Wind Energy and renewable energy blog

Trump Trumped by Offshore Wind Farm

Donald Trump has expressed his anger at the offshore wind farm granted planning consent off Aberdeen Bay in Scotland. The European Offshore wind Deployment Centre has been given the go ahead this week despite high profile attempts by Donald Trump to thwart the plans. The news comes to the delight of green groups like Greenpeace [...]

Devon Wind Farm Approved after 6 Year Wait

A Devon wind energy project has been approved after a 6 year wait in the UK planning system.

The first 9 wind turbine planning application was delivered to North Devon Council offices in 2006 in a unique journey by train. Over 5 years later the Council decided to refuse the proposal despite its own officers recommending the wind farm should go ahead.

UK Wind Energy Industry Worth £548 million

The UK onshore wind energy industry was worth £568million in 2011 according to a report recently published by RenewableUK and the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

The report “Onshore Wind, Direct and Wider Economic Benefits” by BiGGAR Economics showed that the industry provided around 8,600 green jobs in the UK last year. Of this figure 1100 jobs were created at the Local Authority level worth £84 million.

Nordex Launch their Latest Wind turbine in the Chinese and Asian Markets

Nordex has announced the official launch of its 2.5 MW Gamma Generation wind turbines on the Chinese and Asian market. Nordex say they are responding to the latest market requirements as well as drawing on their 25 years of wind energy experience in their release of the N90/2500kW and N100/2500kW Efficiency Class turbines.

Who is behind The Renewable Energy Foundation?

Despite their name and mission statement, the Renewable Energy Foundation have once again been active in attempting to discredit the wind energy sector. Their declaration that they promote “sustainable development for the benefit of the public by means of energy conservation and the use of renewable energy” has been called into question, with an Energy and Environmental Management article summarising that “the REF is a front for the interests of biofuels companies, energy-intensive industries and even oil and gas companies”.

UK Renewables Output up by 50% In 2011

The recently released renewables ouput figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change have shown a significant increase in output from the sector throughout the UK. Commenting on these figures, Niall Stuart, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, said:

“The figures show that even in an exceptionally dry and calm year, renewables still met over 30 per cent of the annual demand for electricity from every home and business in Scotland. This reinforces that the sector is now a major part of our energy mix, and a significant part of our economy.”

Local Councils to keep Business Rates from Wind Farms

Local councils will soon be able to keep the business rates from wind farms if the idea is received well by the public.

A new consultation by the Department of Communities and Local government is looking for feedback on the proposals to change the way local government is funded by introducing the retention of business rates.

Oil Dependence is no longer justified

Oil Dependence is no longer justified, European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) conference delegates were told this week.

Continuing to depend on expensive oil for energy is a losing proposition, Denmark’s Minister for Climate and Energy told people attending the opening session of EWEA2011 conference this week in Brussels.

“Let there be no doubt, the new energy reality is here,” Lykke Friis said. “We simply must end our oil addiction.”

Friis said political leaders must act without delay to capitalise on wind power and other renewables.

More Offshore Wind Turbine Jobs for the UK

Wind turbine giant has Siemens announced that it is to sign a memorandum of understanding with Associated British Ports to set up an offshore wind turbine manufacturing and export facility at Alexandra Dock, Port of Hull.

The investment is expected to create hundreds of green jobs at the site, with thousands more in the associated supply chains.

Welcoming the investment, Dr. Gordon Edge, RenewableUK Director of Policy, said:

Anti-wind energy campaigners to cost England over £1.3bn

UK renewable energy trade organisation RenewableUK told its members this week that anti- wind farm campaigners could cost the country £1.3bn.

A report, produced by Garrard Hassan and commissioned by RenewableUK says that England has the potential to see £1.3bn in investment that will directly create jobs and opportunities for local companies, funds for community activities and increased business rates for local authorities. However according to RenewableUK this is being threatened by the actions of anti-wind farm campaigners. The £1.3bn figure represents money that would flow directly to businesses and organisations at the local and regional level.

Green Group Celebrate Town’s New Wind Farm

A green campaign group celebrated the construction of a wind farm in the heart of England this week.

The Sustainable Energy Alliance (SEA) supported Lindhurst wind farm, just outside the town of Mansfield from the early planning stages. The wind farm had over 3000 letters of support from local people.

The 5 turbine wind farm will generate enough renewable electricity to provide for the annual average needs of around 5000 homes.

New UK Wind Energy Record Set

National Grid confirmed that a record was set this week for the amount of electricity generated by wind turbines in the UK.

Graham McQuarrie at the National Grid’s press office said that at 8.30pm on Monday 6 September that 1860 Megawatts was being generated from wind energy mainly from Scotland – accounting for 4.7 per cent of total generation at the time.

Over the 24 hours for the day between midnight and midnight, wind generated 5 % of all electricity – 40GWh out of a total 809GWh.

Councillor Threatened at Wind Farm Planning Meeting

A Councillor was threatened not to vote in favour of a wind farm in the East Riding of Yorkshire this week.

Councillor Chapman was left a phone message at 9pm on the day before the planning meeting to consider two wind farm applications. The message left was “If you vote for the wind farms you will forever be looking over your shoulder”.

Despite recieving more than 430 letters of support…

30 UK Organisations Campaign to Save Regional Planning

Kelvin MacDonald from the UK’s Royal Town Planning Institute spoke to Radio 4′s Today Programme this week about the void that has been created through the abolition of regional plans.

30 organisations including the World Wildlife Fund, the National Home Builders Federation, and the Council for the Protection of Rural England have come together to voice their concerns about the sudden withdrawal of planning policy ‘above the neighbourhood level’. They are worried that ministers will miss the bigger picture if environmental protection, housing and planning is left to localism – putting the national interest at risk.

MacDonald said that the organisations want to work with the government to deal with the problem and said that local authorities had already stopped planning for new housing.

Energy Secretary Promotes Wind Energy & Says ‘No Money’ for New Nuclear

UK Energy Secretary Chris Hulne has reinforced the message that there will be no government cash for new nuclear power stations in an interview with The Telegraph this week.

The Lib Dems have always been opposed to Nuclear and energy department cuts of over 25% make it easy for Hulne to stand by his position.

Hulne instead highlighted government support for more onshore and offshore wind turbines, saying that wind energy is incredibly competitive in producing green electricity.

Wind Energy Set to Lead the Way in 2010

More wind energy could be installed in 2010 than any other electricity generating technology if European Wind Energy Association forecasts become reality.

European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) CEO Christian Kjaer announced that an additional 10,000 MW of additional capacity is expected to be installed this year. Kjaer said that despite investor confidence falling at the end of 2009, orders for 2010 show a strong European wind energy market for 2010.

Green Jobs Threatened By Government Cuts

Green jobs could be threatened by UK government spending cuts it has emerged this week. Government departments are for the first time facing 25% budget reductions and this is expected to have significant consequences for the country. One area of public spending at risk is ‘The Ports fund’. The fund was announced by the Labour [...]

Wind Turbine Report Confirms No Health Effects

If you are baffled by people referring to terms such as ‘vibro-acoustic disease’, ‘wind turbine syndrome’ or just generally worried about wind turbine noise, a report has been published confirming that many wind turbine claims are ill founded.

The review ‘Wind Turbine Sound & Health Effects‘ carried out last year includes an assessment of so called research carried out by anti-wind farm campaigners (including Nina Pierpont).

Adopt a Wind Turbine

The European Wind Energy Association has launched a new campaign encouraging people to ‘adopt a wind turbine‘.

The ‘Give Europe a Breath of Fresh Air’ campaign aims to show that wind energy is a mainstream power source that EWEA believes could power Europe seven times over.

EWEA say that European countries are the world leaders in wind energy and that wind energy creates green jobs, lowers electricity prices and emits no C02.

Coalition Changes to Planning System Based on Conservative Ideas

The UK Government is set to make changes to the planning system and it has been confirmed that these will be in line with the Conservative Green Paper ‘Open Source Planning‘ released prior to the election.

The Coalition’s new “Programme for Government” believes it is time for a shift of power from Westminster to local authorities giving new powers to local councils, neighbourhoods and individuals.

The Programme confirms the previous Tory goals of reviewing local government finance, abolishing regional spatial strategies and the Infrastructure Planning Commission and promoting ‘Home on the Farm’ schemes that encourage farmers to convert existing buildings in the middle of nowhere into affordable housing for people who have no cars.