Winds of change just the start of the renewables revolution
The renewables revolution, said the First Minister, is only beginning. Alex Salmond yesterday announced that his government has given the go-ahead for the biggest wind farm in Europe, several clusters of turbines, 152 in total, along the M74 as it winds its way through the southern uplands. There is also, he said, more to come.
Scottish Government officials are currently reviewing another 26 major wind farms, as well as nine new hydro-electric schemes and a proposed tidal power plant. Their total potential installed capacity: 2.5 gigawatts. Protesters across Scotland are gearing up for years of fights to save what they see as beloved hillsides or moors. They are, it seems, going to lose a lot of battles.
The latest development, at Abington in South Lanarkshire, horrified some campaigners. "The M74 is the way most people - and most tourists - drive into Scotland from England," said Gillian Bishop of Views of Scotland, an anti-wind farm group. "Some are going to turn round and go home because all they are going to see is turbine after turbine."
Some locals were upset too. A group opposing the plans was formed and a march across the affected hillsides organised, led by television personality and botanist David Bellamy.
South Lanarkshire Council opposed the project, albeit then envisaged to be slightly bigger than the plan approved by Scottish ministers yesterday.
Not everybody, however, was against the plans. Some farmers, like most in Scotland struggling to balance the books with high prices for fuel, feed and fertiliser and low prices for their produce, saw opportunities to sell land for turbines. Others were enticed by the prospects of jobs, 200 during a three-year construction phase, and another 30 permanent posts when the wind farm is fully operation.
"The reaction has been fairly mixed," said Beith Forrest, the Conservative who has represented the area on South Lanarkshire Council for 20 years. "Personally, I would say I have accepted the plans. Never at any stage did I say Over my dead body'. I have been in the game too long for that. There are, after all, going to be benefits, and not just jobs."
Developers - now Scottish and Southern Energy - will be expected to put something back into the community. A figure of £500,000 has been mooted. Local community groups are licking their lips at the prospect of grants that would otherwise be impossible to obtain. But what about the long-term damage to one of the area's main industries, tourism?
"People will get used to the turbines," said Hamish Stewart, another Tory councillor representing the area who admits to some concerns that the development will put off holidaymakers. "They become part of the landscape."
Mr Forrest will see some 26 of them from his own home. But, because of the way the Clyde valley twists its way through the hills, nobody will ever be able to see the whole development, even if it will go by the grand title of Europe's biggest.
Consent for the project was yesterday welcomed by environmental groups, not least because it is being built next to a motorway rather than, like the rejected Lewis project, vulnerable nesting sites. Scotland, after all, is now on track to tear ahead of the rest of Europe in meeting green energy targets. The government has committed itself to meeting 31% of electricity demand from renewable sources by 2011 and 50% by 2020.
Good, but not good enough said Richard Dixon, director of WWF Scotland. Scotland, he said, needs to cut emissions of greenhouse gases as well as adding renewable capacity. "To effectively deliver cuts in pollution efforts to increase the use of renewable energy must run beside a strong Scottish Climate Change Bill. "If Scotland is to achieve the 80% cuts in emissions by 2050, which the government is aspiring to, the bill will need to include statutory reduction targets of at least 3% year on year and cover pollution from aviation and shipping.
"The Clyde wind farm is a good proposal because it is close to major centres of population, who will use the power it generates, and away from Scotland's most valuable landscapes. Scotland needs more of this sort of large, central belt wind farm to help us move quickly to clean, green energy."
© All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without
permission is prohibited.
Posted by: Wardog, Buckie on 10:02pm Mon 21 Jul 08
[bold]Fantastic News an indication for Scotland's Future[/bold]
The Honeymoon continues unabated......
Fantastic News an indication for Scotland's Future
The Honeymoon continues unabated......
Posted by: baffled, scotland on 10:03pm Mon 21 Jul 08
Who owns the land on which this wind farm is to be built and how much are they being paid?
Who owns the land on which this wind farm is to be built and how much are they being paid?
Posted by: Wardog, Buckie on 10:10pm Mon 21 Jul 08
[quote][bold]baffled[/bold] wrote:
Who owns the land on which this wind farm is to be built and how much are they being paid?[/quote]
Why don't you search the Register of Scotland and then speak to the various land owners instead of stinking out these forums with your negativity and pessimism with your droll questions.
baffled wrote:
Who owns the land on which this wind farm is to be built and how much are they being paid?
Why don't you search the Register of Scotland and then speak to the various land owners instead of stinking out these forums with your negativity and pessimism with your droll questions.
Posted by: Wardog, Buckie on 10:10pm Mon 21 Jul 08
[bold]DON"T FEED THE TROLLS[/bold]
Posted by: baffled, scotland on 10:11pm Mon 21 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Wardog[/bold] wrote:
[bold]Fantastic News an indication for Scotland's Future[/bold]
The Honeymoon continues unabated......[/quote]
The only involvement the SNP have had with this development has been to grant planning consent.
It's stretching it a bit to claim any credit for that.
Wardog wrote:
Fantastic News an indication for Scotland's Future
The Honeymoon continues unabated......
The only involvement the SNP have had with this development has been to grant planning consent.
It's stretching it a bit to claim any credit for that.
Posted by: baffled, scotland on 10:17pm Mon 21 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Wardog[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]baffled[/bold] wrote:
Who owns the land on which this wind farm is to be built and how much are they being paid?[/quote]
Why don't you search the Register of Scotland and then speak to the various land owners instead of stinking out these forums with your negativity and pessimism with your droll questions.
[/quote]
Are you not interested in who is making money from this?
And you have still to say where the back up is to come from when the wind isn't blowing, or is blowing too hard.
Wardog wrote:
baffled wrote:
Who owns the land on which this wind farm is to be built and how much are they being paid?
Why don't you search the Register of Scotland and then speak to the various land owners instead of stinking out these forums with your negativity and pessimism with your droll questions.
Are you not interested in who is making money from this?
And you have still to say where the back up is to come from when the wind isn't blowing, or is blowing too hard.
Posted by: Wardog, Buckie on 10:20pm Mon 21 Jul 08
[quote][bold]baffled[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Wardog[/bold] wrote:
[bold]Fantastic News an indication for Scotland's Future[/bold]
The Honeymoon continues unabated......[/quote]
The only involvement the SNP have had with this development has been to grant planning consent.
It's stretching it a bit to claim any credit for that.
[/quote]
Baffled, look at your statement, it's all in your head pal, where in my posts have I mentioned the SNP?
Your paranoid pal
[italic]oooo... what was that.....[/italic]
baffled wrote:
Wardog wrote:
Fantastic News an indication for Scotland's Future
The Honeymoon continues unabated......
The only involvement the SNP have had with this development has been to grant planning consent.
It's stretching it a bit to claim any credit for that.
Baffled, look at your statement, it's all in your head pal, where in my posts have I mentioned the SNP?
Your paranoid pal
oooo... what was that.....
Posted by: baffled, scotland on 10:21pm Mon 21 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Wardog[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]baffled[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Wardog[/bold] wrote:
[bold]Fantastic News an indication for Scotland's Future[/bold]
The Honeymoon continues unabated......[/quote]
The only involvement the SNP have had with this development has been to grant planning consent.
It's stretching it a bit to claim any credit for that.
[/quote]
Baffled, look at your statement, it's all in your head pal, where in my posts have I mentioned the SNP?
Your paranoid pal
[italic]oooo... what was that.....[/italic]
[/quote]
And what does the honeymoon refer to?
Wardog wrote:
baffled wrote:
Wardog wrote:
Fantastic News an indication for Scotland's Future
The Honeymoon continues unabated......
The only involvement the SNP have had with this development has been to grant planning consent.
It's stretching it a bit to claim any credit for that.
Baffled, look at your statement, it's all in your head pal, where in my posts have I mentioned the SNP?
Your paranoid pal
oooo... what was that.....
And what does the honeymoon refer to?
Posted by: Wardog, Buckie on 10:24pm Mon 21 Jul 08
[quote][bold]baffled[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Wardog[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]baffled[/bold] wrote:
Who owns the land on which this wind farm is to be built and how much are they being paid?[/quote]
Why don't you search the Register of Scotland and then speak to the various land owners instead of stinking out these forums with your negativity and pessimism with your droll questions.
[/quote]
Are you not interested in who is making money from this?
And you have still to say where the back up is to come from when the wind isn't blowing, or is blowing too hard.
[/quote]
You must be the only person in Scotland who see's only a negative side to this,
Give yersel a shake man, yer in danger of talking yersel into a recession.
In answer to your dull questions
1. No, why are you?
2. Hydrogen, Hydro & in the future Carbon Capture Power Stations
baffled wrote:
Wardog wrote:
baffled wrote:
Who owns the land on which this wind farm is to be built and how much are they being paid?
Why don't you search the Register of Scotland and then speak to the various land owners instead of stinking out these forums with your negativity and pessimism with your droll questions.
Are you not interested in who is making money from this?
And you have still to say where the back up is to come from when the wind isn't blowing, or is blowing too hard.
You must be the only person in Scotland who see's only a negative side to this,
Give yersel a shake man, yer in danger of talking yersel into a recession.
In answer to your dull questions
1. No, why are you?
2. Hydrogen, Hydro & in the future Carbon Capture Power Stations
Posted by: Wardog, Buckie on 10:25pm Mon 21 Jul 08
baffled, scotland on 10:21pm today
And what does the honeymoon refer to?
Scotland's honeymoon with [bold]Renewables.[/bold] .... obviosuly.
[italic]duh[/italic]
baffled, scotland on 10:21pm today
And what does the honeymoon refer to?
Scotland's honeymoon with
Renewables. .... obviosuly.
duh Posted by: baffled, scotland on 10:28pm Mon 21 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Wardog[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]baffled[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Wardog[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]baffled[/bold] wrote:
Who owns the land on which this wind farm is to be built and how much are they being paid?[/quote]
Why don't you search the Register of Scotland and then speak to the various land owners instead of stinking out these forums with your negativity and pessimism with your droll questions.
[/quote]
Are you not interested in who is making money from this?
And you have still to say where the back up is to come from when the wind isn't blowing, or is blowing too hard.
[/quote]
You must be the only person in Scotland who see's only a negative side to this,
Give yersel a shake man, yer in danger of talking yersel into a recession.
In answer to your dull questions
1. No, why are you?
2. Hydrogen, Hydro & in the future Carbon Capture Power Stations
[/quote]
Hydrogen, Hydro & in the future Carbon Capture Power Stations
There will be no more hydro stations built in the UK.
Hydrogen is a future technology.
You can't run the country's power supply on a wing and a prayer.
The question is still unanswered, where is the back up?
Wardog wrote:
baffled wrote:
Wardog wrote:
baffled wrote:
Who owns the land on which this wind farm is to be built and how much are they being paid?
Why don't you search the Register of Scotland and then speak to the various land owners instead of stinking out these forums with your negativity and pessimism with your droll questions.
Are you not interested in who is making money from this?
And you have still to say where the back up is to come from when the wind isn't blowing, or is blowing too hard.
You must be the only person in Scotland who see's only a negative side to this,
Give yersel a shake man, yer in danger of talking yersel into a recession.
In answer to your dull questions
1. No, why are you?
2. Hydrogen, Hydro & in the future Carbon Capture Power Stations
Hydrogen, Hydro & in the future Carbon Capture Power Stations
There will be no more hydro stations built in the UK.
Hydrogen is a future technology.
You can't run the country's power supply on a wing and a prayer.
The question is still unanswered, where is the back up?
Posted by: Curley Bill, the southwest on 10:29pm Mon 21 Jul 08
My word, I like [bold]baffled[/bold] - he's just so dammmed reasonable.
My word, I like
baffled - he's just so dammmed reasonable.
Posted by: Wardog, Buckie on 10:36pm Mon 21 Jul 08
baffled, scotland on 10:28pm today
[quote]There will be no more hydro stations built in the UK.[/quote]
There are eight either in the planning stages or udner consideration at the moment, two have recently been started including Gelndoe and the 1.4 Megawatt Innerhadden Burn scheme.
[quote]Hydrogen is a future technology.[/quote]
The first Wind/Hydrogen plant is being constructed in North Ayrshire now......A 48Mw Scheme with Hydrogen Cell Plant.
When you say future Baffled, what is your definition of that, 5, 10, 15 years?
[quote]Where is the back up?[/quote]
[bold]What do YOU propose Baffled?[/bold]
baffled, scotland on 10:28pm today
There will be no more hydro stations built in the UK.
There are eight either in the planning stages or udner consideration at the moment, two have recently been started including Gelndoe and the 1.4 Megawatt Innerhadden Burn scheme.
Hydrogen is a future technology.
The first Wind/Hydrogen plant is being constructed in North Ayrshire now......A 48Mw Scheme with Hydrogen Cell Plant.
When you say future Baffled, what is your definition of that, 5, 10, 15 years?
Where is the back up?
What do YOU propose Baffled?
Posted by: Wardog, Buckie on 10:39pm Mon 21 Jul 08
[quote]Scottish Government officials are currently reviewing another 36 applications for renewable energy developments, including 26 wind farms, nine hydro projects and a tidal power station.[/quote]
Scottish Government officials are currently reviewing another 36 applications for renewable energy developments, including 26 wind farms, nine hydro projects and a tidal power station.
Posted by: Luigi, Aberdeen on 11:15pm Mon 21 Jul 08
[quote]Winds of change just the start of the renewables revolution[/quote]Another fart in the face of unionism - well done FM.
Winds of change just the start of the renewables revolution
Another fart in the face of unionism - well done FM.
Posted by: Scamp on 11:37pm Mon 21 Jul 08
Wardog.... Gotta link to any info on this Wind/Hydrogen plant in North Ayrshire now......?
Ta nicely...
Wardog.... Gotta link to any info on this Wind/Hydrogen plant in North Ayrshire now......?
Ta nicely...
Posted by: Proud to be Scottish, Glasgow on 11:56pm Mon 21 Jul 08
[quote][bold]baffled[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Wardog[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]baffled[/bold] wrote: Who owns the land on which this wind farm is to be built and how much are they being paid?[/quote] Why don't you search the Register of Scotland and then speak to the various land owners instead of stinking out these forums with your negativity and pessimism with your droll questions. [/quote] Are you not interested in who is making money from this? And you have still to say where the back up is to come from when the wind isn't blowing, or is blowing too hard. [/quote] LOL
Baffled, I think you'll find that one of the next stages in Scotland's renewables program is harnessing all the hot air that emits from the Buckie area.
Government scientists having been trying locate the exact source of all this hot air - they are following a couple of lines of enquiry - the massive hot air convections seem to be most frequent around midnight every day and then first thing in the morning, secondly the convections having a particular whiff about them, reminiscent of bovine excretia, allegedly.
If this source can be tapped it could power the whole NE.
A second strategy of energy saving could also be employed. Government experts have identified a man residing in the Edinburgh area who accounts for roughly 60% of all pastry products consumed in Scotland. If this man can be persuaded to reduce his consumption to a more reasonable tray or two a day massive energy savings could be gained.
baffled wrote:
Wardog wrote: baffled wrote: Who owns the land on which this wind farm is to be built and how much are they being paid?
Why don't you search the Register of Scotland and then speak to the various land owners instead of stinking out these forums with your negativity and pessimism with your droll questions.
Are you not interested in who is making money from this? And you have still to say where the back up is to come from when the wind isn't blowing, or is blowing too hard.
LOL
Baffled, I think you'll find that one of the next stages in Scotland's renewables program is harnessing all the hot air that emits from the Buckie area.
Government scientists having been trying locate the exact source of all this hot air - they are following a couple of lines of enquiry - the massive hot air convections seem to be most frequent around midnight every day and then first thing in the morning, secondly the convections having a particular whiff about them, reminiscent of bovine excretia, allegedly.
If this source can be tapped it could power the whole NE.
A second strategy of energy saving could also be employed. Government experts have identified a man residing in the Edinburgh area who accounts for roughly 60% of all pastry products consumed in Scotland. If this man can be persuaded to reduce his consumption to a more reasonable tray or two a day massive energy savings could be gained.
Posted by: Proud to be Scottish, Glasgow on 11:57pm Mon 21 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Wardog[/bold] wrote:
[quote]Scottish Government officials are currently reviewing another 36 applications for renewable energy developments, including 26 wind farms, nine hydro projects and a tidal power station.[/quote] [/quote] Wardog
Why do you simply post exerts from the article we have all just read?
ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz
How utterly infantile you are
Wardog wrote:
Scottish Government officials are currently reviewing another 36 applications for renewable energy developments, including 26 wind farms, nine hydro projects and a tidal power station.
Wardog
Why do you simply post exerts from the article we have all just read?
ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz
How utterly infantile you are
Posted by: baffled, scotland on 12:01am Tue 22 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Scamp[/bold] wrote:
Wardog.... Gotta link to any info on this Wind/Hydrogen plant in North Ayrshire now......?
Ta nicely... [/quote]
I believe it's run by an Australian based multinational who emphasise to their shareholders how they like to derisk their ventures.
I think that means they get someone else to foot the bill if it goes tits up, though I may be wrong.
Scamp wrote:
Wardog.... Gotta link to any info on this Wind/Hydrogen plant in North Ayrshire now......?
Ta nicely...
I believe it's run by an Australian based multinational who emphasise to their shareholders how they like to derisk their ventures.
I think that means they get someone else to foot the bill if it goes tits up, though I may be wrong.
Posted by: baffled, scotland on 12:13am Tue 22 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Wardog[/bold] wrote:
baffled, scotland on 10:28pm today
[quote]There will be no more hydro stations built in the UK.[/quote]
There are eight either in the planning stages or udner consideration at the moment, two have recently been started including Gelndoe and the 1.4 Megawatt Innerhadden Burn scheme.
[quote]Hydrogen is a future technology.[/quote]
The first Wind/Hydrogen plant is being constructed in North Ayrshire now......A 48Mw Scheme with Hydrogen Cell Plant.
When you say future Baffled, what is your definition of that, 5, 10, 15 years?
[quote]Where is the back up?[/quote]
[bold]What do YOU propose Baffled?[/bold]
[/quote]
I should have said there will be no more large scale hydro stations built in the UK
This was made clear when the tunnelling was finished at Glendoe, which was the first large scale station built for 50 years.
Scotland isn't really suitable for hydro, the hills aren't high enough and there isn't enough rainfall.
The hydrogen plant is innovative and MAY provide an answer, but it's not there yet. I don't know what the time scale is.
Essentially wind power without back up is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
I would prefer to see coal fired stations being developed.
Wardog wrote:
baffled, scotland on 10:28pm today
There will be no more hydro stations built in the UK.
There are eight either in the planning stages or udner consideration at the moment, two have recently been started including Gelndoe and the 1.4 Megawatt Innerhadden Burn scheme.
Hydrogen is a future technology.
The first Wind/Hydrogen plant is being constructed in North Ayrshire now......A 48Mw Scheme with Hydrogen Cell Plant.
When you say future Baffled, what is your definition of that, 5, 10, 15 years?
Where is the back up?
What do YOU propose Baffled?
I should have said there will be no more large scale hydro stations built in the UK
This was made clear when the tunnelling was finished at Glendoe, which was the first large scale station built for 50 years.
Scotland isn't really suitable for hydro, the hills aren't high enough and there isn't enough rainfall.
The hydrogen plant is innovative and MAY provide an answer, but it's not there yet. I don't know what the time scale is.
Essentially wind power without back up is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
I would prefer to see coal fired stations being developed.
Posted by: Carlo, Inverclyde on 7:17pm Tue 22 Jul 08
"...there isn't enough rainfall..." Hahahahahahahahahaha
!!!!!!!! Try living in Greenock.
"I would prefer to see coal fired stations being developed" Quite right. That should keep the looms turning and give the wee boys something to brush out of the chimneys.
Why is everyone missing the obvious answer to "back-up"? The most constant source of back-up energy there is is [bold][italic]tidal[/italic][/bold] . Well, last time I looked, the sun and moon were still there and predicted to be there for an awful long time yet. What's more, it's a renewable, pollution-free back-up.
"...there isn't enough rainfall..." Hahahahahahahahahaha
!!!!!!!! Try living in Greenock.
"I would prefer to see coal fired stations being developed" Quite right. That should keep the looms turning and give the wee boys something to brush out of the chimneys.
Why is everyone missing the obvious answer to "back-up"? The most constant source of back-up energy there is is
tidal . Well, last time I looked, the sun and moon were still there and predicted to be there for an awful long time yet. What's more, it's a renewable, pollution-free back-up.
Posted by: scotswoman, Ayrshire on 7:38pm Tue 22 Jul 08
Clyde windfarm - capable of powering 320,000 homes ?
[bold]What about the trades description act?[/bold]
Alex, you are no saint of renewables. TOO many onshore windfarms, no security of supply. No reduction of emissions eg. in Denmark.
Why is there never any mention of 100% back-up power required which makes emission reduction claims ... a gross misrepresentation?
Wake up Alex before you destroy the best bits of Scotland. Please.
No tourists. Alex 'blinded' by the blades. It's depressing seeing vast areas of Scotland covered in these things - when you know it is all a con. Where is the balance of renewables?
Is anybody still falling for this green revolution tale. Goodbye beautiful Scotland. Goodbye SNP votes.
Clyde windfarm - capable of powering 320,000 homes ?
What about the trades description act?
Alex, you are no saint of renewables. TOO many onshore windfarms, no security of supply. No reduction of emissions eg. in Denmark.
Why is there never any mention of 100% back-up power required which makes emission reduction claims ... a gross misrepresentation?
Wake up Alex before you destroy the best bits of Scotland. Please.
No tourists. Alex 'blinded' by the blades. It's depressing seeing vast areas of Scotland covered in these things - when you know it is all a con. Where is the balance of renewables?
Is anybody still falling for this green revolution tale. Goodbye beautiful Scotland. Goodbye SNP votes.
Posted by: Audrey MacEachen, Highland on 1:17am Thu 24 Jul 08
Great news! 1 step in the right direction. The turbines are much less unsightly than the smog in other parts of the world.
Next step might be to have electric cars on the motorway fueling up at the docking stations at the motorway service stations.
Great news! 1 step in the right direction. The turbines are much less unsightly than the smog in other parts of the world.
Next step might be to have electric cars on the motorway fueling up at the docking stations at the motorway service stations.
Posted by: Vespa, Clacks on 4:12am Fri 25 Jul 08
Tidal has always seemed a good candidate to me - its predictable (unlike wind) - but does it offer the same photo-opportunities?
Tidal has always seemed a good candidate to me - its predictable (unlike wind) - but does it offer the same photo-opportunities?
News
INDEX
Comment | Read Comments (24)
