance as well as be on the feeding grounds of migrating waders but apparently this is not significant enough to stop the construction going ahead. Why are other european goverments moving away from wind power as a alternative energy source ?

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 05 12:31 pm Post subject:

In an article that was anti-windfarm they mentioned that even if we had a huge number of wind turbines we would still need the same number of gas/coal/nuclear power stations in case of the lack of wind.

I know the whole of the UK can be covered in high pressure for over a week in the depths of winter leading to very cold and still conditions so this sounds plausible. The article went on to say that to cover the sudden demands for power the power stations would need to be run burning the same amount of fuel but not generating electricity. I can't remember the exact details but is there any truth in this or is it just a scare story?

Behemoth

Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 05 12:38 pm Post subject:
I thnink winn needs to be considered as one of the options no the only option. You will need standby for power. Could biofueled power stations do the job?

gil
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Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18420

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 05 1:03 pm Post subject:

Judith wrote:

Before they could get the towers and the blades up to the site, they had to do several months of road widening.

Yes, we've been wondering just which route they will choose to widen, given the local geology / geography - rock pinch points and river cliffs in an already narrow upland river valley (lovely scenery too). Any choice will involve significant amounts of rock blasting as well as earth-moving. And route diversions while they do it. Never mind moving hedges, they'd have to (re)move parts of the hills. And put them back afterwards ?? Except that access to the windfarm will still be needed during its operational life, and then [perhaps in 25 years time, its projected lifespan], they might come and take down the turbines.

Judith wrote:

Now our direct route into Newtown - which used to scare the willies out of me - is much safer to use.

It is amazing what difference a bit of ironing out bends can do for (perceptions of) road safety, and reducing risk of accidents. Better sightlines are a good thing for many of us, I'd agree. However, it makes some people just drive faster and with less care. And drivers who don't know the roads tend to underestimate their dangers, and not to heed the warning signs for steep hills and sharp bends (even ironed-out ones).

And this is all because these hills apparently get ideal wind conditions for generating power. I wonder too how far the company also thought it would be cheaper and easier to get away with dealing with scattered, isolated farming communities (for which they read 'a handful of cash-strapped, ignorant peasants', especially post-FMD). There were some plans to build an offshore wind farm further out west along the Solway, but nothing has been heard of this recently - that's where a lot of comparatively wealthy and savvy folk retire early to go yachting and admire the view, and they objected.

sorry about the rant. It's a difficult issue. And perhaps none of us should object if it is for the greater good of the planet / society, or reduces use of fossil fuels and nuclear.

puffedpride

Joined: 05 Nov 2005
Posts: 300
Location: bristol

Posted: Sat Jan 07, 06 10:08 pm Post subject:

There is a gert big single wind turbine just sprouted up at the Reading M4 interchange. Gave me a shock when I was driving down to Dad's for Xmas!

Thought it looked beautiful. Given that there are offices, a brewery and gravel pits, as well as the motorway surrounding it, I think it actually enhances the locality. It would be nice to see more urban ones like this, although I guess we will have to get used to some of our countryside being covered in these things, if we are at all serious about global warming.

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 06 8:49 pm Post subject:
I saw it for the first time at New Year too. It is in Costco carpark, next to Reading Football ground I thought it looked great too.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 43821
Location: yes

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 06 8:59 pm Post subject:
pretty or not do they produce more energy than is needed to produce them ? are they as good at producing power as water based technology ? are they a red herring produced by the oil interests ?

puffedpride

Joined: 05 Nov 2005
Posts: 300
Location: bristol

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 06 10:44 pm Post subject:
That's a new one on me dpack! Surely the energy and resources needed to mass-produce wind turbines cannot be that great? And they need bugger all in terms of maintenance/servicing costs, I should think...........and in terms of decommissioning costs! What say you?

Bretagne

Joined: 08 Jan 2006
Posts: 4

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 06 8:17 pm Post subject:

Living near a wind farm I have several issues with them.

1. They are noisy (even though the power companies say they are not) A low hum is not pleasant throughout the night.

2. Thousands of tons of concrete have been pourred in to the soil to provide a foundation. The turbine has a life of up to 20 years what then for the giant slab of concrete?

3. It only seems to turn on quite windy days - approx 20% of time - is this efficient use of resources?

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