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General Discussion => Science & Nature => Topic started by: sam on December 03, 2009, 16:35

Title: For Clean Energy, Britain Looks to Sea
Post by: sam on December 03, 2009, 16:35

Quote

SKEGNESS, England - Humans have left many landmarks across central England's Lincolnshire county over the past two thousand years: Roman roads, medieval castles, World War II airfields. The newest stand three miles offshore from this beach resort town: Fifty-four massive wind turbine towers, each rising 440 feet above the North Sea - about as tall as the Great Pyramid of Giza.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=england-offshore-wind-turbine-renewable-energy

Title: Re: For Clean Energy, Britain Looks to Sea
Post by: GillE on December 03, 2009, 18:31

Anyone who knows Skeggy well will understand why it's such a good site for wind turbines!

Title: Re: For Clean Energy, Britain Looks to Sea
Post by: Clive on December 03, 2009, 18:34

They intend building a massive wind farm out to sea just off one of our best beaches.  Personally I don't have a problem with it but the locals are really up in arms about it.   :)

Title: Re: For Clean Energy, Britain Looks to Sea
Post by: sam on December 03, 2009, 20:17

Quote from: GillE on December 03, 2009, 18:31

Anyone who knows Skeggy well will understand why it's such a good site for wind turbines!

I remember childhood holidays on the beach trying to stand up there!

Title: Re: For Clean Energy, Britain Looks to Sea
Post by: Simon on December 03, 2009, 21:50

They could put one in Worthing too.  :)

Title: Re: For Clean Energy, Britain Looks to Sea
Post by: GillE on December 04, 2009, 09:28

Quote from: Clive on December 03, 2009, 18:34

They intend building a massive wind farm out to sea just off one of our best beaches.  Personally I don't have a problem with it but the locals are really up in arms about it.   :)

I like them and don't think they detract from the aesthetics of the environment at all.  I'd be quite happy to live near a wind farm.  In fact, I'd be quite happy to live near a nuclear energy plant too, so long as I got subsidised energy bills by way of compensation ;) .

Title: Re: For Clean Energy, Britain Looks to Sea
Post by: Simon on December 04, 2009, 10:22

And a free bunker?  :)

Title: Re: For Clean Energy, Britain Looks to Sea
Post by: Rik on December 04, 2009, 12:16

Quote from: GillE on December 04, 2009, 09:28

I like them and don't think they detract from the aesthetics of the environment at all.

Have to disagree with you there, Gill, the land-based ones in Scotland have spoilt some of the really beautiful wild places.

Title: Re: For Clean Energy, Britain Looks to Sea
Post by: Simon on December 04, 2009, 12:25

I can't see an argument that they are aesthetically pleasing. 

Title: Re: For Clean Energy, Britain Looks to Sea
Post by: Rik on December 04, 2009, 12:37

They are on paper, just not on mountains and moors. :)

Title: Re: For Clean Energy, Britain Looks to Sea
Post by: Simon on December 04, 2009, 13:15

True.

Title: Re: For Clean Energy, Britain Looks to Sea
Post by: sam on December 04, 2009, 14:49

Quote from: Rik on December 04, 2009, 12:16

Have to disagree with you there, Gill, the land-based ones in Scotland have spoilt some of the really beautiful wild places.

I'd still rather them than coal or nuclear power plants... I think its all about thinking were you put these things. No matter what you do you are going to annoy someone. Saying that, who gives a crap about Scotland  :devil:

Title: Re: For Clean Energy, Britain Looks to Sea
Post by: Simon on December 04, 2009, 15:07

:)x

Title: Re: For Clean Energy, Britain Looks to Sea
Post by: Clive on December 04, 2009, 16:10

It was announced in today's paper that our wind farm has been scrapped owing to it not being cost effective.   :dunno:  The local maffia wins every time! 

Title: Re: For Clean Energy, Britain Looks to Sea
Post by: Rik on December 04, 2009, 16:27

Wind farms aren't cost effective though, Clive, without the subsidies, no-one would be building them.

Title: Re: For Clean Energy, Britain Looks to Sea
Post by: sam on December 04, 2009, 18:03

Quote from: Clive on December 04, 2009, 16:10

It was announced in today's paper that our wind farm has been scrapped owing to it not being cost effective.   :dunno:  The local maffia wins every time! 

bloody busy bodies.

Title: Re: For Clean Energy, Britain Looks to Sea
Post by: sam on December 04, 2009, 18:04

Quote from: Rik on December 04, 2009, 16:27

Wind farms aren't cost effective though, Clive, without the subsidies, no-one would be building them.

I'm not sure about that - a wind farm in Alberta produces all the electricity used by the Calgary rail system... pretty nice to use "green" energy in the home of oil.

Title: Re: For Clean Energy, Britain Looks to Sea
Post by: Rik on December 04, 2009, 18:12

I think the subsidy in the UK is about 35%, Sam.