Sunak's ban on new wind turbines

Septimia

*infoman*, replacing pylons by putting electrical cables underground can be problematic. There are places where the geology, topography and sheer distance make it prohibitively expensive, but it is happening slowly... It happened over a short distance near us a few years back, but the trench for the cable went straight through known archaeology so there had to be an excavation in advance of the cable-laying - so another potential expense.

Another problem with putting electric cables underground is that it is apparently more difficult to find where any fault is in a long line of underground cables. On the other hand, I saw a report somewhere the other day about a dog which can smell out where a fault is, so there may be some hope yet!

I agree with those who say that they find the sight of wind turbines pleasing.

What the world needs is fewer people😬

Davida1968

We desperately need to provide our energy needs from renewable and low-carbon energy sources such as wind turbines. I understand that that Denmark already has 50% of its electricity supplied via wind and solar power. Surely we can do the same - or better?

Population of UK 68 million

Population of Denmark 5.8 million

That’s the problem.

Oops, Lathyrus I should rtwt!

Callistemon21

Sparklefizz

The option of using the Severn Estuary has been mooted for years, but rejected because of damage to wildlife.

I don't think that was the only reason but damage to the wetlands which are home to wintering birds would be quite catastrophic. The environmental impact would be enormous.
It's difficult to find a balance.

We're surrounded by sea - what is wrong with wave power?

I’ve posted above about some of the problems with wave power🙂

There are lots of on shore wind turbines in France and they seem to blend in quite well to the landscape. We obviously need more wind power so I think Sunak needs to shift his policy which looks nimbyist. Burying high voltage electric cables is very expensive and we ought to spend the money instead on house insulation, etc.

They are very unpopular in our area of France. Always protests and meetings when the idea is put forward.
I don't have a problem with them especially considering several of France's nuclear stations are closed down.

If only!

www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/solar-panels-new-buildings-eu-mandatory-b2081732.html

Just leaving this here...

Why is it not compulsory for every new build, house, school, factory etc to be fitted with solar panels?

Sparklefizz

The option of using the Severn Estuary has been mooted for years, but rejected because of damage to wildlife.

I don't think that was the only reason but damage to the wetlands which are home to wintering birds would be quite catastrophic. The environmental impact would be enormous.
It's difficult to find a balance.

We're surrounded by sea - what is wrong with wave power?

We desperately need to provide our energy needs from renewable and low-carbon energy sources such as wind turbines. I understand that that Denmark already has 50% of its electricity supplied via wind and solar power. Surely we can do the same - or better?

infoman, replacing pylons by putting electrical cables underground can be problematic. There are places where the geology, topography and sheer distance make it prohibitively expensive, but it is happening slowly... It happened over a short distance near us a few years back, but the trench for the cable went straight through known archaeology so there had to be an excavation in advance of the cable-laying - so another potential expense.

My “home” village in Cornwall was the first place in the U.K. to have a field of wind turbines - donkeys years ago.

They will be responsible for saving tons and tons of carbon from entering the atmosphere.

They sit quietly doing their job with sheep grazing beneath them.

I fully support their existence.

MaizieD

I dislike wind turbines intensely from an aesthetic point of view, but I really do acknowledge their necessity. I don't understand why onshore wind has been banned.

I also don't understand why renewable energy producers are being charged a higher windfall tax than those using fossil fuels.

I like them, especially when driving across northern France. They stand proudly in the hills and remind me of those windmills that we had as children.

25Avalon

The thing that worries me is what happens when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine, especially in the winter months when we need the power the most? The National Grid have already threatened to cut supplies for up to 3 hours if there is not enough electricity. 3 of the French power stations we get supplies from are shutting at the moment. What’s the use ofNet Zero if we are all going to freeze to death? Surely this should all have been thought out before? Why not have kept our coal stations open until we have enough sustainable alternative power? Instead we are buying coal in. It’s all very hypocritical. We have industries buying wooded areas as their contribution to Net Zero to offset their processes which they aren’t changing -it’s greenwashing and the ordinary person is the one to suffer deprivations.

That is why we need a mixture.

But always with an eye to reducing carbon.

The thing that worries me is what happens when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine, especially in the winter months when we need the power the most? The National Grid have already threatened to cut supplies for up to 3 hours if there is not enough electricity. 3 of the French power stations we get supplies from are shutting at the moment. What’s the use ofNet Zero if we are all going to freeze to death? Surely this should all have been thought out before? Why not have kept our coal stations open until we have enough sustainable alternative power? Instead we are buying coal in. It’s all very hypocritical. We have industries buying wooded areas as their contribution to Net Zero to offset their processes which they aren’t changing -it’s greenwashing and the ordinary person is the one to suffer deprivations.

Wind turbines everywhere, well everywhere sensible, I say.
They are absolutely necessary and I don't understand banning onshore ones at all. This is madness.
And I detest having more nuclear power stations.

I dislike wind turbines intensely from an aesthetic point of view, but I really do acknowledge their necessity. I don't understand why onshore wind has been banned.

I also don't understand why renewable energy producers are being charged a higher windfall tax than those using fossil fuels.

25Avalon

I’m not sure about wind turbines since I read they are killing a lot of bats. Whatever we do seems to have some drawbacks. I guess there aren’t many bats right out in the sea?

No but they killed a lot of sea birds when they were first installed.

Amazingly they seem to have learned to avoid the blades and even use the turbines as landing spots when the wind drops.

The option of using the Severn Estuary has been mooted for years, but rejected because of damage to wildlife.

I’m not sure about wind turbines since I read they are killing a lot of bats. Whatever we do seems to have some drawbacks. I guess there aren’t many bats right out in the sea?

travelsafar

I'd love a wind turbine of a smaller size in my garden or in-between mine and next door neighbours house..the gap is like a wind tunnel when we open our side gates and the sails would be turning most of the time. We would both be able to 'grow' our own electricity supply. Wish someone would design a smaller version for people to purchase and have installed.

🤓

Gingster

We already have two wind farms out at sea on the Suffolk coast. They don’t present us with any problem as they are 27 miles away.
Another company (can’t remember the name) are planning another where the turbines will be much closer in and directly in front of our seaside cottage.

I’ve never understood why they can’t make use of the wave power . The sea is a force of nature waiting to be harnessed.

Inlets like the Severn estuary have potential because the surge is quite powerful but wave power (as opposed to tidal surge) generally has a lot of problems attached to it.

The biggest one is the ratio of sea that would need to be covered to amount of energy that would be generated. The equipment would need to be on the surface because that’s where the waves are! And fairly close to the shore.
Obviously that would affect wildlife quite considerably if they couldn’t get to the surface when they needed too.

Shipping would also have to have guided lanes which would involve longer journeys and greater use of oil.

Waves are not constant. We’ve all heard the phrase “the sea was like a mill pond”.

And the maintenance costs of equipment would be very high due to the corrosive effect of salt water.

Finally, given people’s love of being by the sea, it’s hard to imagine ant community around the coast welcoming their stretch of sea being covered over for miles with ugly power generators. Something everybody wants, but not near them🤔!

Travelsafar
If your serous, look at Rutland wind generators. We lived off grid for 20 years with 2 of these and solar panels.