Should we be worried about wind farms?

[Colin_S]

Got to thinking in a moment of extreem boredom (anyone who's ever painted a staircase will understand) that the growth in the number of wind farms could be the begining of the end of sailing.
It's common knowledge that the world's oil supplies are rapidly depleating so the need for alternative energy sources means it is only going to be a matter of time before the coast is surrounded by windfarms. Indeed there are 2 somewhere down by the Thames in the Thamesmead area that seem to have appeared overnight.
So my concern is, that with all these wind powered generators appearing and robbing the planet of wind, will there be enough wind left to power all your yachts?
Perhaps it's time to start a new campaign alongside the red diesel one.
Whilst on the subject, what about those wave devices for generating electricity. Anyone got a link to a decent surfers forum?
I'm off to write to my MP right now!

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[rjp]

Well I don't know about them using up all the wind, but I reckon you won't be able to sail anywhere without hitting one of the ugly great brutes! Not only that, but all the energy needed to produce all that steel and concrete will mean we'll run out of fossil fuels even faster.

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[BrendanS]

<GROAN>

Robbing the planet of wind indeed? Have you ever had your IQ measured? Just a thought?



<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni

 

[halcyon]

There was a report on local radio about test tidal unit on Norh coast around Bude.
Tidal has the advantage that it's below the water, we know when and how the tide will flow, and the time and rate varies as you move along the coast, giving constant power.


Brian

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[MainlySteam]

Want to have a picnic - it starts raining.
Want some rain to water the garden - and the sun shines.
Want to go sailing and the wind drops or howls.
Put up a wind farm and the wind disappears.

Obvious really, I would have thought?

John

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[ongolo]

There will be more wind with the global warming. Its simple. Weather is just energy. More heat, more energy more wind, more storms.

Tip. Stay to windward and stop the turbine with your sails, but then the windfarm owners will start a campiagn to stop sailing. Can you guess who will win?

Besides, when oil is finished as fuel, plasics in all forms and lubricants are also disappearing and you will stop sailing anyway.

Yes it is possible to run a diesel on sunflower oil, have never heard a diesel lubricated by bird seed.

regards ongolo

<hr width=100% size=1>So what......... it floats

 

[TrueBlue]

Quote:have never heard a diesel lubricated by bird seed. EndQuote


Perish the thought that I might be nitpicking BUT what about Castrol R (OK it was for racing engines) but it was made from the Castor Oil plant??

While we're there, what are modern synthetic engime oils made from?

I'll go away now.

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Stop what you're doing and wait my signal

 

[boatless]

Doh - it's obvious innit? Once tidal and wave power are on stream you use them to drive the wind turbines at consant 15 Kts, once true wind exceeds that you switch them back to generating.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[cameronke]

Hi Mike

Isn't ricin also made from the castor oil plant.

OOps is that Echellon stiiring....wait who's that at the door?

Regards
Cameron



<hr width=100% size=1>Work to live, live to sail

 

[Jacket]

Funny you should say that. Recently spent a couple of weeks working in Scotland near a wind farm. I noticed that at times that some of them were rotating "backwards" given the orientation the blades were set at at the time.

Eventually realised that given the national grid is a balancing act, where the power going in must match the power being used, and yet any sudden changes in demand must be met instantaneously, they were running some of the turbines as motors to use up some of the excess electricity (presumably being generated by some of the other turbines in the farm). If there is a sudden change in demand for electricity (commercial break in Corronation street?) they can simply reorientate the blades in the turbines running backwards and start running them as generators.

Quite clever, I thought.

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[Neraida]

Yup, and apparently they immediately cut the power to the motoring "units" and the momentum generates the power to reset the blades! Blummin clever IMHO.

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[Moose]

Perhaps we should blockade the Medina so Mr Bladerunner 1 and Mr Bladerunner 2 can't get to their berths!


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[Andrew_Fanner]

Back to nuclear, almost the only thing the French have ever got right, apart from wine making...

<hr width=100% size=1>Two beers please, my friend is paying.

 

[Gordonmc]

Taking some non-sailing guests to a marina party I was asked by one of the ladies why many of the boats had propellors on the back.
Not quite quick-as-a-flash I replied that the aforesaid vessels were saily-boats which rely on the wind to get from A to B. Having reached B they need to stop, so the driver switches on the propellers for reverse thrust.
Same theory?

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[mirabriani]

So, to ensure I am able to visit my yacht after fossil fuels run out I should be thinking about dusting down my sand yacht (not used since it tipped me out and broke my ribs) Yes, Ha! How will Gordon tax that?
See also Low Impact Living Initiative for make your own diesel etc.
Aaaagh! I'm going green!
Briani

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[kds]

I just worry about the effect of all those propellors facing South-West (usually, in this part of the World) and rotating. There will surely be the same effect as on an aeroplane. Either .... the rotation of the planet will be slowed down giving us longer days and nights ... Or we will be dragged closer to America (G.. F..... ) !
Ken

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[EdEssery]

I hope the gearbox drive splines weren't designed by Volvo...

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[Nickel]

.......and cheese, oh and their willingness to say 'Non!' to GeowgeW

<hr width=100% size=1>Nickel

Being paranoid simply means - having all the facts.

 

[Colin_S]

"Taking some non-sailing guests to a marina party I was asked by one of the ladies why many of the boats had propellors on the back.
Not quite quick-as-a-flash I replied that the aforesaid vessels were saily-boats which rely on the wind to get from A to B. Having reached B they need to stop, so the driver switches on the propellers for reverse thrust."

Is that what they are for? I thought they were for when there was no wind. Don't you just switch them on to blow the yachts forward?


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[Peppermint]

Re: Bloody things

There's more to pollution than particulates and greenhouse gases. Blighting the countryside with ugly great windmills is pollution too. They are eyesores and noisy.

Surprise surprise HMG is unlikely to reach it's renewable energy targets using wind farms. They are costing more to install and more to maintain than was estimated.

I'd reckon you could get a couple set up in the Palace of Westminster plenty of wind there.

At ground level a wind shadow footprint can extend at least 10 times a structures height away from the said structure they are potentialy going to create some interesting sailing conditions for about a kilometre downwind of the offshore farms.

They're big, ugly, noisy and ineffective but they are obvious. Ministers can point at them and say "look how hard we're trying to be green" all the while ignoring the fact that a more balanced approach that includes fossil fuels, renewables, nuclear and energy conservation is required.

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