Two ports in running for Sussex wind farm base (From The Argus)

Wind farms, a waste of concrete, copper, precision bearings, time, money and whatever else is invested therein. Unreliable, inconsistent providers of electricity that merely tinker at the edges of our energy requirements.

And lets not forget the poor marine life that will be disturbed... Sad times.

I agree, this is terrible news. When will the authorities realise that the future of energy is in burning more fossil fuels and buliding nuclear power stations next to urban areas. That's what we all want! Who wants to have a few windmills miles out in the sea that you can barely see that provides sustainable energy from natural sources for years to come, when we can live in smog-infested nuclear-waste-pollut
ed cities? Not me! All this "green" stuff is a waste of time - burn more oil for goodness sakes!!!

We need to get the Government onside, as well as local councils and others, if we are going to stop these wind turbines being built.

Are you disillusioned by rising electricity prices, over dependence on the "green" dream then please register your objection to the Government by GOOGLING "E-PETITION 22958" and following the link.

Please pass this message on to Councillors, members of your community and anyone else you know to persuade them to sign up too. If you are really concerned about wind turbines please write a letter promoting this petition to your community newsletters and the Editors of your local newspapers.

Tony Harrison wrote:
I agree, this is terrible news. When will the authorities realise that the future of energy is in burning more fossil fuels and buliding nuclear power stations next to urban areas. That's what we all want! Who wants to have a few windmills miles out in the sea that you can barely see that provides sustainable energy from natural sources for years to come, when we can live in smog-infested nuclear-waste-pollut ed cities? Not me! All this "green" stuff is a waste of time - burn more oil for goodness sakes!!!

The wind farm is a good thing as it leaves more of the oil reserves to provide diesel for my 4X4 Range rover!. On a serious note, why build wind turbine that dont work if there is too much or too little wind? another option is the thousands of miles of rivers that could be used to provide hydro electric power. The River thames alone has 45 locks that just waste water over weirs. Unobtrusive, easy to mantain turbines that dont disrupt wildlife and fish stocks like the one being fitted at Romney lock near Windsor castle would generate power 24/7 and there are many other rivers in the Uk that are suitable.

Derek Sorensen said...

"Interesting article on the BBC today, about a new report from conservation group The John Muir Trust, following an analysis of 2 years worth of Wind Power generation statistics. It's pretty damning.

The report examines these popular assertions:

1. "Wind turbines will generate on average 30% of their rated capacity over a year."

2. "The wind is always blowing somewhere."

3. "Periods of widespread low wind are infrequent."

4. "The probability of very low wind output coinciding with peak electricity demand is slight."

5. "Pumped storage hydro can fill the generation gap during prolonged low wind periods."



And finds that:

1. Average output from wind was 27.18% of metered capacity in 2009, 21.14% in 2010, and 24.08% between November 2008 and December 2010 inclusive.

2. There were 124 separate occasions from November 2008 till December 2010 when total generation from the windfarms metered by National Grid was less than 20MW. (Average capacity over the period was in excess of 1600MW).

3. The average frequency and duration of a low wind event of 20MW or less between November 2008 and December 2010 was once every 6.38 days for a period of 4.93 hours.

4. At each of the four highest peak demands of 2010 wind output was low being respectively 4.72%, 5.51%, 2.59% and 2.51% of capacity at peak demand.

5. The entire pumped storage hydro capacity in the UK can provide up to 2788MW for only 5 hours then it drops to 1060MW, and finally runs out of water after 22 hours.

To summarise.. THEY DO NOT WORK!

've been banging on about how rubbish Wind Farms are for years, but finally someone has taken the time to look at the actual figures. We can but hope that this will see an end to the defacement of England's Green and Pleasant land by these monstrosities, not to mention the millions of pounds of taxpayers money which is wasted on this useless technology every year.

Tony Harrison wrote:
I agree, this is terrible news. When will the authorities realise that the future of energy is in burning more fossil fuels and buliding nuclear power stations next to urban areas. That's what we all want! Who wants to have a few windmills miles out in the sea that you can barely see that provides sustainable energy from natural sources for years to come, when we can live in smog-infested nuclear-waste-pollut

ed cities? Not me! All this "green" stuff is a waste of time - burn more oil for goodness sakes!!!

Unfortunately energy provision needs to be consistent and consistently reliable. Mr. Harrison's "a few windmills" translates into a planned 100 to 195 wind turbines.

The output capacity of these generators is not specified however a modest farm of twenty 1 megawatt turbines would require upwards of 10,000 tonnes of concrete to manufacture. Concrete is not a carbon-neutral material to manufacture. Nor is it pollution free when immersed in sea water.

Average demand for electricity in the UK is about 50 gigawatts (1000 x 50 megawatts) per hour. According to data provided by the National Grid Seven Year Statements, peak demand in 2005/6 was 63 gigawatts which represented approximately 80% of total capacity (80 gigawatts).

Demand for electricity is continual and needs reliable supply. Nuclear, solar, geothermal and gassification of coal seams (followed by carbon capture and scrubbing when burnt) provide more consistent means of generation. Wind and wave power as a solution to our national demand for energy is a chimera that deflects us from identifying and developing adult solutions to our needs.