Wind Energy Planning

Using Social Media for Wind Energy Projects

People and companies are realising the potential opportunities offered by social networking sites when promoting or consulting on new projects according to PlanningBlog.

Mark Wilding asked planners what they thought of using social media as a tool for planning application consultation and although a note of caution was urged with regard to the ability of these tools to contain detail, most respondents agreed there is great potential to engage people who do not usually get involved with planning issues. That is, if IT managers would lift restrictions on the use of social network sites (particularly common within local authorities and large companies).

Two examples of social network sites currently dedicated to wind energy are the facebook sites “Yes to Wind Turbines at Spaldington & Holme on Spalding Moor” and “I want a wind farm in my back yard because I’m not an idiot”.

The former is an example of a dedicated project support group set up by the neighbour of two proposed wind farms near Spaldington – the membership is now up to 144. There are links to the project websites and information about who members can e-mail and write to in order to express their views. The latter sprung up further to the closure of the Vestas wind turbine factory on the Isle of Wight and now has over 36,500 members. This membership reflects numerous public opinion surveys which time after time demonstrate that although not shouting the loudest, the majority of people support wind energy.

Re-shuffle Brings New Green Ministers

Gordon Brown’s cabinet re-shuffle at the end of last week led to John Denham being selected as the new Communities Secretary of State.

Denham replaces Hazel Blears who resigned dramatically earlier in the week amidst continuing MP expenses revelations. Blears’s allies accused the government of trying to ’smear’ her after a story appeared in one of the tabloids suggesting her decision to quit was connected to the revelation that she had avoided paying capital gains tax on a second property.

Utility Companies Storming the Renewable Energy Marketplace

After 10 years in the making, the last wind turbine of the largest onshore wind energy project in Europe was switched on yesterday just outside Glasgow in Scotland.

The Whitelee project is made up of 140 wind turbines and will provide enough electricity for around 180,000 homes. The £300m (US $474m) wind farm was built by Scottish Power – part of the Iberdrola group which employs around 9000 people in the UK.

Promoting Energy Development? The New Planning Regime

Will the new planning regime be fit to deliver the significant number of new energy projects we will desperately need over the coming years? This was the question discussed at a seminar in London yesterday hosted by GL Hearn and RSK.

The UK government proposed a number of changes through the 2008 Planning Act including the controversial introduction of new government quango – The Infrastructure Planning Commission or IPC. The effectiveness of the new system and the IPC will be crucial to the delivery of large renewable energy projects, nuclear and electricity lines.

BWEA Calls for Government Action to Reach UK Renewable Energy Target

The British Wind Energy Association told the UK Government today that it has to intervene if the UK renewable energy target is to be met.

Talking about its written submission prior to next week’s budget, BWEA Chief Exec Maria McCaffery said:

“Large scale wind deployment is vital to reaching the UK’s goal of generating up to 40% of our electricity from renewables by 2020.

The current economic climate has caused a number of developers to put projects on hold, threatening the UK’s targets, and leaving the country exposed to volatile fossil fuel prices. Building a clean energy sector in the UK is an important part of our economic recovery, and we need to maximize the opportunities to develop sustainable energy projects which would otherwise be delayed by the recession.

UK Energy Network Companies Want to Deliver for Renewable Energy

The UK’s Energy Network Association said today that its members want to develop, build and operate the networks to deliver the low carbon, secure and reliable future the UK needs.

The ENA – a national organisation with members who own and manage pipes and wires said that networks have an essential role to play in our energy future. The organisation wants to see the UK Energy Act deliver on the renewable objectives it has set and said “we are campaigning to ensure it does by ensuring a clear licensing regime offshore and that the license process is established as soon as possible”.

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Report – A Poisoned Chalice?

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) commissioned new report “Positive Planning for Onshore Wind” was released this week with headlines congratulating or criticising the RSPB for calling on the UK government to increase their commitment to onshore wind energy. However do the headlines reflect what is contained in the RSPB report?

New Infrastructure Planning Chief Denies ‘Political Leaning’

The soon to be appointed new chief of the UK infrastructure consenting body the ‘Infrastructure Planning Committee (IPC)’ told the Commons Communities and Local Government Committee this week that he is “agnostic on political parties”.

Pitt – a civil engineer, spent many years in local government and is expected to receive a near £200k salary. He claims political independence will result in no conflict of interest. Legal challenges are however anticipated to rise as a result of the introduction of the IPC – due to concerns surrounding the rights of the public to be heard when it comes to big infrastructure projects including new large wind energy projects (over 50MW), nuclear power stations and airports.

Vote for Wind Energy Drying Devices (Clothes Lines)

The Washington Post has a poll on its website asking people to vote on whether there should or should not be rules about residents hanging their washing on lines.

In Richmond, Virginia an amendment to a Senate bill was proposed which would stop community and homeowner associations preventing residents from using their washing lines outside.

UK Government Stands By Renewable Energy

The UK government issued its response this week to a report on the economics of renewable energy by the House of Lords Economic Affairs committee.

The response re-affirms the key objectives of the government to “bring about the transition to a low carbon Britain and to achieve an international agreement on climate change in Copenhagen in December 2009″.

Brave Developers Submit Planning Application for Wind Turbines on the Isle of White

Cornish Light and Power (CLP) this week took the bold step of submitting a planning application for three wind turbines on the Isle of White.

The site in the Isle’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty was granted consent for 3 much smaller 52m high wind turbines several years ago, however because of the high grid connection costs and restricted turbine tower heights, the project was not economically viable.

Wind Energy Project Boosts Employment

Construction on the first phase of the £132 Glacier Wind Farm in Glacier and Toole Counties, Montana was completed last year involving the employment of 375 construction workers who descended on the local area of Shelby. The second phase of this 210 megawatt, 140 turbine project is creating hundreds of renewable energy jobs and providing significant economic benefits to the local area.

Campaign Group Says Yorkshire People Want Renewable Energy, Not Coal

A new 800 MW coal fired power station is being considered for Ferrybridge C, West Yorks to replace the existing 2000 MW plant.

Original proposals were to fit Flue Gas Desulphurisation technology to reduce emissions from the power station before the new EU regulations come into force in 2015 making it unfeasible to continue operation. However proposals for a new power station “potentially” with carbon capture technology came to light several years ago.

How to Save Energy in Your Old House

It is cheap and easy to change a few light bulbs to the energy efficient kind but what can you do to make more of an energy saving impact?

Dale Vince from Ecotricity gave the Telegraph some tips using the example of improving his own stone house in rural Gloucestershire. In the interview Dale said…

UFO Did Not Crash into UK Wind Turbine

An investigation into the cause of a mysteriously damaged wind turbine has established that mechanical failure was to blame rather than a UFO.

Wind turbine manufacturer Enercon has been investigating the damage and has now confirmed that the ring of bolts securing the blade to the wind turbine hub did fail.

How Long Does it Take to Build a Wind Farm?

Anthony Fyson – freelance writer for the UK Royal Town Planning Institute magazine “Planning” this week criticises The British Wind Energy Association for talking about the “falling approval rates” for wind energy projects.

Fyson says “wind power, properly harnessed, is vital to our future and most planners accept the fact. But they are unlikely to be persuaded to act differently on behalf of the frequently divided communities that they serve by the oft-repeated message that they and their system are not good enough.”

Multi – Tasking Wind Turbines

One company has realised that because wind turbines are usually prominent and visible there is a potentially huge market selling advertising space on the structures. When I first looked at WePOWER’s web-site I was horrified – how dare they contaminate the pureness of renewable energy with corporate slogans. Having given the idea some further thought however, it is not such a bad idea – in the right place.

UK DIY Store Forced to Pull Wind Turbines From Shelves

People in the renewable energy industry have for some time been sceptical about the effectiveness of small -domestic scale wind turbines in urban areas. DIY store B&Q starting selling the Windsave 1KW turbine in 2006 for £1900 and at one point it reached their best selling product status in terms of value. However people who bought the product on the basis of claims that turbines could save you 30% off your electricity bill started to raise questions about their effectiveness.

Tidal Power One Step Further towards Reality in the UK?

5 tidal barrage and lagoon projects for the UK Severn Estuary were chosen for a government shortlist today.

The huge 10 mile long Cardiff Weston Barrage proposal from Weston Super Mare to Cardiff could generate as much as 5% of UK electricity requirements, whereas the smaller Bridgwater Bay Lagoon project between Hinkley Point and Weston Super Mare has the potential to generate just under 1%.

English Politicians Reject 50 MW Wind Farm Whilst Scots Surge Ahead

English Councillors this week voted to object to a controversial 19 turbine, 50MW wind farm near Marshland St James, in the Norfolk Fens. Meanwhile over the border in the Highlands of Scotland, local officials approved the 25 turbine, 50MW Camster Wind Farm between Lybster and Watten.

These decisions do not come as a surprise. Approval rates for wind energy projects have been higher in Scotland than in England and Wales for more than a few years.