Local campaign group requests further support for Cheshire’s first on-shore wind farm

Local wind campaign group Mersey Wind Energy Supporters (MWES) is asking that all wind energy supporters give their backing to Peel Energy’s proposal for a 20 turbine wind farm on Frodsham and Helsby Marshes in Cheshire, which if permitted, could be Cheshire’s first on-shore wind farm.

Local resident David Hardman, of MWES, said: “This is a well-timed opportunity to play a part in reducing CO2 emissions.

“The proposed Frodsham wind farm could generate enough electricity to meet the needs of 28,500 households - equivalent to more than one-fifth of the homes in Cheshire West and Chester and would help the UK meet its 2020 renewable energy obligations.”

MWES member Professor Andrew Basden said his Frodsham home overlooks the marsh and has said for many years that it is an ideal place for a wind farm.

He said: “I’ve long thought there should be wind generators here, I would be proud to look out of my window and see the elegant turbines helping to contribute to the UK’s renewable energy obligations. But with the number of Nimbies locally, we have an uphill struggle on our hands, even though I think there are actually more supporters for this proposal than opponents, and I ask that as many supporters as possible come out fighting to support this commendable proposal.

“Much of the land has been used for many years to deposit dredgings from the neighbouring Manchester Ship Canal. The site extends to some 557 hectares, although only a small fraction of this land would be taken up by the development. The proposed turbines would be located on the inactive deposit grounds, avoiding the central active lagoon, thereby splitting the turbines into two distinct clusters.”

MWES is grateful of any support that can be provided, and support letters can be generated at http://www.expresssupport.com/microsites/frodsham/ . Andrew Basden of MWES can be contacted on 01928 733930 or alternatively for more information contact the project’s Freefone information line on 0800 169 5290

Irish generator ESB acquires consented Myndd y Bettws site

ESB, the Irish State owned electricity utility today (Wed, June 2nd) announced it has acquired the fully licensed Mynydd y Betws Wind Farm project in South Wales from energy company, Eco2.

ESB, the Irish State owned electricity utility today (Wed, June 2nd) announced it has acquired the fully licensed Mynydd y Betws Wind Farm project in South Wales from energy company, Eco2.

ESB has acquired 100% interest in the 15 turbine, 34.5 megawatts Mynydd y Betws Wind Farm near Ammanford in Carmarthenshire, South Wales and construction of the project is expected to commence next year.

This builds on acquisitions by ESB last year in Britain of the 24megawatts operating West Durham Wind Farm and the 66 megawatts fully licensed Fullabrook Wind Farm in Devon where construction will begin later this year.

The Myndd y Betws site was developed by Welsh developer Eco2 in co-operation with local private shareholders.

Announcing completion of this transaction, Head of Wind Development for ESB in Britain, Andy Paine, said the acquisition provides an excellent basis on which the Irish company can grow its market presence.

“With Fullabrook and Mynydd y Betws providing 100 megawatts of development assets, together with 24 megawatts operational at West Durham, ESB is well on the way to achieving 200 megawatts of wind generation in Britain by 2012. We are committed to developing a balanced portfolio of generation in this market with less reliance on carbon”.

“ESB is delivering on its strategic objectives to become a significant investor in the UK renewables market”, he said.

Eco2 Commercial Director, Darren Williams said, “The sale allows Eco2 to invest funds into its other businesses including its development of a Welsh tidal business.”

Pembrokeshire wind farm project gets go ahead

Dutch wind energy developer Infinergy has been granted planning permission for a four-turbine wind farm in Pembrokeshire.

The Wear Point wind farm will have four 2.5MW turbines. Infinergy aims to have the wind farm operational by the end of 2012.

The proposed wind farm is named after nearby Wear Point beach, on the northern edge of the Milford Haven waterway in Pembrokeshire, just west of Hazelbeach.

The turbines will be installed on a brownfield or industrial site, owned by oil storage company SemLogistics.

Rotherham goes green with wind farm proposal

Plans for a new wind farm on land to the south east of Rotherham have been approved by the town’s Metropolitan Borough Council.

Developer Banks Developments put forward the Penny Hill proposal, which encompasses six turbines with a maximum height of 132m, to be built on land to the west of the junction of the M1 and M18.

The plans were recommended for approval by the Council’s planning officer and its planning committee backed that recommendation on 26 May.

The communities around the development will also benefit directly from its approval, with a package of initiatives being implemented which are designed to help tackle fuel poverty and to enable community groups to install other forms of renewable energy.

Phil Dyke, Managing Director of Banks Renewables, says: “We’re obviously very pleased that the Council’s planning committee have chosen to support what we strongly believe is a well-designed and thought-out proposal.

“The Penny Hill wind farm will now not only contribute significantly towards meeting the Government’s 2020 renewable energy objectives, but will also bring a range of environmental and community benefits to the surrounding area.

“The ever-more-pressing need to generate increasing amounts of renewable energy through schemes such as this is both accepted and growing, and onshore wind energy has a crucial role to play in meeting local and national energy needs over the coming decades.

“The wind farm will generate enough green energy to supply around 10,000 homes annually, equating to approximately 10% of the households in Rotherham.

“Our aim is to begin work on site as soon as possible and we will continue to work closely with local communities to keep them fully informed about the progress we’re making.”

High Court overturns unsound wind farm refusal

A decision to refuse planning permission for a Denbighshire wind farm has been overturned by a High Court judge. The local authority's refusal of permission for a development at Gorsedd Bran, Nantglyn, was quashed by Mr Justice Wyn Williams and sent back for reconsideration.

Permission had been refused for several reasons, including noise levels. However, the High Court ruled the decision-making process was flawed. Permission was refused originally in November 2008. The applicants, Tegni Cymru Tif, appealed that decision, but it was again refused.

Mr Justice Wyn Williams said the inspector who investigated the noise impact of the site during the appeal did not give sufficient reasons for concluding sound levels generated would be unacceptable.

Delivering his ruling, the judge said: "The primary ground of challenge is that the inspector reached conclusions about the visual impact of the wind farm and the noise associated with its operation which no reasonable Inspector would have reached.

"Additionally, however, the claimant alleges that the inspector's decision should be quashed because he failed to give sufficient reasons for his conclusions upon important issues."

The judge concluded "the inspector erred in law in at least one important respect".

He added: "In my judgment, he failed to provide adequate reasons for his conclusion that the noise impact of the proposed development was unacceptable; his reasoning gives rise to a substantial doubt, at the very least, as to whether he erred in law when reaching his conclusion upon the issue of noise impact."

The plans proposed by Tegni Cymru Tif are for a 13-turbine wind farm that would power nearly 24,000 households.

Expansion to fenland wind farm announced

A Cambridgeshire wind farm already capable of generating enough electricity for 9,000 homes annually looks set for a major expansion.

Wind Prospect wants to enlarge the Glassmoor Wind Farm between Pondersbridge and Ramsey Mereside from eight to 14 turbines.

The company, which has been operating Glassmoor for four years, describes the site as adding "an elegant vertical perspective to the level Fens skyline".

Their bid to increase its size is contained in preliminary reports to Fenland District Council which they hope will pave the way for a full application.

Wind Prospect is promising to consult with local residents about their proposals and pledged a dedicated website to seek comments.

If agreed, the company will install six turbines with a maximum blade tip height of 100 metres, and they claim it will generate enough power for a further 6,000 homes. It would also decrease Fenland's CO2 emissions by approximately 12,000 tonnes a year.

Giant offshore wind farm starts generating clean power

The Thanet Offshore Wind Farm off the south-east coast of England has started producing electricity and should be complete within a few months, says operator Vattenfall.

Seventy three of the 100 turbines that make up the 300-megawatt scheme, one of the largest offshore wind farms in the world, have been installed and the last of them should be running by September, the Swedish utility said.

"This is a major milestone in the construction of the wind farm. We are proud to be producing first power from our turbines," Ole Bigum Nielsen, Head of Offshore Projects at Vattenfall Wind Power said.

Each turbine made by Denmark's Vestas has a generation capacity of 3 MW. Together they should produce enough carbon-free electricity for about 240,000 homes in Britain, Vattenfall said.

Britain is banking on a boom in offshore wind projects to meet its renewable energy targets for 2020 under the European Union's plan to cut emissions of climate-warming carbon.

New wind farm to be built at Teesside

Plans to build a wind farm on a stretch of land bordering Teesside and North Yorkshire have been approved.

Five turbines will be erected on land between Hilton and Seamer in the autumn, according to Broadview Energy.

The Seamer Wind Farm site spans two local authority areas and required planning permission from Stockton-on-Tees and Hambleton councils.

Broadview Energy said the wind farm would generate power for 7,000 homes.

Jeffrey Corrigan, managing director of Broadview Energy said: "We will work closely with the two local councils as well as those people living in the vicinity of the site."

Inquiry gives go ahead for Roos Wind Farm in East Riding

yes2wind has welcomed a Planning Inspector’s decision to give planning consent to a nine-turbine wind farm on land at Sunderland Farm, between Roos and Burton Pidsea in South Holderness. The go-ahead for the nine turbines overturns a previous decision by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, which has twice refused planning consent for a wind farm on the site.

Inspector Paul Griffiths decided to allow plans by Renewable Energy Systems (RES) to build the wind farm citing claiming national policy on renewable energy outweighed local concerns on visual impact and cumulative impact.

Each turbine will be up to 126.5m high, and together the cluster of nine turbines will generate enough clean,green electricity each year to power the equivalent of more than 11,000 homes, or 9% of the homes in East Riding.

Annette Deveson, Head of Development, commented, “We worked hard with East Riding of Yorkshire Council over the past three years to ensure that any concerns about the wind farm were addressed and we were frustrated when the Council’s planning committee voted to refuse the plans in July 2009, despite a recommendation from their Planning Officer to consent the wind farm. We had already responded to the Council’s concerns by removing two turbines and re-submitting a new application, giving the Council every opportunity to make a positive decision about the wind farm itself, without having to go through a costly appeal process.

"It is disappointing that we had to appeal against the Council’s refusal, but we were always confident that this was an excellent site for a wind farm, enabling us to harness a great wind resource without having any significant social or environmental impacts. We are pleased to now be in a position to build a wind farm which will help to reduce the region’s dependence on polluting and imported fossil fuels for the generation of electricity. The wind farm will also generate a valuable community fund of £40,000 per year.”

RES has promised to keep the local community fully informed throughout the period leading up to and during construction. Construction is expected to begin in 2012 and will take between 9 and 12 months.

The local community will decide how the community fund is managed and what it is spent on, and RES states that it will begin the consultation process for this in the coming months.

The successful appeal is the sixth to have gone against East Riding Council of Yorkshire, an authority that is widely seen as one of the most anti-wind bodies in the country. It is not known if RES will seek to regain its appeal costs from the council.

Manx turbines under consideration

An onshore wind farm could generate 12 per cent of the Isle of Man's electricity by 2015. The news comes as Environment Minister John Shimmin seeks Tynwald approval for a policy of a renewable energy target of 15 per cent electricity generated from renewable sources by 2015.

It is hoped that the project would reduce the Isle of Man's level of carbon emissions as well as make the Island less dependent on energy imports.

Mr Shimmin said: 'It is a highly significant and important as a motion. If supported, it would lead to the development of onshore wind turbines as a means of reaching the target by 2015."

It is expected that between five and eight turbines, depending on their size, would need to be built on a site yet to be decided.

Mr Shimmin said: "I hope that public opinion has moved in recent years to finding wind turbines more acceptable. We are aware there will always be some that find them aesthetically unacceptable. There is no remaining argument against wind turbines other than the aesthetic look of them. All those who used to object, such as the RSPB, are now in favour."

Last year, a report commissioned by the Manx government's Energy Policy Working Group said the Island was ideally suited to onshore wind farms as it has, on average, the highest wind speed throughout the year compared with the UK, Denmark and Germany.

Eon scoops top award for sustainable wind farm development

Energy company Eon has revealed one of its wind farm projects had become the first in the UK to receive an award through the Civil Engineering and Environmental Quality Assessment and Award Scheme (CEEQUAL) for its sustainability.

The company's proposed seven-turbine wind farm at Winwick in Northamptonshire is the first renewable energy project to be assessed under CEEQUAL, a scheme supported by the Institution of Civil Engineers which promotes environmental and sustainability excellence in civil engineering. The Eon project was assessed as a Client & Design Award for which it received a CEEQUAL ‘Very Good'.

Daniel Badcock, Eon Project Developer, said: "We're really proud of how we develop our wind farms in a responsible and sustainable manner, and achieving this CEEQUAL award reinforces our commitment to developing renewable energy in the most sustainable way possible.

"We're already accredited to ISO 14001 standards for our environmental management systems, so this award further confirms our environmental credentials."

CEEQUAL Chairman Eric Hughes said: "This is the first wind farm project to carry out a CEEQUAL assessment and I'm delighted that Eon's proposed wind farm at Winwick has achieved a ‘Very Good' Client & Design Award. It reflects the extra care taken in the design of this project to minimise its environmental impact.

"This award also illustrates how CEEQUAL can be applied to the design and construction of any civil engineering project, and we hope to receive many more applications from renewables projects in the future."

Emma Clark, Senior Consultant at engineering consultancy AECOM who carried out the CEEQUAL assessment, said: "This award demonstrates Eon's commitment to go the ‘extra mile'. When completing the assessment it was good to see that Eon could be rewarded for the sustainability elements which they already incorporate into the pre-planning design phases."

Environmental consultancy Entec carried out the Environmental Impact Assessment for the project. Emma Marsden from Entec said: "CEEQUAL has provided an avenue by which we were able to demonstrate how a number of environmental enhancements have been incorporated into the project. The award demonstrates the project team's commitment to the environment and desire to go beyond the statutory and regulatory minimum."

Dr Kate Vincent, Senior Ecologist at BSG who advised on the habitat improvement plan for Winwick wind farm, said: "I've developed a good working relationship with Eon and I've been impressed with the company's commitment to put ecology at the forefront of all project development work.

"We've worked closely with Eon to ensure we could deliver the very best in habitat management to meet the highest standards possible."

Eyes on Northern Ireland Planning Service

The Planning Service in Northern Ireland stands accused of halting the development of wind power and damaging job creation and income to farmers and business in County Down.

It is alleged that a number of proposals for wind turbines have been refused permission despite the presence of clear planning policy designed to facilitate renewable energy.

A spokesman for the Planning Service denied the accusations and said the body is fully aware of the need to support renewable energy initiatives, including wind turbines and has already approved a substantial number throughout the district.

The spokesman said: "Mindful of its statutory responsibility to ensure protection of the environment from inappropriate development, Planning Service must adopt a balanced approach in considering such applications.

"A high proportion of Down District falls within designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, including the Mournes and the Lecale coastal zones.

"Contrary to what has been inferred, a general embargo against wind turbines does not exist in such areas," he said.

The spokesman said the Planning Service had only sought to restrict such proposals in environmentally sensitive areas to avoid adverse impact on important features of built or natural heritage or residential areas.

He said this approach is entirely in keeping with prevailing regional planning policy criteria.

Extra scrutiny will be focused on the stance of the Planning Service during upcoming wind turbine applications in County Down in coming months.

Scottish Government backs Stroupster Wind Farm

A Caithness wind farm capable of powering 17,000 homes has received the green light from the Scottish Government – five years after it was first submitted to Highland Council.

RWE npower renewables was granted consent (8 April 2010) for a 12 turbine wind farm in Wick, Caithness following a public inquiry in November 2009. Frank Park, RWE npower renewables Scotland Development Manager, said: “This is great news and justifies our continued commitment in pursuing this scheme. We can now commit our efforts to fully aiding the Scottish Government’s target of producing 50% of electricity from renewable sources by 2020.”

Proposals for the 30MW wind farm were submitted to Highland Council in 2005 but were rejected a year later. Following the public inquiry, the Scottish Government this week overturned the Council’s initial decision of the scheme, giving the go ahead for Stroupster Wind Farm.

Frank Park added “We have always been confident that the project is wellsited, complies with planning policy and will have an acceptable visual effect on the landscape.”

RWE npower renewables will now start planning the next phase of the project leading up to construction.

Wind brings down the price of energy

A review by independent consultancy Pöyry AS, entitled ‘Wind Energy and Electricity Prices’, asserts that wind energy reduces electricity prices. The report was conducted on behalf of the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). “The report finds that in the studies reviewed by Pöyry, electricity prices were reduced by between €3 and €23/MWh (Megawatt hour) depending on the amount of wind power used,” the organisation said in a statement.

“It has already been well-established that wind reduces CO2 emissions”, EWEA chief executive Christian Kjaer commented. “But now we have stronger evidence than ever before that wind power also reduces electricity prices for consumers.

“The message is clear – if you want affordable CO2-free electricity, increase the amount of wind power in your electricity mix.”

Pöyry’s work is a comprehensive assessment of studies of the impact of wind energy on electricity prices, which according to EWEA, brings together the findings of case-studies in Germany, Denmark and Belgium for the first time.

The report concludes that the studies essentially draw similar conclusions that an increased penetration of wind power reduces wholesale spot prices, EWEA stated.

“Wind power replaces CO2-intensive production technologies, the report finds. The technology that sets the price on the wholesale market is usually hard coal. Wind replaces hard coal power plants during hours of low demand and gas fired power plants during hours of high demand in all the countries the report analysed.”

According to Pöyry, wind power’s impact comes about because its low marginal costs push more expensive technologies, such as gas and thermal plants, out of the market.

Earlier this year, EWEA commented on the growth of the European wind power industry, citing 54% growth in 2009 and projecting a 75% year-on-year market growth of 75% in 2010. According to the EWEA, the UK and Denmark accounted for 44% and 30% of European capacity in 2009, respectively.

Wind will supply half of Europe's electricity

Wind energy will meet 50% of the EU’s electricity demand in 2050, top wind energy personalities told Europe’s largest wind energy conference and exhibition.

Topping the agenda at the opening day of the European Wind Energy Conference and Exhibition (EWEC 2010) in Warsaw was Europe’s long-term energy supply.

“2050 might seem like a long way off, but the decisions we take today will have a big impact on our energy supplies in 40 years’ time,” said Arthouros Zervos, President of the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA).

With the G8 and EU already committed to an 80% greenhouse gas reduction by 2050, Zervos added: “We can’t allow the politicians to make grand statements and leave the serious decisions to the next generation. Given the long life of power plants our vision for 2050 has to be reflected in the construction of new power plants from at least 2020 onwards.”

“A fully renewable power sector is the only solution to reaching 80-95% CO2 reductions by 2050,” he continued. “The remaining carbon emissions will be needed for other sectors, such as agriculture.”

However, we should be talking about a “renewable energy economy” not a low carbon one, Professor Zervos said. “Renewable energies can provide 100% of Europe’s power supplies by 2050 without any further contribution from any so-called low-carbon technologies.”

Wind energy is already a mainstream power source in Europe, annual market growth has been impressive over the past 10 years - 23% on average.

“Realistically, wind can provide 50% of power supplies by 2050 if the necessary changes to infrastructure and markets are made,” said Christian Kjaer, EWEA’s Chief Executive. “The potential is there and the industry is ready. All we have to do is maintain current growth rates on and offshore. I am also confident that other renewables can easily meet the other half of Europe’s electricity needs”.

“A pan-European grid is the first priority, but a clear vision of, and a strong political commitment to, the long-term energy mix is also essential.” Kjaer explained that Europe needs to interconnect its electricity networks as a necessary step towards a truly integrated European electricity market.

An integrated power market is essential for the smart management of renewable energies, and lower the costs for consumers. “Energy is an international challenge,” concluded Kjaer. “It is astounding that 24 years after establishing free movement of goods, services, capital and labour, the EU has not yet established a fifth freedom: free movement of electricity.”

Chance to Invest in a Wind Turbine

In keeping  with our aim to promote community projects, yes2wind is happy to inform our visitors and supporters about the opportunity to invest in the Unity Wind Community Turbine scheme at North Walsham in Norfolk.

On April 2^nd this year, the North Norfolk News ran an article called “Chance to invest in a wind turbine”:

“Backers of two new North Walsham wind turbines are offering people a chance to dip into their own pockets to invest in a clean, green future.

The community turbines could be up and running on the outskirts of town by early 2012 and this week the Unity Wind project appealed for public help to help realise their vision of cutting carbon emissions and providing clean electricity.

They want young and old to invest anything from £1 for one share to £20,000 in the project which would see the turbines put up on farmland about 1km north of Focus DIY on the eastern side of Cromer Road.”

In December 2009, the meteorological mast erected to collect wind speed data fell to the ground after vandals cut through the supporting cables. Despite set backs such as this, the project has not been derailed and Unity Wind are keen to attract further investors.

For more information, please visit the North Walsham Project Website. Whilst keen to promote projects such as this, yes2wind would like to stress that we are unable to offer any specific recommendations about the financial viability of the project. Investment decisions must remain an individual choice after consideration of the Unity Wind prospectus.

Further information about community projects can be found on our "Wind and Renewable Energy Subject" page.

Scoring system for onshore wind proposals devised

A new European study has developed a scoring system that could help authorities decide whether wind farm proposals are suitable for the proposed location. Four aspects of a wind farm proposal are assessed: the technical properties, the social impact, the environmental impact and the share of earnings offered as compensation for any negative effects.

The EU Climate Change and Energy Package 1 has set a number of targets to be met by 2020, including 20 per cent of EU energy consumption to come from renewable resources. Wind power is an important source of renewable energy but onshore wind farms are also associated with negative effects, such as their visual and sound impact.

Before approving a wind farm, public bodies evaluate its benefits and costs through a form of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA). However, EIAs do not always capture the different impacts and their interactions.

The research established a single scoring tool to measure the net benefit associated with the building and running of wind plants. It considered the local environmental impact, the economic compensation for local communities, the technical characteristics of the plant, the social impact of the project and the interaction between these four elements.

The economic compensation is calculated as a percentage of the expected income from the wind farm, based on the forecast of the wind supply. The technical impact indicates whether it can guarantee a certain amount of power for a given wind supply and is represented by the full 'load hours' of each turbine.

A load hour is an hour in which a wind turbine produces energy at full capacity. Lastly, the social impact of the plant is represented by the number of new employees hired by each wind farm.

The research devised an equation to score the wind farm proposals from these four elements. Depending on the context of the decision, the public body could place different emphasis on different elements.

It is thought that the formula might be useful to compare wind farm proposals and use a threshold to evaluate the acceptability of projects.

French firm starts wind operations in Stirlingshire

French company GDF SUEZ has completed the construction of its first UK wind farm project at Craigengelt, near Stirling, in Scotland.

The wind farm consists of eight wind turbines with a total capacity of 20MW, and full commercial operation of the wind farm has now started.

“We are very proud of the successful completion of the project. The UK is an important market for GDF SUEZ to develop, especially in renewable energy, and we see Craigengelt as an important step in the development of GDF SUEZ in the UK,” says Marc Hirt, CEO of GDF SUEZ Energy UK.

Lake District Park Authority offers backing to farm turbines

The Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) has announced it will take a more ‘pro-active’ approach when looking at applications for small turbines of up to 30 metres high.

The change in outlook is intended to help farmers who are keen to offset the rising costs of electricity that is threatening to push many farms under.

John Geldard, of Low Foulshaw Farm, Kendal, said: “Any form of producing or conserving energy, with the challenges that we have in front of us, should always be looked at however great or small. It is heartening that the planners are recognising the importance of looking at all the options.”

Carissa Lough, LDNPA policy planner, told farmers at a meeting: “We do object to large-scale commercial wind developments even if they are outside the National Park boundary. That is why there is a perception that we would say no to any kind of wind development.

“We are now more active in telling farmers they have this option. The policy has not changed but our new policy on renewable energy that we’re adopting in September, is written in a more pro-active way.”

According to wind energy expert Mark Newton, of Farming Futures, ‘every farm in the UK will have a wind turbine in five years' time’, and he believes that with 75 per cent of the UK's land in the agricultural sector, on-farm wind power could be a significant business opportunity for farmers and land managers.

Dr Jonathan Scurlock, the NFU's Chief Adviser on renewable energy and climate change, said: "The NFU's aspiration is that every farmer should have the opportunity to be a net exporter of low-carbon energy. National targets and government incentives for renewable energy are creating significant new business opportunities."

yes2wind supports the change in stance of the LDNPA although still has reservations about the amount of influence wielded by national park authorities over wind farm planning applications that are outside national park boundaries. The change in stance by the LDNPA is to be appluaded and should be emulated by other national park authorities.

Northumberland to gain two more wind farms

Two Northumberland wind farm proposals have gained planning consent following a drawn out public inquiry. A third proposal was rejected following consideration at the same public inquiry. Final decisions were issued on 26 March 2010 on three proposals.

Ministers sanctioned a proposal from Wind Prospect Developments for 18 turbines at Green Rigg Fell, Birtley as well as granting consent with conditions to the application for 20 turbines on the Ray Estate, from Amec Project Investments.

However the outcome of the planning inquiry that considered all three proposals turned down a bid for 21 turbines by Banks Developments at nearby Steadings.

The public inquiry had lasted 11 months, ending in December 2008. It has taken a further 14 months for the decisions to be made public.

A spokesman for Wind Prospect said: “Wind Prospect is delighted that the Secretary of State has taken into account all of the information presented during the planning process and the public inquiry, and has determined that on balance, the Green Rigg site is suitable for a wind farm of this size and scale.”

Low Spinney Wind Farm to add green power in Leicestershire

Planning consent has been granted for a four-turbine wind farm that will generate power for nearly 5,000 households following a public inquiry.

Broadview Energy first proposed the Low Spinney Wind Farm in May 2008 and in September 2009 the company decided to seek a public inquiry as its planning application had not been determined by Harborough District Council, the local planning authority, within the specified timeframe.

Jeffrey Corrigan, managing director of Broadview Energy welcomed the decision of the planning inspector to approve the Low Spinney wind farm on land between the Leicestershire villages of Gilmorton, Ashby Magna and Dunton Bassett, saying: “We are very pleased to have received the inspector’s decision and we will work closely with Harborough District Council and representatives of the local community to carefully manage the wind farm’s construction and operation. We aim to start construction work towards the end of this year and start generating power in to the local grid by the middle of 2011.

"We are very mindful of the objections among some parts of the local community and I hope that people will take some assurance from the inspector’s reasons to approve our project and our own commitments to minimise the impact of the wind farm. In due course, we will also wish to talk with the local community about the creation of the community investment fund that will support local education and environmental initiatives.”

Support grows for Spaldington Airfield Wind Farm

Since starting a campaign last month to gain support for a wind farm proposal at a disused wartime airfield in Yorkshire’s East Riding, yes2wind has received well over 100 letters of support for the proposal. The letters will be forwarded to East Riding of Yorkshire Council to demonstrate to planning officers and members of the planning committee that significant support for the project exists.

If granted planning consent, the five-turbine Spalding Airfield scheme which is located on farmland west of the village of Spaldington would be capable of generating non-polluting electricity for more than 7,000 households.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council is expected to decide whether to approve the wind farm application in the next few weeks.

John Everett, spokesperson for yes2wind, said: “We’re pleased that we have picked up these added pledges of support for the Spaldington Airfield proposal as they help demonstrate that there is significant backing for non-polluting, green energy generation schemes in the area.

“East Riding does not have a good record of support for wind farm proposals so it’s really important to show their planning committee that wind energy schemes like Spaldington Airfield have the approval of many people.”

There is still time for others to express their support for the Spaldington Airfield proposal as the next East Riding Planning Committee takes place on 8 April but East Riding’s planning department have warned that the scheme may not be discussed by councillors until May. People wanting to give the scheme their backing can do so here

Siemens turbine factory will create 700 jobs

Hundreds of jobs will be created through a new £80m wind turbine factory built by Siemens. The offshore wind turbine production facility could be built on the east coast or in the north east of England.

Siemens said 700 jobs could be created and said new turbines could be running by 2015, aimed at meeting future demand for renewable energy in the UK.

Peter Loscher, president and chief executive of Siemens, said: "With the new wind turbine production plant in the UK we're pushing ahead with our strategy of investments in attractive growth markets for eco-friendly technology.

"In the foreseeable future the wind power market in the UK will be characterised by major offshore projects, and we'll extend our market leadership with the new production plant."

Energy and climate change secretary Mr Miliband said: "This is a vote of confidence from one of the foremost companies in the offshore wind sector, looking to set up a base in the UK.

"More proof that we're exploiting the great natural resource that we have and creating the right conditions to attract investment. Siemens' investment will help create jobs and help us meet our renewable energy targets."

A Siemens spokesman said it was hoped that a factory could be built and operational by 2014, with the first turbines turning by 2015.

Andreas Goss, the firm's chief executive in the UK, said: "The new Siemens wind turbine factory will create around 700 new local jobs once it is in production, as well as additional indirect jobs in the supply chain. With the anticipated growth in the renewables market, there is potential for expansion of the facility in the future.

"This £80m investment, plus additional investment in our UK infrastructure for renewables, will provide a much-needed economic boost for the region, as well as driving growth in the UK's innovative wind power industry."

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: "Siemens are a world leader in wind technology and this is a fantastic endorsement of the UK as a destination for renewable energy businesses.

"Siemens' plans will provide hundreds of manufacturing jobs and many more in the supply chain - confirming the UK as a world leader in offshore wind."

Cash fund to deliver benefits to East Renfrewshire communities

A community fund set up by ScottishPower Renewables is set to help local groups in East Renfrewshire to the tune of an inflation-linked annual sum of £140,000 for the next 25 years.

The voluntary contribution is part of an agreement made between Scottish Power and East Renfrewshire Council when planning consent was granted for the 140-turbine Whitelee Wind Farm.

East Renfrewshire councillor Alistair Carmichael, chair of the Whitelee Wind farm fund panel, said: "Though the fund is available across East Renfrewshire, projects from the areas closest to the wind farm, in Eaglesham and Waterfoot, will be given priority.

"Projects that could receive support should show a benefit to the community and could include sustainable energy initiatives, environmental improvements, community events, infrastructure improvements, tourism and leisure activities."

Whitelee is Europes's largest onshore wind farm and approval has been granted for a further 39 turbines.

Sober Hill Wind Farm proposal wins East Riding appeal

The indefensible stance of East Riding of Yorkshire Council's planning committee was highlighted once again as yet another wind farm that was refused consent by the council gained government approval after a public inquiry assessment.

Last year the council turned down plans for six turbines at Sober Hill Farm near North Newbald on the grounds it would harm the area's natural beauty. Energy company West Cost Energy appealed against the decision and a public inquiry began in December.

A spokesperson for the Department of Communities and Local Government said: "Having weighed up all the relevant considerations, the Secretary of State concludes that the factors which weigh in favour of the proposed development outweigh its shortcomings.

"He therefore does not consider that there are any material considerations of sufficient weight to justify refusing planning permission."

Since 2007 East Riding's planning committee has refused to grant planning consent to eight wind farm proposals. All five decisions taken to public inquiry so far have been overturned with planning consent subsequently granted. Of the three outstanding, one is currently at another public inquiry while the developers of the remaining two are considering whether to launch appeals also.

The Sober Hill Wind Farm will be able to supply green electricity to 8,000 homes when it is completed.

Unexpected backing for Stirling wind farm extension

Councillors have approved an extension to a Stirlingshire wind farm despite the recommendation of planning officers to councillors to reject the project.

Officials opposed the building of nine turbines at the wind farm near Fintry because it would have an adverse impact on the landscape.

There were also worries the view from Stirling Castle would be affected. But 36 letters were received in support of the Falck Renewables scheme, which had considerable local backing.

The new turbines will be constructed to the north-west of the existing Earlsburn Wind farm.

A spokeswoman for Stirling Council said: "The panel took the decision to grant the application. They went against officers recommendations for refusal."

Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford said he welcomed the decision to go ahead with the extension.

Mr Crawford said: "I am a keen supporter of such projects when they are situated in appropriate locations. This will make a significant contribution to the development of renewable energy and meeting ambitious climate change targets. It will also mean that nearby communities will benefit directly through additional investment as a result of this project."

Derbyshire wind farm inquiry finishes

The public inquiry into plans to develop a five turbine wind farm on Matlock Moor in Derbyshire ended on Friday 5 March.

A Government planning inspector, who has overseen the inquiry at Town Hall in Matlock, will deliver her final decision by April 30.

The inquiry was launched as North East Derbyshire and Derbyshire Dales district councils were taking too long to make a decision.

A spokeswoman for the district councils said: "These have been extremely complex applications covering a lot of specialist areas and have attracted hundreds of comments from a variety of interested parties from across the local community, as well as detailed comments from statutory consultees."

Berwickshire wind farm inquiry to reopen

The Fallago Rig wind farm inquiry is set to reopen after two years inactivity following revelations that the Ministry of Defence has dropped its radar objections.

The initial hearing into the 48-turbine Fallago Rig project in the Lammermuir Hills got under way in February 2008.

The inquiry will resume on 13 April 2010 and is scheduled to last six days as new evidence is heard.

The reporter assigned to the original inquiry had concluded that the MoD's evidence on possible radar interference was compelling enough to stop the wind farm from being built.

However, after discussions between the various parties those objections were withdrawn and Scottish ministers called for the inquiry to be reopened.

The resumed inquiry will consider new evidence on radar interference as well as several other planning issues raised by objectors.

The inquiry was instigated originally by developers North British Windpower after the proposal had been thrown out by the Scottish Borders Council.

Lancashire wind farm gets planning approval

A 12-turbine wind farm proposal on Oswaldthistle Moor near Accrington has been given the go ahead by Hyndburn councillors.

Despite attempts by Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe to have the proposal refused, councillors voted to approve it by 13 to eight.

It is estimated that the Hyndburn Wind Farm will generate up to 72.2 million kWh of electricity per year which would be sufficient to supply the power needs of over half the households in Hyndburn.

At the meeting planning officers said they had received 397 letters of support and 136 letters of objection.

Mitsubishi announces new wind turbine research centre

Hundreds of new jobs are to be created under a multi-million pound investment in a new wind turbine research centre.

Mitsubishi said it was looking at a number of sites in north east England to carry out research into building the world's biggest turbine blades.

The Government is supporting the £100m development with grants of up to £30 million.

Up to 200 skilled jobs will be created over the next few years but business secretary Lord Mandelson said the move could lead to the creation of up to 1,500 jobs in the future.

Lord Mandelson and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband signed a memorandum of understanding with Mitsubishi executives at the Business Secretary's London offices to mark the investment.

Mitsubishi chief executive Akio Fukui said the firm was looking at a number of locations in the North East where a factory will be built for the research to be carried out.

A prototype turbine will be built within three years and the first full-scale production will start after four years.

The turbines will be for offshore wind farms and will be offered for sale in overseas markets such as Germany, the United States and China as well as the UK.

Lord Mandelson said the announcement was a "real opportunity" for the UK to become a world leader, adding: "No country makes offshore wind turbines of the size we are talking about today on a commercial scale. Twenty years ago the UK was a leading centre for onshore wind technology, but we failed to capitalise on that by not providing the right climate for growth.

"We are determined not to let that happen again. We are creating the largest market in the world for offshore wind and we intend to build and support the industry."

East Riding wind farm contributes first cash donation to community fund

A new fund to help support community activities has been launched at Lissett Wind Farm. Novera Energy, the company which operates the wind farm, has announced the launch of the Lissett Community Wind Farm fund in partnership with East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

A sum of £53,260.27 has been paid into the fund by Novera Energy, with the money open to applications from community groups and organisations operating in the East Wolds and coastal areas.

The company has made a commitment to pay annually into the fund - with the amount being based on the operating capacity of the wind farm.

Councillor Jane Evison, portfolio holder for cultural services, housing and public protection at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: "The fund is an excellent example of the way in which commercial investors work in partnership with the local authority and will provide a major boost to community organisations in the area."

Applications will be considered by a panel made up of representatives from Novera Energy, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the seven parish councils closest to the Wind farm.

The closing date for the first round of applications will be Monday 22nd March 2010.

East Riding Council is under pressure to justify its refusal to grant planning consent to over half a dozen wind farms in the last three years.

Highlands tourist chiefs back wind energy

Representatives from VisitScotland, the Highland Council and North Highlands Tourism told a community forum in Caithness that there is no evidence to suggest that wind farms are damaging to tourism in the region and that developments could attract people to the area.

Scott Armstrong, the regional director of VisitScotland, said: "There is no evidence that visitors are put off by wind farms but I think you have to strike the right balance.

"I would hate to see the whole of the Highlands covered in them and have sufficient trust in bodies such as the Highland Council - the planning authority - that they will make the right decision for their area."

Mr Armstrong said VisitScotland supports renewable energy.

Colin Simpson, the tourism co-ordinator for the Highland Council, did not see a threat to the industry from wind farms although he, too, stressed it is important to get the balance correct.

"There is no convincing evidence that wind farms will decimate the tourist industry. It will have some effect but if we get the balance right it will not suffer," he said.

Mr Simpson told the audience of around 40 people that 22 years ago there was concern about the impact fish farms would have on tourism, but they had had little or no effect.

"Sometimes people see these things as a bigger barrier than the visitors do," he stated.

Mr Simpson also pointed out that renewable energy would bring business people to the area which would help the local economy.

Jill McNicol, the marketing and membership manager of North Highland Tourism, said people are interested in green tourism and would embrace it.

Advertising Standards Authority takes issue with anti-wind group

An anti-wind farm campaign targeting Scottish Power's proposals for an five turbine wind farm near Lenchwick in Worcestershire has been criticised by the Advertising Standards Authority this week for misleading readers in its newsletter.

The newsletter from the Vale Villages Against Scottish Power (VVASP), which is campaigning against the proposed 11.5MW turbine development, presented a series of "facts" about the project, stating that it would "change the landscape for ever", could cause "depression, sleep deprivation, headaches and memory loss", and could reduce house prices for properties within a one mile radius by as much as 54 per cent.

The newsletter prompted a complaint that questioned whether any of the three central allegations could be substantiated.

The complaint was fully upheld by the ASA, which ruled the newsletter was " misleading" and should not be distributed in its current form.

VVASP had defended the newsletter, arguing that wind farms were part of a long term energy strategy and as such it was fair to assume that any new wind farms would "to all intents and purposes" be in place "forever".

It also cited controversial research from American doctor Dr Nina Pierpoint and a study from the Leicester Sleep Disorders Service as evidence wind turbines could have an impact on health, and said that the statement that wind farms could drive down house prices by up to 54 per cent was a direct quote from a 2007 joint report by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and Oxford Brookes University.

However, in its adjudication the ASA dismissed all aspects of the VVASP claims, ruling that the statements in the newsletter were misleading and could not be substantiated.

The watchdog said it had not seen any evidence demonstrating that the proposed wind farm at Lenchwick would change the landscape forever, and as a result the claim should have been worded more conditionally.

It also ruled Pierpoint's research into so-called Wind Turbine Syndrome was based on "anecdotal evidence", and that the quality of the research in the 2009 study from the Leicester Sleep Disorders Service was "low" and faced methodological limitations, including "very small numbers of respondents, dependence on self-completed questionnaires, no use of a control group, the lack of pre-exposure data and the fact that the research was initiated after the turbines had been operating and in response to complaints".

As a result the ASA concluded that "the reported research was not robust enough to support the claim in the ad".

The ASA said that while the claim house prices could fall 54 per cent was included in the RICS report, the study categorically stated that it was based on limited data and that "a cautious approach" should be taken with regards to any link between wind farms and house prices.

In fact, the report said local estate agents operating in the study area where house prices had fallen believed "proximity to a wind farm was simply not an issue [and] that the properties close to one of the wind farms ... were in fact ex-Ministry of Defence properties, and so less desirable than other similar properties".

MoD places blanket ban on wind farms in the Scottish Borders

A Ministry of Defence ban on wind farms within 31 miles of the UK's only nuclear test monitoring station at Eskdalemuir could prevent development a community wind farm in Selkirk, in the Scottish Borders.

The MoD says the "noise budget" within its specified zone has been reached and claims any breach would affect the station's ability to record underground nuclear testing across the world.

This means that, until a resolution is reached, any future bid by the town's regeneration company to develop a wind would be opposed by the Whitehall department, leading to a likely refusal by Scottish Borders Council.

Dr Lindsay Neil, convener of the local regeneration company, has spoken to Michael Moore MP in an attempt to clarify the MoD's stance.

Dr Neil said: "I am not convinced the MoD has sufficient depth of knowledge to be as obstructive towards developments in the Borders.

"The irony is that the Southern Uplands are an ideal place for wind farm developments because of their close proximity to the grid lines, even more so than the remote areas of the Highlands where there are stronger winds."

A spokesperson for Defence Estates – which represents the MoD's military estate – said it is investigating ways of overcoming the noise concerns around Eskdalemuir.

"We need to consider a number of factors – including advancements in technology, noise budget management, funding requirements, planning and legal concerns. We continue to progress this work as swiftly as possible, but recognise that it will take time to conclude."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We are working to resolve this, continuing discussions with the MoD, British Wind Energy Association and the Department of Energy and Climate Change."

Antrim wind farm to power over 8,000 homes

A six-turbine wind farm at Carn Hill in Northern Ireland has received planning approval.

Irish renewable energy company Gaelectric said there would be enough energy to power 8,200 houses annually from the £5 million scheme at Carn Hill, Newtownabbey.

Chief executive Brendan McGrath said: "The Carn Hill approval is very welcome as it heralds the beginning of the execution of the next stage of our development in Northern Ireland.

"It was very helpful over the last several years to be able to deal with the Northern Ireland executive, which was open to the benefits of renewable energy and to finding a solution that would work for the area. We are very thankful for their support."

Lib Dems pledge to expand UK wind industry

The Liberal Democrats intend to create hundreds of wind turbine manufacturing posts by investing £400m.

Commenting on the Government’s announcement of the latest £8m funding for offshore wind technology and the Prime Minister’s claim that the UK is a “global leader” in offshore wind during a visit to the North East, the Lib Dem's climate change spokesperson Simon Hughes said: “Britain has fallen so far behind on clean energy that the Government’s boasts are rather hollow.

“Gordon Brown’s announcement pales in comparison to Liberal Democrat plans that will invest £400m in our wind turbine manufacturing capacity.

“What the North East and the country need is a real commitment to green manufacturing jobs and not shameless electioneering at the taxpayers’ expense.”

Britannia offshore blades will be the largest in the world

Clipper Windpower announced the groundbreaking of its offshore wind turbine blade manufacturing facility on Tyneside during a visit by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband.

The new factory is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2010. Assuming expansion of the offshore market is in line with the Government goals, the factory is expected to employ a local workforce in excess of 500 people.

The factory will be used to develop and build blades for the ‘Britannia Project’, a 10 MW offshore wind turbine prototype under development by Clipper. The prototype is scheduled for deployment in late 2012, and is among the largest wind turbines under development in the wind industry. The blades will be 72 metres long and weigh over 30 tonnes.

A Department of Energy and Climate Change grant of £4.46 million was awarded to Clipper in September 2009. The grant is intended to accelerate development and demonstration of offshore wind technologies and components for multi-megawatt turbines. Accordingly, the grant will contribute toward some of the costs associated with the development of the Britannia offshore wind turbine blade and factory. In April 2008, the Crown Estate announced its purchase of the first commercial prototype Britannia turbine.

James Dehlsen, Chairman of Clipper, said: “Today marks an exciting and important milestone in achieving the Britannia Project blade requirements.

"Over the next few years, with the development of the Britannia turbine the UK will benefit through the supply of electricity based on its abundant offshore wind energy resource, and also with economic activity related to turbine manufacturing, offshore installation, and long term operations and servicing. The offshore wind market in the UK is rapidly becoming one of the most exciting sectors in the global renewable energy industry.”

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: “I welcome Clipper's ground-breaking announcement to build the largest wind turbine blade in the world on the banks of the Tyne. The UK is a global leader in offshore wind power, and the North East is at the forefront in providing the skills, expertise and enterprise to capitalise on this rapidly expanding market, which has the potential to create thousands of future green jobs.”

BT to develop County Durham wind farm

BT has gained planning consent to develop a five-turbine wind farm at Red Gap Farm, adjacent to the A19 on the outskirts of Hartlepool close to Elwick in County Durham.

Councillors raised concerns about what effect the wind turbines might have on the local wildlife. But they were told that wildlife experts Natural England and the council's own ecologist had no issues with the scheme.

Chris Girdham, agent on behalf of BT, told councillors: "We believe this scheme will help deliver the national benefits."

Grange ward Labour councillor Carl Richardson voted in favour, saying: "I would rather have 1,000 wind farms than one nuclear power station."

Independent Greatham councillor Geoff Lilley also voted for the scheme stating that he is a "great supporter of all renewable energy".

East Riding loses fifth public inquiry as previous council appeal costs are revealed

East Riding Council has lost its fifth consecutive appeal against a proposed wind farm development.

The appointed planning inspector disagreed with the council's planning committee's rejection of a three-turbine wind farm at Tedder Hill near Roos in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

As with previous refusals that have been overturned, the planning committee had rejected the scheme on the grounds of cumulative impact.

The findings of the inquiry concluded that that the turbines did not introduce an "industrial" element to the countryside and cumulative impact could not be considered as other applications had yet to be determined.

"There have been applications for turbine clusters relatively close to the appeal site at Sunderland Farm, Roos and Monkwith," said the inspector Paul Griffiths.

"The former was refused planning permission and is in the appeal process and the latter, as I write, is awaiting a council decision. There are other proposals on-shore and off-shore...I do not accept that their approval is somehow inevitable."

Meanwhile yes2wind can reveal that East Riding Council's costs for three previous public inquiries amount to more than £125,000. The council's planning committee had thrown out the applications only for each to be overturned at public inquiry.

Costs for the Hall Farm proposal at Routh amounted to £33,200. The Withernwick proposal costs were £16,125 and the council met costs of £39,800 for the Six Penny Wood inquiry. The outcome of the Tedder Hill inquiry will add further to the Council's costs.

Another public inquiry also got underway in December 2009, with West Coast Energy's six-turbine Sober Hill proposal near North Newbald the new centre of attention. The indications are that the planning inspector will find in favour of this proposal too by spring 2010, adding to East Riding's bill once again.

Developer RES has also submitted an application for a public inquiry for its Sunderland Farm proposal near Roos that was knocked back by East Riding Council in July 2009, despite planners recommending approval. A date for the inquiry has not been announced.

The council may also have to meet further public inquiry costs relating to a three-turbine development scheme called Monkwith Wind Farm between the villages of Hilston and Tunstall that was rejected in December 2009 despite planning officers recommending approval. The developer is likely to appeal at public inquiry.

Serious questions must now be asked of the East Riding planning committee. While councillors may have personal views about wind farm developments, their role is to consider planning applications against published national and regional guidelines. Leading councillors continue to claim they are representing local opinion - however, it's a subjective claim that ignores agreed planning policies.

In all of the recent cases, the planning committee has failed to interpret pertinent aspects of the criteria correctly - to the ultimate cost of the taxpayer. And the costs are mounting fast. The actions of the East Riding Planning Committee need to be scrutinised urgently.

Cold war dinosaurs block Daventry wind farm

Despite a planning officers recommendation for approval, councillors on Daventry District Council's planning committee voted 10-2 to oppose a seven-turbine wind farm proposed by energy firm Nuon at nearby Harrington in Northamptonshire.

The councillors cited an objection made by English Heritage as the reason to oppose the application for Harrington Wind Farm which would supply enough energy to power over 7,000 homes.

English Heritage had said that the site had significant value as it was formerly a Thor intercontinental nuclear missile site during the Cold War.

With the deactivation of the Thor missiles in 1963, Harringon was returned to agriculture. Almost all of the concreted areas of the airfield were removed for hardcore. Today, with the exception of some single-tracked agricultral roads that outline the former perimeter track, there is very little left of Harrington missile base.

Nuon's project manager, Graham Davey, said: "The majority of councillors voted against what their officers were recommending.

"We will of course be considering an appeal to the planning inspector and in doing so we will be examining the reasons for that refusal."

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner

In October 2009 Hackney council ran a public consultation to ask locals whether they wanted to see a 120m-high wind turbine erected on Hackney Marshes which could also help supply green energy to the 2012 Olympics.

The results are in - and NIMBYs are thin on the ground in East London: 87% of respondents were in favour of the proposal. Mayor Jules Pipes, citing the power of the people, said that it was up to residents to decide whether or not the project should go ahead, and that after such a positive outcome, the Council would now look at the next stages to "make the idea a reality".

The poll results were as follows: 33.8% supported the turbine if it could provide green electricity for Hackney, 53.5% supported it regardless of where the electricity was used, and only 12.6% opposed it under any circumstances.

Waltham Forest and the Olympic Delivery Authority are already pressing ahead with another turbine on nearby Eton Manor.

Mayor Pipes said: "A key stage to come will be for any chosen turbine operator to satisfy the planning authorities that there will be a minimal impact on the environment, such as wildlife."

Mixed success in Northumberland as one wind farm gains consent but two are rejected

The Government has rejected plans for two wind farms in Northumberland but allowed a third. Proposals for seven turbines at Toft Hill and seven at Moorsyde, both near Berwick, have been rejected but plans for six 110-metre engines at nearby Barmoor have been approved.

The decisions were taken by Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government John Denham following the recommendations of a planning inspector who conducted a public inquiry into the three schemes last year.

The inquiry followed Berwick Borough Council’s decision to refuse all three schemes in March 2008 and the developers’ subsequent appeals.

Mr Denham has ruled Catamount Energy’s Barmoor project would not have an unacceptable impact on views or a significant effect on scheduled ancient monuments and cultural heritage.

But Mr Denham found Your Energy’s Moorsyde scheme would have a major effect on the landscape and views of the Cheviots and would breach accepted noise limits. The minister also decided npower Renewables’ Toft Hill project would have an unacceptable impact on the Duddo Standing Stones.

Inspector overturns Truro wind farm rejection

A decision by planners in Cornwall to reject a wind farm application on the outskirts of Truro has been overturned by a government inspector.

Scottish Power had put forward plans to replace 15 50m high turbines at Carland Cross Wind Farm with 10 100m turbines.

Members of the then Carrick District Council voted against them last March. Cornwall Council, which has taken over from from Carrick, said it was looking at the issue of turbines carefully. Carrick District Council was abolished when the new Cornwall Council unitary authority was formed in April 2009.

The decision comes after a week-long inquiry which was held by the Planning Inspectorate in Newquay last week. Scottish Power had explained that the existing turbines were coming to the end of their working life and the new equipment would take environmental concerns into consideration.

The councillor responsible for planning in Cornwall, Graham Hicks, said the council was working to make sure wind turbines were put in the most appropriate locations. He said: "The council is going through a plan at the moment looking at the map of Cornwall and seeing what areas wind turbines would be best placed."

Kettering turbine scheme approved

Consent has been granted by Kettering Borough Council to erect seven new wind turbines between Rushton and Pipewell in Northamptonshire.

Planners agreed that the 16MW New Albion Wind Farm proposal is in accordance with government policy and that there was no legal reason to reject it.

The chair of the Planning Committee Alison Wiley commenetd: "A large number of people were at the planning meeting who supported wind energy."

Charles Sandham of developers Infinergy said the site was ideally placed to make best use of available wind energy.

Anti-wind vandals plan backfires

When anti-wind vandals wrecked a hi-tech mast designed to assess the suitability of an edge of town site for a two-turbine community windfarm, it was assumed that the project would be delayed.

In an unexpected twist, it appears the vandalism has done exactly the opposite and sped up the project.

In December the North Walsham project in Norfolk, which could eventually generate cash for the local community as well as green energy for the National Grid, was affected by the destruction of its 70 metre tall wind speed measuring anemometer.

Cables holding the Unity Wind mast up were cut and the mast fell to the ground, damaging the equipment used to transmit the wind data.

When he heard about the damage, another local wind turbine developer Andy Hilton, who runs a company called Wind Power Renewables offered to help.

It turned out that the data he has collected at another prospective turbine site near Stalham was similar enough to what had already been collected at North Walsham that experts could use it in place of what would have been collected by the damaged mast.

This means the potential year long survey at North Walsham has been rendered unnecessary and a replacement weather mast is now no longer required on-site.

“Somebody tried to damage us but in fact they have done the opposite,” said Alicia Hull of Unity Wind.

“It's rare that it is possible to use result from another metmast, but in this case the professionals who analyse this data said it would be fine.

“We are very grateful to Andy for his help and generosity.”

Mr Hilton said he had no objection to people objecting to wind turbines, but has had his own experience of underhand tactics being employed.

“We have had an instance where a landowner providing temporary construction access had undue pressure put on him and he felt he must withdraw his support.

“That kind of behaviour takes away from a democratic process.”

Two Scottish wind farms get the nod

Energy suppliers Baillie Wind Farm Ltd and Rothes II Ltd have been given the go-ahead to build two wind farms in Scotland that will supply around 45,000 homes with electricity.

As part of the £80 million scheme, the 52.5MW Baillie wind farm near Thurso will supply almost 25,000 homes and feed electricity into the upgraded Beauly-Denny line.

Meanwhile, an extension to the Rothes wind farm near Elgin will boost capacity by an additional 45MW, thereby increasing the generating capacity from 50 MW to 95 MW.

The scheme is expected to increase competition and allow consumers who may be looking to switch energy providers to choose between different companies based on prices.

Scotland's energy minister Jim Mather said the initiative will be good for the country's low carbon economy and demonstrates its commitment to using clean energy to tackle climate change.

"We are already on track to surpass our target of meeting 31 per cent of electricity demand from renewables by 2011 and a whole range of renewable technologies will play their part in achieving our target of 50 per cent by 2020," he said.

Scottish Western Isles to get its first wind farm

A 33 turbine, 118MW wind farm at Muaitheabhal in the Western Isles, providing green electricity for 55,000 homes, nearly four times the number of homes on the islands, has been given the go ahead by Scottish Energy Minister Jim Mather.

The development will create around 150 construction jobs with further permanent jobs when operational. The applicant has committed to use locally sourced material, labour, transport and plant hire wherever possible to ensure maximum economic benefit to the Isles.

The developer has entered into a formal agreement with the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar committing one per cent of turnover of the wind farm to the Muaitheabhal Community Wind Farm Trust, to enhance the ecological and cultural heritage resource of the Eisgein estate. Additionally, a further 0.5 per cent slice of turnover will be paid to the Western Isles Development Trust.

Mr Mather said: "Since the first proposals for a wind farm on Lewis were put forward, I have maintained that the Western Isles must be able to play its part in harnessing and benefitting from our vast green energy potential. Today, we are making that reality.

"I am delighted that the application was able to be approved, bringing as it does substantial economic and community benefits to the islands. The development will use local companies and local labour and the community will receive a slice of profits for as long as the wind blows and the turbines turn.

"The scheme will create around 150 full time equivalent construction jobs and has potential to support existing businesses, create new businesses and offer new possibilities for the Arnish Point facility. It also provides a stimulus for the provision of a grid inter-connector to the mainland.

"In consenting this application I have put in place a series of conditions to protect the outstanding natural habitats and landscapes, improve transport and minimise disturbance to communities.

"The study the Scottish Government published last January showed that there could be further renewable energy development in the Western Isles. This could just be the start."

Anti-turbine councillors fall back on procedure

Despite planning officers' recommendations to back the scheme, plans for seven wind turbines have been deferred by councillors at South Holland Council.

Developers RES want to build the seven-turbine wind farm between Tydd St Mary and Long Sutton in Lincolnshire. Councillors argued that they needed more time to consider the council's supplementary planning guidance on wind farms that classifies whether an area is suitable for wind farm development.

It is intended that supplementary guidance produced by local authorities should be weighed up against other considerations such as the national requirement for renewable energy.

An independent telephone poll commissioned by RES and undertaken by Populus in October 2009 indicates that 77% of local people back the plans for the wind farm.

Massive UK offshore wind farm programme announced

The Crown Estate has announced the successful bidders for each of the nine Round 3 offshore wind zones within UK waters. The expansion of electricity generation from offshore wind represents a massive long term investment opportunity which has the potential to generate thousands of jobs in the UK as well as securing a marine renewable electricity source.

Round 3 offshore wind energy generation aims to deliver a quarter of the UK’s total electricity needs by 2020.

All parties have now signed exclusive Zone Development Agreements with The Crown Estate, who has responsibility for renewable energy in UK waters, to take the proposals through the planning and consenting phase.

The developers who have signed exclusivity zone agreements are:

1. Moray Firth Zone, Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd which is 75% owned by EDP Renovaveis and 25% owned by SeaEnergy Renewables – 1.3GW

2. Firth of Forth Zone, SeaGreen Wind Energy Ltd equally owned by SSE Renewables and Fluor – 3.5GW

3. Dogger Bank Zone, the Forewind Consortium equally owned by each of SSE Renewables, RWE Npower Renewables, Statoil and Statkraft – 9GW

4. Hornsea Zone, Siemens Project Ventures and Mainstream Renewable Power, a consortium equally owned by Mainstream Renewable Power and Siemens Project Ventures and involving Hochtief Construction – 4GW

5. Norfolk Bank Zone, East Anglia Offshore Wind Ltd equally owned by Scottish Power Renewables and Vattenfall Vindkraft – 7.2GW

6. Hastings Zone, Eon Climate and Renewables UK– 0.6GW

7. West of Isle of Wight Zone, Eneco New Energy – 0.9GW

8. Bristol Channel Zone, RWE Npower Renewables, the UK subsidiary of RWE Innogy – 1.5GW

9. Irish Sea Zone, Centrica Renewable Energy and involving RES Group – 4.2GW

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: “Our policies in support of offshore wind energy have already put us ahead of every other country in the world. This new round of licences provides a substantial new platform for investing in UK industrial capacity. The offshore wind industry is at the heart of the UK economy’s shift to low carbon and could be worth £75 billion and support up to 70,000 jobs by 2020.

"This announcement will make a significant and practical contribution to reducing our CO2 emissions and the Government will work with developers and The Crown Estate to support the growing offshore wind industry and help remove barriers to rapid development.”

The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Miliband, said: “Our island has one of the best wind energy resources in Europe and today’s news shows we’re creating the right conditions for the energy industry to invest in harnessing it. This is one of the strongest signals yet that the UK is locked irreversibly into a low carbon, energy secure prosperous future.”

Roger Bright, chief executive of The Crown Estate said: “I am delighted that we have today announced the Development Partners for all nine Round 3 zones. We have been working very closely with Government and a wide range of other interests to secure commitments from investors in offshore wind energy in the UK.

"The Crown Estate will continue to play an active role working closely with our new partners to deliver their offer of 32 GW – which equates to a quarter of the UK’s electricity needs. A series of supply chain events will be held across the UK in January, February and March to support the delivery of this growth industry and these will be hosted by The Crown Estate, the UK Government and the devolved administrations.”

Proposals for the wind farms will now go through planning and consent stages. It will create one of the biggest infrastructure projects for wind energy in the world, with construction likely to begin in 2014.

Upgraded Scottish power line a huge boon for wind energy

The Scottish government's decision to grant planning consent to the proposal to upgrade 137 miles of power transmission line from the Highlands to the Firth of Forth has been welcomed by renewable energy advocates.

The upgrade will boost grid capacity along the line and unlock Scotland's onshore and offshore renewables potential.

The existing 132KV line between Beauly, west of Inverness, and Denny, west of Edinburgh, will be replaced with a 400KV line that will be capable of distributing more renewable energy from the Highlands to the rest of the country.

Scottish Energy Minister Jim Mather said: "The Beauly - Denny upgrade is the most significant grid infrastructure project in a generation. Scotland's electricity network needs significant reinforcement to allow our vast renewables potential to be harnessed, transmitted and exported - currently we simply do not have the transmission capacity to carry the green energy which Scotland will generate over the coming years.

"Developing our onshore and offshore grid connections is crucial to connecting, transporting and exporting Scotland's renewable energy to the UK and Europe. The Beauly Denny upgrade will help meet that aim. There are over 50 potential projects totalling around 4.2GW in the north of Scotland, two thirds of peak Scottish demand. That energy will further secure our supply while allowing us to continue to export the surplus."

UK wind power output increases by 39% in one year

Statistics released by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) show that the United Kingdom generated over 5 TWh of electricity from renewable energy in the third quarter (Q3) of 2009, an increase of 25% compared with Q3 2008. Output from wind turbines increased 38.9%.

As a result of the economic downturn, total inland consumption of all energy dropped 6.3% from Q3 2008, to 208 million tonnes of oil equivalent. Consumption of coal dropped 20%, oil fell 6% and gas consumption fell by 6.2%, while primary electricity consumption rose 34% due to increased output from nuclear reactors.

Of all electricity in Q3 2009, gas generated a record share of 52% while nuclear increased by 47% over Q3 2008, to account for 20% of the national total, and exceeding the share from coal for the first time since 1999.

The share of renewable energy in total UK energy supply rose 2 percentage points, to account for 7% in Q3 2009, the report notes.

DECC also released annual energy statistics from 2008, which show that 8.9 GWh of electricity was generated from renewables in 2008, an increase of 9% over 2007. The share from wind, wave and solar increased by 26%, mainly attributable to wind.

Offshore wind farm contracts due to be announced

Multi-million-pound deals to build nine offshore windfarms will be announced this week.

The proposed locations have been published for months by the Crown Estate, but it is the winners of the contracts to develop the windfarms which will be revealed during the week.

The companies behind the winning bids have already been told but been asked to keep the news quiet until the official government announcement.

The sites are at the Moray Firth, Firth of Forth, Dogger Bank, Horn-sea, Norfolk, Hastings, the Isle of Wight, Bristol Channel and Irish Sea.

The biggest site is at Dogger Bank, about 100km off the north east coast, where wind farms with a capacity of 10GW – enough to power 10 million homes – are planned, at an estimated cost of more than £30 billion.

Successful applicants will carry out further scoping work to decide where exactly to build the farms before submitting planning applications. Construction is not expected to start until 2014 at the earliest.

A spokeswoman for the Crown Estate said the government body, which owns the UK's seabed, was holding a supply chain roadshow for British manufacturers around the country, starting later this month. Working with regional development authorities, companies will be informed what components will be needed by the energy companies to help British industry benefit from the construction programme.

Telephone poll gains 77% local support for South Holland wind proposal

A survey conducted by independent pollsters Populus indicates that more than three quarters of residents in part of South Holland in Lincolnshire would like wind turbines near their homes.

The poll which was commissioned by RES Renewabales says 77 per cent of people favour putting onshore turbines in their "local area".

RES has plans to construct a seven turbine wind farm near Tydd St Mary and states that dissenting voices have always been in a minority. The poll was commissioned to prove the "great support" behind the project.

Project leader Helen Hall said: "In common with any new significant proposal, there has been a small number of people making statements against the project.

"This survey should reassure the council that the majority of local people are in favour of a wind farm."

The plans will come before South Holland District Council on 6 January - with officers recommending that members of the development control committee approve the scheme.

South Holland and the Deepings MP John Hayes is opposed to the plans and has presented a 353-name petition against the turbines planned for Grange Farm, in between Tydd St Mary and Long Sutton, to the council. The MP claims people would feel differently if the turbines were to be built close to their own homes.

Populus interviewed 1,000 people in the area by telephone in the area between 14 and 18 October 2009.

Lancaster University opts for wind power

Lancaster University has revealed £5m plans to build two 100m-high turbines, which would provide 4MW of power to supply a third of the energy needed to power its student village. They would sit to the east of the M6 motorway on the university's Hazelrigg campus.

Environment and sustainability manager Jonathan Mills said: "People living close to the proposed sites for the turbines have raised concerns about the visual impact they would have, but we have been able to show them that they would not break the horizon.

"We have looked from points like Jubilee Tower and Quernmore and worked out that the impact would be minimal.

"The other concerns over noise have been reduced a lot by recent new technology and the other worry was about when low-angled sun gives a shadow flicker from the turbine blades.

"All these things we will have to take into account, but I do not believe there are any problems raised which are insurmountable."

Officials from the university have been staging public consultations around Lancaster in preparation for a planning application due to be submitted in early 2010.

Bootiful turbines given the go-ahead

An application for five turbines at the Bernard Matthews factory on a former airfield at Holton, near Halesworth have been backed by Waveney District Council's development control committee.

The five turbines will be 100m high from ground to the tip of the mast, and the power-generating project will also include a permanent meteorological mast, a substation and access tracks. It is estimated that the five turbines will generate enough electricity to power 5,140 homes every year.

Renewable energy consultant John Fairlie, who spoke on behalf of the applicant at the meeting at Lowestoft Town Hall, said that building onshore turbines was essential in order to meet the government's green energy targets.

He said: “All of the issues raised by statutory consultees have been addressed and there are no objections from them.”

As part of the approval, several conditions were applied that include ensuring that the turbines are removed after their 25-year life span, measures to limit flicker in local homes are taken and the submission of a plan detailing how the construction will be managed.

Six companies make offshore transmission competition shortlist

Announcing the shortlist of companies vying to own and run the high voltage transmission lines that will connect nine offshore wind farms to the National Grid, regulator Ofgem said that there had been "strong competition".

Six companies – Balfour Beatty, Dong Energy, Green Energy Transmission, Macquarie Capital Group, National Grid and Transmission Capital Partners – were named on the lists.

The eventual winners will finance, design and build undersea cables to transport about 2GW of electricity before adding it to the grid's onshore power supply.

Alistair Buchanan, Ofgem's chief executive, said: "The strong competition for the first round of transmission links demonstrates the value of attracting new entrants and shows that firms have confidence in the tendering process and are willing to make a substantial investment."

Ofgem also announced that the European Investment Bank was considering making more than £300 million available for the first tender.

London Array partners award supply and installation contracts

Contracts to the tune of nearly £2 billion have been awarded by the London Array consortium to supply and install components.

Siemens Wind Power will supply 175 turbines while other winners included Future Energy, Nexans Norway AS, Visser & Smit Marine Contracting, Global Marine Systems Limited and JDR Cable Systems.

Frank Mastiaux, chief executive officer of consortium partner Eon Renewables, said: “Signing these contracts is a significant milestone for the London Array project, which will be a vital scheme as we look to take renewables from being a niche power player to being a significant, vital part of the UK's energy landscape.”

Construction of the world's largest offshore wind farm in the Thames Estuary is scheduled to start at the beginning of 2011. It will supply enough power for around 750,000 houses - equivalent to a quarter of Greater London homes - and displace emissions of 1.9m tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.

Eon boss warns of energy shortages

Speaking at the Copenhagen climate change conference Eon Renewables chief executive Frank Mastiaux stated that continued rising costs of oil, coal and gas made the case for development of renewables such as wind power.

"I believe that looking after the climate is vital. But as a company that provides energy as its core purpose, I have the supply element in the front of my mind. We've seen situations in Europe where shortage of gas creates panic in the market. More people want energy – more people on the planet and the planet will get under stress."

"There are still climate sceptics out there," commented Mastiaux. "They should do the math: work out people on the planet versus resources and just get renewables on your patch as soon as possible."

Eon plans to develop one third of its energy supply from renewable sources.

Whitelee to expand to 593MW

Planning approval has been granted to expand Whitelee Wind Farm in East Renfrewshire. The addition of 39 turbines to the 140 existing turbines will give the ScottishPower development a total installed capacity of 593MW.

The expansion was announced by First Minister Alex Salmond at a news conference in Edinburgh.

He said: "Scotland continues to lead the way in developing the technology and capacity - in renewables, in carbon capture, in energy efficiency measures - to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change.

"The Whitelee extension underlines Scotland's place at the cutting edge of green energy and our comprehensive climate change framework, including the world-leading emission reduction targets of 42% and 80% by 2020 and 2050 respectively."

Inquiry backs Devon wind farm

A planning appeal has found in favour of a proposed wind farm near Crediton in Devon. The project had been rejected by West Devon Council previously.

The inspector ruled that the nine-turbine Den Brook development can now be built. The proposal had been granted planning permission in 2006 initially but that consent was overturned following a judicial review instigated by objectors.

Rachel Ruffle, development director of RES, said: "We are delighted. It's been in planning for nearly five years. "It's a particularly good time with concerns about climate change top of the agenda that well-designed projects are allowed to go ahead."

Local people will be given priority to buy shares in the Den Brook development at £1 a share.

Ms Ruffle said: "We are very keen to explore how residents local to Den Brook could be offered a stake in the wind farm as a way to reap some direct benefit from the project once it is up and running."

East Riding throws out another wind farm

Planning permission for a three-turbine development on a site between Tunstall and Hilston has been rejected.

East Riding Council's planning committee chose to refuse permission, even though officers had recommended that it be allowed to go ahead.

Concerns over the impact of the turbines on aviation safety and the so-called "cumulative impact" of the scheme in addition to other development were cited as reasons for the refusal.

East Riding Council has now refused six wind farms in succession. Four have since been granted permission at appeal while a fifth is at public inquiry currently.

Yes2Wind has lodged a Freedom of Information request with East Riding Council asking for the total sum of public inquiry costs that has been shouldered so far by taxpayers due to the intransigence of the Council's planning committee.

Leicestershire wind scheme given thumbs up

A 27MW wind farm proposal in Leicestershire has gained planning consent after a public inquiry was held earlier this year. The project will consist of 11 turbines.

The proposal for the wind farm was submitted to Harborough district council in April 2008 but the council failed to determine the application instigating a public inquiry.

Will Wason, project manager for the Swinford development, said: "The prospect of building a top class wind farm in the Swinford area is incredibly exciting and Nuon Renewables is keen to get started.

"We hope to start building in 2011 and have the project completed by 2012. We also look forward to working with local people and establishing the community benefit fund which will provide substantial financial support for sustainable local initiatives throughout the 25-year life of the wind farm."

Your Energy gains consent for East Riding wind farm

Plans put forward by Your Energy for a 10-turbine wind farm near Howden in East Riding have been approved following a public inquiry after the scheme was initially rejected by the local authority.

East Riding Council had turned down the project citing concerns about the visual impact of the turbines on local communities, the landscape and historic Howden Minster.

Objectors had also told the inquiry inspector in October that the wind farm would create unacceptable noise levels, disturb wildlife and destroy centuries.

Appeal inspector Philip Major disagreed with the council's and opponents' arguments, adding that the scheme was in line with national renewable energy policies.

Your Energy's Bridget Savage, development manager for the project, said: "We have worked towards a proposal that is sensitive to its surroundings and this has been acknowledged by the planning inspector.

"We have engaged with many residents, and want to reassure them of our commitment to be a responsible neighbour."

Another planning inquiry got underway in the area on 8 December with West Coast Energy appealing against a decision to refuse its application for a six-turbine wind farm near Market Weighton in East Riding.

In his opening address, David Hardy, representing West Coast Energy, said: "When the performance of the council is interrogated properly it becomes depressingly clear the council has granted planning permission for very few schemes that contribute to the national grid.

"Schemes upon which it now relies in relation to targets, such as Out Newton, Routh and Withernwick, were turned down and left to the inspectorate.

"This council is an anti-wind farm council. Given the seriousness of climate change and the national policy imperative, this is unacceptable."

East Riding Council has also lost previous appeals against refusal of planning permission for wind farms at Withernwick, Out Newton, and Routh.

European plans for offshore wind energy grid announced

Nine countries including the UK signed up to develop an integrated offshore grid in the North and Irish Seas.

The idea of a grid spanning European waters should make supplies of electricity more secure for the participating countries by making it easier to optimise offshore wind electricity production . It will also help the EU as a whole to meet its renewable energy target for 2020.

"This very ambitious project is not just of interest to the countries bordering the North seas. It is important for the future energy mix providing the needs of the European Union," said Paul Magnette, climate minister of Belgium which initiated the scheme.

The plan, which will now be examined by experts, foresees "the major part of offshore wind energy development in Europe will be focussed on the North Seas region."

"We're already the world leader in offshore wind here in the UK and today's announcements bring new funding and expert direction to grow this vital new industry," said the UK's energy minister, Lord Hunt. "They also mean we can work with other countries in the EU to increase our renewable energy supplies."

The countries involved aim to devise a work plan in early 2010 to coordinate offshore infrastructure development. The nations which signed up to the scheme are the UK, Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden and Ireland.

The initiative is part of EU plans to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 percent by 2020.

US study demonstrates wind farms have no effect on house prices

A major new report released by the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory evaluates one of those concerns, and finds that proximity to wind energy facilities does not have a pervasive or widespread adverse effect on the property values of nearby homes.

The new report, funded by the DOE, is based on site visits, data collection, and analysis of almost 7,500 single-family home sales, making it the most comprehensive and data-rich analysis to date on the potential impact of U.S. wind projects on residential property values.

“Neither the view of wind energy facilities nor the distance of the home to those facilities was found to have any consistent, measurable, and significant effect on the selling prices of nearby homes,” says report author Ben Hoen, a consultant to Berkeley Lab. “No matter how we looked at the data, the same result kept coming back - no evidence of widespread impacts.”

The team of researchers for the project collected data on homes situated within 10 miles of 24 existing wind facilities in nine different US states; the closest home was 800 feet from a wind facility. Each home in the sample was visited to collect important on-site information such as whether wind turbines were visible from the home. The home sales used in the study occurred between 1996 and 2007, spanning the period prior to the announcement of each wind energy facility to well after its construction and full-scale operation.

The analysis revealed that home sales prices are very sensitive to the overall quality of the scenic vista from a property, but that a view of a wind energy facility did not demonstrably impact sales prices. The Berkeley Lab researchers also did not find statistically observable differences in prices for homes located closer to wind facilities than those located further away, or for homes that sold after the announcement or construction of a wind energy facility when compared to those selling prior to announcement. Even for those homes located within a one-mile distance of a wind project, the researchers found no persuasive evidence of a property value impact.

“Although studies that have investigated residential sales prices near conventional power plants, high voltage transmission lines, and roads have found some property value impacts,” says co-author and San Diego State University Economics Department Chair Mark Thayer, “the same cannot be said for wind energy facilities, at least given our sample of transactions.“

The findings replicate studies conducted in the UK that have been unable to link wind farm developments to adverse effects on property prices.

Read the report

National Grid considers reduction in Scottish wind energy transmission charges

National Grid is developing a new pricing model that could halve the transmission costs paid by generators of wind energy in Scotland.

There have long been complaints that wind energy generated in Scotland suffers from indiscrimate overcharging. The current system can cost generators in more remote regions as much as £20 per KW to distribute power through the grid. By contrast, windfarms in southern England can benefit from subsidies of up to £8 per KW.

However, National Grid now states the connection charges can be reduced in Scotland because wind generation is not constant and does not require the level of infrastructure or built in redundancy as transmission other convention forms of electricity generation.

Scottish Energy Minister Jim Mather commented: "We want a system of charging for connection to - and use of - the electricity grid that is equitable and helps connect Scotland's vast renewable enrgy potential to electricity grids in the UK and Europe.

Tories promise wind energy community incentives

Shadow energy and climate change secretary Greg Clark has pledged that local communities would receive financial incentives for allowing wind farm developments in their area if the Conservatives come to power.

Speaking at Oxford University on November 27 as part of the Conservative Green Week, Mr Clark said that there was a "positive way forward" for onshore wind away from "bitter planning disputes", claiming that the Conservatives were determined to find ways to allow communities who participate in renewable energy projects to share in the rewards.

Mr Clark said: "Conservatives are determined to find ways to allow communities who participate in renewable energy projects to share in the rewards that comes from doing their bit."

Mr Clark pledged that a Conservative government would allow communities to keep all of the increase in business rates from any wind development for the first six years. The shadow secretary claimed that a 10MW wind farm would pay £72,000 a year in rates back into the local community.

Mr Clark also said that the party was in discussions with the wind industry about other ways for communities to benefit. Some of the ideas include discounted electricity rates for local residents and empowering communities to take part ownership of a local wind farm so that more of the development's revenues stay in the local area.

He went on to criticise the Labour government for its attitude to local communities who are against wind farms stating "Labour's only solution to complications over onshore wind is to demonise anyone who has the temerity to object. As well as being wrong, this is obviously counter productive."

Yes2Wind certainly welcomes any ideas that might enable more community involvement in wind farm developments but isn't convinced that entire communities are against any particular wind farm proposal, as Mr Clark appears to intimate.

Councillors in Lancashire ignore wind farm planning recommendation

Plans for two wind turbines on farmland in Lancashire have been thrown out for a second time by Wyre Borough Council.

Voting contrary to the recommendations of the local authority planning officer to approve the scheme, Wyre Borough Council's planning committee rejected plans for the turbines at Pilling, near Garstang.

Councillors said the plans would have an impact on residents and the area's pink-footed geese population.

The planning officer’s recommendation considered that the visual presence of the turbines was an inadequate reason for refusal balanced against the need for renewable power.

The planning officer also confirmed that Natural England - who had objected initially to the proposal because of the presence of geese - believed that a suitable mitigation package in the form of alternative feeding grounds could be created by the developer Cornwall Light & Power.

Should Cornwall Light & Power appeal the planning committee’s decision and send the proposal to public enquiry it is very possible that the wind farm would get the go ahead leaving Wyre Borough Council with substantial costs.

No one was available for comment at Wyre Borough Council.

Cornwall Light & Power

Your Energy to appeal Yelvertoft planning refusal

The wind developer behind the Yelvertoft wind farm in Northamptonshire has criticised the decision to refuse it and has said it will appeal.

Your Energy's managing director Richard Mardon said its application for eight turbines met all of the necessary criteria set by Daventry Council's planning officers, but was turned down by councillors who cited concerns about its impact on nearby Stanford Hall and its parks and gardens.

He said: "Daventry District Council has not shown leadership on this important issue and has turned its back on providing a third of the district with renewable electricity.

"The only reason they could give was the impact on Stanford Hall. The impacts of climate change will have a far greater effect on our cultural heritage and will be long-lasting, unlike a wind farm which is for 25 years.

"The positive aspect was that the council officers confirmed there were no issues regarding noise, health risks or other effects on residents."

UK classified as a "wind laggard"

The UK has less than half of the EU's average density of wind power capacity, according to a study published by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA).

According to the Pure Power report, the UK had 5.9MW of wind energy capacity per 1000 km2 at the end of 2008, compared with 73.8MW in Denmark. The future of wind power in Denmark also ooks bright as, according to an August 2009 survey carried out by an independent market research institute, 91% of Danes support the further development of wind power in their country.

The EWEA produced its league table after consultation with its corporate members and national wind energy associations.

The Association states that the density of wind power per km is the best means of measuring and comparing the extent to which different countries exploit their wind power potential.

Christian Kjaer, chief executive of EWEA, said: "Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands are European leaders in fighting climate change with wind-powered electricity.

"Laggards in wind energy - including France, the UK, Sweden, Finland and Eastern European countries - can easily play catch-up."

The report shows that Germany comes a close second to Denmark, with 67MW, and the Netherlands is third with 53.6MW.

Read the EWEA Pure Power report

Banks Developments proposes new South Lanarkshire wind farm

Plans to site up to 45 turbines between Lesmahagow and Strathaven in South Lanarkshire will go on show to the public at exhibitions on 8 and 9 December 2009.

Banks Developments are behind the proposal that is expected to generate 200 construction jobs. The turbines are earmarked for commercial forestry and grazing land.

Rob Williams, renewable projects director at Banks Developments, explained: "Our initial analysis shows that the area is very likely to be an environmentally suitable location for a wind farm development, and we are confident that we will be able to create a scheme which is acceptable to local people and provides significant amounts of renewable energy."

Banks has also put forward another five-turbine scheme at Bickerton Hills in Cheshire. Managing director Phil Dykes told a local community meeting at Broxton that Banks would fully consult with communities if they decide to make an application to Cheshire East.

Mr Dykes said Banks would soon analyse the findings of a wind monitor (anonometer) survey being carried out this year. A local protest group is opposing the plan on stated grounds of noise pollution, visual amenity, tourism and the purported detrimental effect on house prices, an issue which does not fall under the remit of planning authority officers.

Banks Developments

550 people visit Frodsham Wind Farm exhibition in Cheshire

Three exhibitions giving the communities of Frodsham, Helsby and Elton the opportunity to see Peel Energy’s plans for a wind farm at Frodsham Marshes in Cheshire were attended by more than 550 people in late November.

Peel Energy development manager Stephen Snowdon said: “We had a great response to the exhibitions, with many people keen to find out more about the scheme."

“It was an opportunity for us to share more details on our proposals and also to listen to what local people thought about the scheme."

“The vast majority of residents were supportive of renewable energy in principle, but wanted to understand more about topics such as noise and visual impact."

“We were able to talk on a one-to-one basis about their concerns and explain why we believe the canal dredging site is such a good location for a wind farm.”

The £50m scheme includes plans for 21 turbines. Each of the 125m turbines would generate 2.5MW of electricity help to deliver more than one-quarter of the 2020 renewable energy target for Cheshire.

Extensive studies are still being carried out on the site, including assessments of noise and visual impact.

Peel say that findings from these studies as well as feedback from the exhibitions will be used to refine the proposals.

“It is still early days, but we wanted to give residents a glimpse of how the proposed wind farm may look and understand their points of view,” said Mr Snowdon.

“The feedback from local residents is very important to us and over the coming weeks we will be looking closely at their comments, together with reports from environmental studies."

“We would be grateful if anyone who visited the exhibition return the questionnaire that they do so as soon as possible.”

Frodsham Wind Farm

Turbine towers selected for Scotland's largest wind farm

Skykon Tower Solutions has won a multi-million pound contract to supply towers for Europe's largest onshore wind farm.

Scottish and Southern Energy is to build 152 turbines for the Clyde Wind Farm near Abington in South Lanarkshire, Scotland.

The £500 million project is expected to offer 456MW of new renewable electricity generating capacity – providing enough power for more than 200,000 homes.

On completion, it is expected to overtake the Whitelee wind farm on Eaglesham Moor south of Glasgow as the largest onshore wind farm in Europe. Skykon Tower Solutions will manufacture the 80m high towers from its Campbeltown facility on behalf of the turbine supplier Siemens.

Work is expected to begin on February 1 next year with the first delivery projected for late March 2010.

It is expected that the supply deal will run to the middle of 2011, securing employment within the Campbeltown plant that currently are being extended significantly.

Jesper Øhlenschlæger, CEO of Skykon, said: "The Clyde project is a very important business win for our Campeltown manufacturing facility."

"Scotland has become the most positive and the most interesting renewable wind power market in Europe. This growing demand has allowed us to begin to meet our commercial objectives of building a leading tower supplier, delivering to the large wind turbine generators."

"The Clyde Wind Farm project represents a landmark phase in Scotland’s renewable energy strategy and we now look forward to seeing yet another step forward in the country’s sustainable economic development."

BWEA plans identity change

The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) has approached its members with a recommended name change to RenewableUK. The BWEA has confirmed that a new name and logo under RenewableUK is currently under consideration by its 539 members.

A spokesman for the trade association said: "Over recent years, the BWEA has changed and moved on to also represent the wave and tidal industry and so there is a general case to be made for refreshing our name and identity."

"The new name is strong, modern and simple. One word encapsulates what we do, sums up the business we are in and is simple to understand and use."

Expansion

The BWEA expanded to cover marine renewables alongside wind energy in 2004 and estimates that a third of its members are now in the wave and tidal sector. In order to reflect this, the association has stated that it wants a new name which gives an equal weighting to both the wind and marine industries it represents.

South Lanarkshire wind farm gains planning consent

Energy company Eon has welcomed the news that it has received planning consent for its 30MW Dungavel wind farm in South Lanarkshire.

The proposed wind farm, which was approved by South Lanarkshire Council, will be located on land at Dungavel Hill, south of Strathaven. The scheme will also bring contract opportunities to local employers in the region.

The site will have 13 turbines and be capable of producing up to 29.9MW, or enough power for around 20,000 homes.

Ahmed Mulla, Eon's project developer for Dungavel, said: "This is excellent news for us and another step towards helping Scotland meet its renewable energy targets."

"We're especially pleased the planning report recognised the benefits this project will bring to the local community and beyond."

"We're looking forward to working with local stakeholders to get the wind farm up and running and providing renewable energy which could displace 40,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year."

During the construction phase there are expected to be between 50 and 60 contractors working on site.

Over the life of the wind farm Eon's Community Fund will provide a minimum of £60,000 per year to South Lanarkshire Council's renewable energy fund.

The application received 626 letters of support from the public.

The site will also contribute considerably to the Scottish Government's renewable energy targets of 31% by 2011 and 50% by 2020.

Duke rants about wind power

The Journal newspaper, widely read in the North East and which has a track record of making virilant attacks about the development of commercial wind farms in the area, has latched onto comments made by the Duke of Northumberland and published three whole pages in its edition of November 30 which are blatantly "anti-wind".

One of the main thrusts of the article, based on a letter written by the  Duke to the newspaper, is the oft-repeated myth that wind energy does little to reduce CO2 emissions.

Even opponents of wind energy such as the Country Guardian organisation agree that this is myth. On page 16 of the Case Against Wind Farms, the author, Dr John Etherington, includes the CO2 issue as being one of "myths of our own making" and urges people not to repeat it.

One wonders how the Duke is unaware of this if he has researched the issues as thoroughly as he claims to have done. The Journal refers to his love of the countryside. Yes2Wind would suggest that those who love the countryside would be wanting to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and the consequent ravaging of the countryside across the globe that climate change is responsible for.

Yes2Wind urges supporters of wind power to make their views known to the Journal. Please refer to the Wind Facts section of this website for further information on the issues of climate change and CO2 reduction.

Climate change chaos

No one can say for sure that recent flooding in Cumbria is directly related to climate change. But there has been a noticeable absence of any connection in the news reports. Many peoples' lives have been devastated.

Described as a 'once a millennium' event, the recent flooding fits all the predictions that have been made of what we can expect to happen more regularly as a result of climate change. And yet, despite all the grief and pain, we are determined to carry on 'as normal' in the mostly noble of British tradition.

And yet there is still time to do something! We have a small window of opportunity to do so. Wind energy is not the total solution; but it can form part of it. Whatever the sceptics may say, it will lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emmissions; as acknowledged by the 'Country Guardian' website: Myths of our own making (p16)

Three years in planning finally pays off

After three years in planning, Pennant Walters Developments have been given permission to build a 10-turbine wind farm at Pant Y Wal near Mountain Ash in South Wales. Yes2Wind offer their congratulations. The full story can be read in Wales Online

Stroud 50/50

Stroud 50/50 is a new project set up by Ecotricity to meet 50% of local homes’ electricity needs through clean, green energy harnessing the natural power of the wind. More information about the project, together with other useful information and blogs can be found at www.stroud5050.org

Five wind farms on initial IPC list

The newly formed IPC (Infrastructure Planning Commission) has published an initial list of major infrastructure projects that will be subject to its planning processes. These include the following wind farms:

Brechfa, in Carmarthenshire

Llanllwni, in Carmarthenshire

Nant-y-Moch, in Ceredigion

Dyfnant Forest, in Ceredigion  and

Triton Knoll, 33km off the Lincolnshire coast.

More information about how the IPC works in relation to wind farms can be found in the Yes2Wind 'expert' article on wind farm location. This includes a link to a detailed "implementation route map" for the operation of the IPC and associated National Policy Statements (NPS).

Work to start on London Array

Work is planned to begin by the end of the year on the London Array wind farm, giving a boost to UK plans to develop massive offshore wind farms to meet our carbon reduction targets.

The consortium behind the array (energy firms E.ON, Dong Energy and Masdar) have just given the green light for work to begin on the first phase of the £3 billion project. Situated in the Thames estuary this 1,000MW offshore wind farm will be the world's largest, covering 90 sq miles (232 sq km) between Margate in Kent and Clacton, Essex.

This first phase alone will generate 630MW - enough to power around 750,000 homes (or a quarter of Greater London homes) and cut 1.9 million tonnes of carbon emissions per year. First electricity from the Array is expected to come on stream in 2012.

The announcement follows last month's budget declaration that the government would raise support for offshore wind farms under the Renewables Obligations Certificates (ROCs) scheme. This convinced the consortium that the time was right to start work.

Why does it matter so much? Cutting-edge projects like the London Array will help generate clean, secure energy. They'll also generate thousands of British jobs over the next few years that may be the genesis of a new export industry.

6GW of new offshore wind planned for Scotland

Plans to build 10 wind farms off the coast of Scotland moved a step forward after the Crown Estate last month gave companies the green light to explore the offshore sites.