Wind Farm Proposals

A Problem With Wind Power

An interesting article? by Eric Rosenbloom — September 5, 2006

"Wind power promises a clean and free source of electricity. It will reduce (our) dependence on imported fossil fuels and reduce the output of greenhouse gases and other pollution. Many governments are therefore promoting the construction of vast wind “farms,” encouraging private companies with generous subsidies and regulatory support, requiring utilities to buy from them, and setting up markets for the trade of “green credits” in addition to actual energy.. . . .

. . . . A little research, however, reveals that wind power does not in fact live up to the claims made by its advocates (see part I), that its impact on the environment and people’s lives is far from benign (see part II), and that with such a poor record and prospect the money spent on it could be much more effectively directed (see part III)."

Links to the scoping reports submiitted to HBC Planning:

Seventeen x 125m turbines:

Seven x 100m turbines

Four x 115m turbines

Some questions that might be asked?

1. How many tonnes of C02 emissions are required to design, manufacture,deliver and erect each wind turbine to the Penny Pot site - it would be helpful the total could be itemised under those headings?
2. How many tonnes of C02 emissions each year are required to manage, monitor and maintain each windmill once it is in operation?
3. What is the expected total annual output from the wind farm and how many tonnes of C02 emissions each year is the wind farm expected to save when compared against an equivalent size output from a fossil fuel power station?
4. How many years is each windmill guaranteed to remain operational and describe the plan for their disassembly and removal at the end of their life?
5. How many tonnes of C02 emissions will be required to dismantle, recycle or replace each windmill?
6. How is the energy equivalent from each windmill supplied when the wind does not blow?
7. Is there a maximum wind-speed that each windmill will tolerate and, if so, what happens when the wind blows too hard?
8. What happens to the energy provided by each windmill when there is not the demand for it - eg middle of the night?
9. How efficient is a gas turbine running at 'base load' as compared with the same gas turbine 'part load'?
10. How much of the generated electricity will supply the National Grid, and how much will be used by Yorkshire Water as per Kelda's energy initiatives statement? Ref: http://www.keldagroup.com/kel/csr/ourenv/hottopics/energy
11. Is the project still necessary and feasible since ROCs for onshore wind were re-banded recently? Ref:. http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/renewable_ener/renew_obs/renew_obs.aspx
12. How much is added to the average annual energy bill for each household in Yorkshire to meet the subsidies for wind farms?
13. On average, what percentage of theoretical capacity will the Penny Pot wind-farm generate in actual output?