Renew On Line (UK) 29

Extracts from the Nov-Dec 2000 edition of Renew
These extracts only represent about 25% of it

UK Wind keeps going

Local planning disputes over wind farms are still continuing around the UK. For example, as the EWEA’s journal Wind Direction (Sept) reported, a 39MW National Wind Power wind farm project in N. Wales, which had won planning approval from the local council, with a 19-2 vote in favour, was, at the last minute, called in for a public inquiry - which the developers estimate will cost them a years delay and £100,000 to fight- with the outcome uncertain.

Nevertheless, the UK wind programme is still struggling on. Following its very successful project at Swaffam, Next Gen has put up another 1.5 MW Enercon machine at nearby Great Yarmouth.

And, as noted earlier, Scottish Power is installing 20 Vestas machines at Hare Hill in Ayeshire - with the non-SRO subsidised power being destined for direct sale to the green power retail market. There’s also talk of a Vesta factory being located in Scotland.

Meanwhile, work is underway installing the two 2MW Vestas machines off-shore at Blyth Harbour in Northumbria. So it’s not all bad news.