Another Bl**dy Offshore Wind Farm

[DIW]

Initial proposals have been submitted for a giant windfarm development in the Irish Sea between Anglesey and the Isle of Man.
The joint venture between Centrica and a Danish energy company could see up to 440 turbines built.
The initial proposals, involving Centrica and Dong Energy, have now been submitted to the UK Government's National Infrastructure Planning Agency.
The development, which was first announced in January 2010, would be around 14km (9 miles) from Anglesey and 34km (21 miles) from the Isle of Man.
It would feature between 147 and 440 wind turbines, and generate up to 2.2 gigawatts.

 

[Nick_H]

Initial proposals have been submitted for a giant windfarm development in the Irish Sea between Anglesey and the Isle of Man.
The joint venture between Centrica and a Danish energy company could see up to 440 turbines built.
The initial proposals, involving Centrica and Dong Energy, have now been submitted to the UK Government's National Infrastructure Planning Agency.
The development, which was first announced in January 2010, would be around 14km (9 miles) from Anglesey and 34km (21 miles) from the Isle of Man.
It would feature between 147 and 440 wind turbines, and generate up to 2.2 gigawatts.

What's wrong with offshore wind farms? 9 miles seems plenty far enough for it not be an eyesore from land or coastal anchorages. Is the problem that the whole field is closed to vessels so that it's a much longer cruise to IOM, or are you against the economics of them?

 

[Mike k]

Initial proposals have been submitted for a giant windfarm development in the Irish Sea between Anglesey and the Isle of Man.
The joint venture between Centrica and a Danish energy company could see up to 440 turbines built.
The initial proposals, involving Centrica and Dong Energy, have now been submitted to the UK Government's National Infrastructure Planning Agency.
The development, which was first announced in January 2010, would be around 14km (9 miles) from Anglesey and 34km (21 miles) from the Isle of Man.
It would feature between 147 and 440 wind turbines, and generate up to 2.2 gigawatts.

Cant think of a better place for them far out at sea imho

 

[Searush]

It does seem as tho they are smack on the route from N Wales to IoM which is a very popular cruising track - plus several cruiser races are staged thro the proposed site. But, AFAIK one is not prevented from sailing/ motoring thro wind farms & planning permission should take into account any potential hazards to navigation.

If they are lit, it would be like a highway to the Island.

Incidentally, the biggest offshore windfarm (in the world?) is already there along the Welsh & Wirral coasts, but just off any established navigation routes.

 

[DIW]

Quote - Is the problem that the whole field is closed to vessels so that it's a much longer cruise to IOM, or are you against the economics of them?
Right on both counts !

 

[Searush]

From a recent RYA survey;

The survey’s key findings were as follows:

More than 80% of you who have sailed through a wind farm had no difficulty, with almost a third of you rating the experience as pleasant.

Over 75% of you who have experienced sailing through a wind farm said you would not alter your passage plan in the future to avoid a wind farm.

Of those of you who chose to navigate around a wind farm, 50% of you said it was not because of the wind farm itself but rather that it didn’t suit your passage plan to navigate through it. A further 34% of you went around as you were either not aware you could pass through or because there was an exclusion zone preventing you from going through the wind farm due to construction or maintenance work taking place at that time.

More than two thirds of respondents said they sail through a wind farm up to five times a year, and a quarter of respondents up to 10 times a year.

So the only time you are barred from sailing thro any part of a windfarm is during construction & maintenance work when you could get in the way. There is no requirement to pass arond a windfarm, but there are restrictions about going within a certain distance of the pylons themselves, unless you are servicing them!

 

[bigwow]

From a recent RYA survey;



So the only time you are barred from sailing thro any part of a windfarm is during construction & maintenance work when you could get in the way. There is no requirement to pass arond a windfarm, but there are restrictions about going within a certain distance of the pylons themselves, unless you are servicing them!

I'd better stop slinging a rope on them at lunch time then.

 

[oldgit]

In the Cotwolds perhaps ?

If any forumites happen to know of a hundred acres of land nearby to where they live the authorities be may be prepared to site a a gas/coal/nuclear power station near you,if you ask really nicely.
Nip round to all your neighbours and start a petition now or better still get on to that No10 website thingy,a chimney or two could be visable from your back window in a few short years.
Cannot wait that long, ? three on my backdoor ,you are welcome to one(or more) of them

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

What's wrong with offshore wind farms?

They generate a tiny amount of inconsistent power, they require massive subsidies which cripple household budgets and damage UK industry and they don't even generate jobs for the UK. The turbines themselves are manufactured in somewhere like China or Germany and the offshore expertise required to plonk them in the seabed usually comes from Holland

 

[AdeOlly]

They generate a tiny amount of inconsistent power, they require massive subsidies which cripple household budgets and damage UK industry and they don't even generate jobs for the UK. The turbines themselves are manufactured in somewhere like China or Germany and the offshore expertise required to plonk them in the seabed usually comes from Holland

+1. Utter waste of money IMO. All the political talk of the UK being able to lead the world with wind technology is bollox, we missed that boat years ago.

 

[burgundyben]

They generate a tiny amount of inconsistent power, they require massive subsidies

Will this remain the case as fossil fuel engergy costs rise? (I'm assuming that will happen).

I'd rather see big investment in Nuclear.

 

[oldgit]

They generate a tiny amount of inconsistent power, they require massive subsidies which cripple household budgets and damage UK industry and they don't even generate jobs for the UK. The turbines themselves are manufactured in somewhere like China or Germany and the offshore expertise required to plonk them in the seabed usually comes from Holland

Might be the view in Midsomer but the locals in Sheerness may not agree....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-18550638

and that "massive" subsidy"

According to the regulator Ofgem, the cost of this in 2010-11 amounted to £15.15 per household per year. Just over half - £7.74 - was accounted for by wind power.

 

[yabba]

I'd rather see big investment in Nuclear

please then also deposit in advance the cost of keeping the waste safe until it's harmless. You might see that it will be a lot more governmental money down the drain. Or wait, of course, you wouldn't have to bother about that, as you won't be around in say a few thousand years... . hell, that's about the way of thinking that got us into this mess in the first place... .
Such a shame, as you gave the right answer also, maybe it's not such a bad idea investing in what the Germans and the Dutch seem to be good at, building the stuff and putting it in place... .

 

[Nick_H]

They generate a tiny amount of inconsistent power, they require massive subsidies which cripple household budgets and damage UK industry and they don't even generate jobs for the UK. The turbines themselves are manufactured in somewhere like China or Germany and the offshore expertise required to plonk them in the seabed usually comes from Holland

I'm sure you're right, but as the thread was started in the mobo forum rather than the lounge I assumed the OP thought there was either a navigational problem with them, or that they would be an eyesore when cruising.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Might be the view in Midsomer but the locals in Sheerness may not agree....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-18550638

and that "massive" subsidy"

According to the regulator Ofgem, the cost of this in 2010-11 amounted to £15.15 per household per year. Just over half - £7.74 - was accounted for by wind power.

This is a subject for the Lounge so I'm not going to respond to this here

 

[DIW]

I'm sure you're right, but as the thread was started in the mobo forum rather than the lounge I assumed the OP thought there was either a navigational problem with them, or that they would be an eyesore when cruising.

You assumed incorrectly then, the subject could apply to either forum. Why so pedantic on which forum the subject should be posted in.

 

[oldgit]

This is a subject for the Lounge so I'm not going to respond to this here

Would agree perhaps the economics are perhaps best disputed in the Lounge,as the original subject of the post was actually the location of off shore windmills.

 

[Cheekybrat]

They generate a tiny amount of inconsistent power, they require massive subsidies which cripple household budgets and damage UK industry and they don't even generate jobs for the UK. The turbines themselves are manufactured in somewhere like China or Germany and the offshore expertise required to plonk them in the seabed usually comes from Holland

definitely agree, can't believe people want them even though they do not work Still someones pocket gets lined for giving the go ahead
Nick Heath