World's Largest Windfarm Gets Approval
by Matthew Sparkes, London, UK on 10. 5.07
A new wind farm, 90 square miles large, has been approved for construction off the coast of the UK. If built, it will become the largest offshore wind farm in the world, which should make all UK Tree Huggers proud.
It will hopefully be built off the coast of Kent, and should be powering a massive 25% of London homes by 2010. However, large cost increases could still threaten the project. The original estimate of £1.5 billion ($3 billion) has since risen to £2 billion ($4 billion) and the project is currently in the tendering process. "We are now in the middle of the tendering process and we will be in a position to give the green light - or not - in the second half of next year," said an Eon spokesperson.
Unfortunately, as is often the case with wind farms, the planning was affected by NIMBYism. The local council and residents voted against the scheme, and te RSPB lodged a complaint that the turbines could threaten birds that occasionally winter in the area, but thankfully the project overcame this. If it can also overcome the financial issues, then this will become a really exciting and important project.
Eon is also already running a wind farm off of Great Yarmouth (near where I grew up), and is in the middle of a £1 billion spending programme on sustainable power sources. The turbines in that area don't make any noise that is audible from the coast, look quite attractive and case no significant problems at all. Let's hope that this plan succeeds too. ::The Guardian ::Picture Source
Why don't any of these designs include wave energy at the base too?
Probably because unlike wind turbines, wave generators aren't off the shelf technology yet. You can't buy what nobody builds!
I don't get the NIMBYs. I think those things are cool looking. They provide structure for the fish, and you can't hear them from the shore. Are these people really so oblivious to the national advantages?
he he I like the way it says
''RSPB lodged a complaint that the turbines could threaten birds that occasionally winter in the area, but thankfully the project overcame this"
die birds die!
as long as humanity survives who cares?
With a wind farm like this comes an exclusion zone for ships including fishing boats.These can be safe areas for fish that can breed there and help replenish fish stocks......
wow kristinnsky, is it true that those areas are off limits to fishermen? do you have links? it makes sense that the boats nets a cannot get in there but i would think the groups promoting this project would capitalize of that benefit.
one question, how high off the water are the blades at their lowest point? if a storm hits with high waves could the blades be damaged?