Could wind farms become prohibited areas?

[WoodyP]

When flying in to Stansted you go over the windfarms, and it looks like Milton Keynes being built on a grid. I hate them because instead of the freedom of an open ocean you are going through an industrial wasteland.
The sooner we have abundant Nuclear to produce hydrogen, the better, imo.

 

[Daverw]

Go through them a few times each year, can be a bit shifty though and when in the middle they seem to on for ever and it’s easy to get disoriented, more room inside than you think, looking up at workers on the top as you go past is nteresting and the blade noise is spooky

 

[Stemar]

My consolation is that in a few hundred years time there won’t be much left, though some fishermen might need to be careful, not that there will be any fish.

Unless our beloved leaders get their collective fingers out, there'll be plenty of fish, but no fishermen - or anyone much else, for that matter.

 

[burgundyben]

Interesting. I've recently been through one of the Liverpool wind farms, we had very close proximity to a number of turbines. I noticed a number of out of action turbines , one turbine with a missing blade and a couple of other turbines without blades altogether. We did wonder if there was storm damage.

Quite possibly, blades are engineered to survive within specific limits.

 

[burgundyben]

There has been one damaged blade on one turbine that hasn't been repaired for a couple of years.

Interesting. In general the turbines are engineered for a 20 year life. Cost of replacing a blade is huge, (offshore blades dont generally go on the road, too long, so its all build and paint by the waterfront then barges and ships) there must be a point where its not economically viable to do it, although I dont know where in the 20 year life that point might be.

 

[savageseadog]

Being able to see first hand what's involved with installing and maintaining offshore turbines is instructive. It's very clear that offshore wind power is colossally expensive.

 

[burgundyben]

Being able to see first hand what's involved with installing and maintaining offshore turbines is instructive. It's very clear that offshore wind power is colossally expensive.

But its cheaper than nuclear.

 

[Boathook]

But its cheaper than nuclear.

But no wind equals no power, so makes nuclear a good viable option at present, even with a 10 year build time.

 

[dansaskip]

Here is a short video of motor sailing through Foulgers Gat - London Array wind farm, if you want to catch an idea what it is like to pass through a wind farm.

 

[[70521]]

They do make navigation easy.

 

[TLouth7]

They do make navigation easy.

You can now get from Harwich to Ijmuiden without ever being out of sight of a windfarm or gas platform, so in good visibility you don't even need GPS and can navigate across on visual fixes.

On the other hand they add significant visual clutter especially at night. I once made a picture to illustrate the challenge. Spot the ship

 

[[70521]]

You can now get from Harwich to Ijmuiden without ever being out of sight of a windfarm or gas platform, so in good visibility you don't even need GPS and can navigate across on visual fixes.

On the other hand they add significant visual clutter especially at night. I once made a picture to illustrate the challenge. Spot the ship

That's not been my experience of them. Lots of white lights at about five meters above sea level. Looked like your local high street.

 

[Tamar]

I note that the aircraft I've flown in on survey operations in the polar regions have a black line painted on the fuselage to indicate the plane of the propeller disc. I don't like the idea of being in line with the propeller disc, either.

Watching Ice Pilots on TV gave me the impression that this area was reinforced.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Watching Ice Pilots on TV gave me the impression that this area was reinforced.

It may be, but there's certainly no external reinforcement, and nothing is visible internally. However, it's roughly in line with the bulkhead behind the cockpit on Twin Otters.

 

[Pete7]

Unless our beloved leaders get their collective fingers out, there'll be plenty of fish, but no fishermen - or anyone much else, for that matter.

Surely an opportunity for small fish to seek shelter from the tide as they do around the Nab tower. Perhaps even a nursery protected from big trawlers. Noticed a similar occurrence off Brunei were small oil rigs are abound every mile or so.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Surely an opportunity for small fish to seek shelter from the tide as they do around the Nab tower. Perhaps even a nursery protected from big trawlers. Noticed a similar occurrence off Brunei were small oil rigs are abound every mile or so.

Yes, I've wondered if they would become fish sanctuaries.

 

[westhinder]

Yes, I've wondered if they would become fish sanctuaries.

First studies seem to indicate that is the case to a certain extent. The bases of the turbines act as artificial reefs and provide a good habitat for mussels, oysters and cockles and it is expected that these in turn encourage whole ecosystems

 

[Ceirwan]

Interesting. I've recently been through one of the Liverpool wind farms, we had very close proximity to a number of turbines. I noticed a number of out of action turbines , one turbine with a missing blade and a couple of other turbines without blades altogether. We did wonder if there was storm damage.

Possibly, or wear & tear.
Like anything with moving parts these things wear out.

Normally every summer there is a blade campaign to inspect for any defects or problems.
It may be expensive, but so is pretty much everything else as well, I believe 2023 is the target for subsidy free Offshore Wind.

And really the subsidies are something of a red herring, because we massively subsidise oil & gas as well.

 

[savageseadog]

Possibly..................
And really the subsidies are something of a red herring, because we massively subsidise oil & gas as well.

Really? Sounds like Extinction rebellions propaganda to me.

 

[Ceirwan]

Really? Sounds like Extinction rebellions propaganda to me.

Can't tell if you're trolling or just ignorant.

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