Scotland

SSE and Centrica have Cancelled Economically Unfeasible Big Wind Projects! Check this out!

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Funding boost will help fuel SSE joint venture

Thursday 28 August 2014
 

A JOINT venture between energy giant SSE and Intelligent Energy which is developing technology to change the way domestic energy is generated and consumed has received £800,000 in fresh funding.

 

Bellshill-based IE-CHP will use the latest funds from its backers, which also include the Scottish Investment Bank, to develop its mini power station or smart power unit prototype.

It says the fuel cell technology, which works alongside existing heating systems, has the potential to reduce the fuel bills of millions of home owners.

The technology takes mains gas and converts it into hydrogen, which is then fed into a hydrogen fuel cell stack. The cell then acts like a mini power station by converting the hydrogen into low-cost electrical power and heat, which can be used in the home.

IE-CHP technical director Mark Bugler, who hopes to start rolling out the technology in 18 months, said the latest funds will allow it “to finish some of the development work we are doing”.

He noted: “We’ve got some political lobbying to do to get a fuller understanding really of the potential for fuel cells. Certainly on the technology side, it [the funding] helps.

“This is really the start of the journey to get the whole of the UK excited about the potential for what ultimately is the best form of using a gas in a chemical process, rather than burning it.”

The funding boost, which takes the total raised by IE-CHP to £5 million, coincides with research suggesting the installation of millions of mini power stations could transform the UK power market.

A report by Ecuity, the energy analyst, claimed the roll out of five million fuel cell smart power units across the UK by 2030 would generate annual energy bill savings of £1000 for five million consumers.

It is understood smart units are significantly more efficient than power stations, where energy is lost through production and transmission. More than 80,000 smart power units have been installed in Japan, which plans to roll out 5.3 million by 2030 as it replaces nuclear power with fuel cells.

Mr Bugler said: “We see this as part of the UK energy mix for the future. At the moment you have got centralised power stations, which generate electricity at less than 50 per cent efficiency.

“By decentralising power and putting power stations at the homes, rather than centrally in the country, you avoid all the emissions plus all the losses and extra cost of upgrading and maintaining the network.”

He added: “SSE and Centrica have announced cancellation of their big wind farms because the economics don’t stack up. There will have to be some other low carbon technology which replaces that. We think fuel cells is probably that technology.”

Governments the World Over, Try to Evade Responsibility for Harming Citizens with Wind Turbines!

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From Scotland: Turbines and the health risk

by ashbee2

The Herald Scotland — 13 August 2014
I WAS interested in the Scottish Government’s response to the Winds for Justice concerns about the health implications of wind turbines on those living in close proximity to them (“Protesters fight wind farms on grounds of health”, The Herald, August 11) when it said there was “no clear evidence of a causal link between the operation of wind turbines and adverse health effects”.

I WAS interested in the Scottish Government’s response to the Winds for Justice concerns about the health implications of wind turbines on those living in close proximity to them (\”Protesters fight wind farms on grounds of health\”, The Herald, August 11) when it said there was \”no clear evidence of a causal link between the operation of wind turbines and adverse health effects\”.
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In April, 2012, The British Medical Journal reviewed the consequences of wind turbine noise and available evidence and concluded at that stage that “wind turbine noise seems to affect health adversely and an independent review of evidence is needed”.

With the thousands of wind turbines already in operation in Scotland and many thousands more planned, the health implications should be of concern to the Scottish Government and at least until further studies and review of the evidence, as suggested by the British Medical Journal, no more should be constructed within two kilometres of homes.

The Scottish Government was made aware at the time of the BMJ article but chose not to take it on board.

Dr James Weir,

Glenlora Cottage,

Lochwinnoch.

Scottish Government Rejects Appeals for 2 Wind Projects….Sanity Returning?

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Shawpark & Brunta Hill wind farm appeals rejected

Despite an appeal by PNE Wind UK, two proposed wind farms in the Scottish Borders have been rejected by the Scottish Government.

Wind Farm Appeals Rejected - Westruther 

The planned wind farms at Shawpark near Stow  and Brunta Hill near Westruther (with a total of 17 turbines) was initially rejected by Scottish Borders Council. PNE Wind UK, as expected, declined to accept this ruling and raised an appeal knowing that the odds were in their favour as, historically, most appeals have been upheld.

This time, however, the result of the Scottish Government reporter’s examination has been the ruling that the plans for both schemes have been turned down.

Councillors refused the Brunta Hill development due to its “significant and unacceptable” impact on the area and, fortunately, the Scottish Government has agreed the wind farm locations were inconsistent with the local development plan.

Commenting on behalf of PNE Wind UK, Gemma Hamilton project development manager, said the company was “extremely disappointed” by the decision.

At least this section of the Borders can still lay claim to having the Southern Upland Way as a tourist attraction…………… Rather than the Southern Turbine Way that exists to the west.  I am very happy to see that these wind farms have been refused along with the other recent refusals in the Borders but I have to ask why there have been no successes of this kind in Dumfries and Galloway.  Is it that D&G are too far away from Edinburgh and not on any of the scenic access routes to the capitol?  Answers on a postcard please………………….

Scotland’s Tories Smart Enough to Know That a Larger Setback is Required!

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Tories insist no wind turbines within 2km of homes

Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson.

 

The party warns that turbine numbers in Scotland will rise to more than 5,000 as the SNP moves ahead with plans to generate all of Scotland’s electricity from green energy sources like wind, wave and hydro.

The Nationalist government says it backs two-thirds of local decisions on turbines and the renewables industry provides “essential jobs and investment”.

However, Tory leader Ruth Davidson will say: “It is not fair that anyone should have to live in the shadow of a turbine.

“The SNP may think it’s acceptable to plaster the countryside with windfarms, spoiling the scenery, but the least it could do is offer some kind of quality control on the policy.

“Invoking the two kilometre limit would simply be enforcing the rules that are there, but in too many cases have been ignored.”

Local planning guidelines suggest a two kilometre distance, but this is repeatedly ignored.

The Scottish Conservatives will call on the SNP to ensure legislation is properly enforced to better protect the value of people’s homes. The plan would apply only to new turbines, not those already built.

The Tories will unveil an energy policy titled Power And Responsibility. They will say the Government has “overshot” its own energy targets years early, and could be producing up to 134 per cent of electricity for renewable sources before long.

The party will also urge ministers to carry out a rigid health assessment of turbines to reassure communities living nearby.

There are an estimated 1,996 operational turbines across Scotland, a figure expected to rise to 3,295 once those already given consent come into operation.

A further 1,873 are in planning, meaning Scotland could have a combined total of 5,168 turbines in coming years, not including those yet to be submitted to planners.

An inquiry by Holyrood’s economy committee earlier this year found there was no “robust” evidence that windfarms were a threat to the tourism industry, as suggested by US tycoon Donald Trump, who criticised an offshore development adjacent to his Aberdeenshire golf resort.

The Government said it has “yet to receive any credible, peer-reviewed evidence that wind turbines adversely impact health” even though studies have found that industrial turbine developments “disturbed the sleep and caused daytime sleepiness and impaired mental health in residents living within 1.4km”.