Will yet another wind farm here " save
the planet " or will the Government's carbon trading scheme simply line state coffers at your expense?
the planet " or will the Government's carbon trading scheme simply line state coffers at your expense?
Claims that wind farms are needed to alieviate "climate change" ( the euphenism for " global warming" ) and so save the world just do not stack up.
World temperatures have not increased since the El Nino event of 1998 and over the last seven years have actually declined to where they were in 1995.
IPCC computer modelling of climate change is in doubt. Many AGW scientists have now put off any increase in warming for another decade, citing natural factors. The minute amounts of the trace gas CO2 in the atmosphere, while increasing, do not appear to have any measurable effect on the world's climate. Just 3-4% of the CO2 added to the atmosphere annually is generated by human activity, the rest is from natural and uncontrollable sources. Compelling arguments against catastrophic warming are emerging, it is an ongoing debate. For opposing views see.NZ scientist Professor Bob Carter talking sense on climate change - video.
also a 4 part video examining Science & social aspects of climate change
Many more here.
The eco-news website "Climate Debate Daily" http://climatedebatedaily.com/ is very useful as it presents the information in two columns. The LHS is "Calls to Action" which is predominantly global warming hysteria and dross, while the RHS is "Dissenting Voices" which is predominantly serious and reliable climate change information. Both sides are added to at the average rate of one new article per day.
El Ninos, La Ninas, Australian droughts and the climate.
http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/newsradio/audio/20080707-franks.mp3
Did anyone listen or did vested interests rule the day ?
Did anyone listen or did vested interests rule the day ?
DomPost Thursday, 10 April 2008Climate change forecasts 'invalid' - researcher
Karori researcher Kersten Green has told MPs there was no need to pass the Government's Climate Change (Emissions Trade and Renewable Preference) Bill -- because global warming forecasts are unscientific.
Dr Green, the author of a peer-reviewed paper auditing the forecasting methods of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), opposed the bill because he claimed it was based on "invalid climate forecasts".
He told Parliament's finance select committee that authors of the IPCC fourth assessment report provided sufficient information to observe predic tions violated 72 of 89 accepted principles of forecasting. There was insufficient information to judge how closely a further 51 principles had been followed.
"Some individual principles that were violated are so important that violation of any one of them alone invalidates the IPCC's forecasts," he said.
These IPCC forecasts drew on six years of research by 2500 scientists from more than 130 countries, and said global warming was "unequivocal" with human activity more than 90 percent likely to blame for an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide, to 379 parts per million (ppm), up from 280ppm before the Industrial Revolution.
They warned that by 2050, there is very likely to be loss of high-value land, faster road deterioration, degraded beaches, and reduced farm and forestry production in southern and southeastern Australia and parts of eastern New Zealand. The w armer temperatures and decreasing water resources would increase the burden of some diseases, and global sea levels would rise 59cm this century.
Professor Scott Armstrong, of Pennsylvania University -- who wrote the global warming forecast audit with Dr Green -- put in a written submission to the committee, claiming they had been unable to find a single "scientific" forecast of global warming.
Dr Green, the author of a peer-reviewed paper auditing the forecasting methods of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), opposed the bill because he claimed it was based on "invalid climate forecasts".
He told Parliament's finance select committee that authors of the IPCC fourth assessment report provided sufficient information to observe predic tions violated 72 of 89 accepted principles of forecasting. There was insufficient information to judge how closely a further 51 principles had been followed.
"Some individual principles that were violated are so important that violation of any one of them alone invalidates the IPCC's forecasts," he said.
These IPCC forecasts drew on six years of research by 2500 scientists from more than 130 countries, and said global warming was "unequivocal" with human activity more than 90 percent likely to blame for an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide, to 379 parts per million (ppm), up from 280ppm before the Industrial Revolution.
They warned that by 2050, there is very likely to be loss of high-value land, faster road deterioration, degraded beaches, and reduced farm and forestry production in southern and southeastern Australia and parts of eastern New Zealand. The w armer temperatures and decreasing water resources would increase the burden of some diseases, and global sea levels would rise 59cm this century.
Professor Scott Armstrong, of Pennsylvania University -- who wrote the global warming forecast audit with Dr Green -- put in a written submission to the committee, claiming they had been unable to find a single "scientific" forecast of global warming.
" The precautionary principle argues that uncertainty is a basis for action; if one lacks knowledge, then some action should be taken—just in case. This happens when interest groups identify an issue that can help them to achieve their ends. If the interest group is successful in lobbying for an issue, politics replaces science, and government dictates follow. It brings to mind the slogan on the Ministry of Truth building in George Orwell’s 1984: “Ignorance is Strength.”We believe that proper scientific principles will lead to better decisions than will political principles, and that people will be better off if politicians have the courage to resist calls to action when uncertainty is high."
The latest paper from Dr Green (December 29 2008 ) shredding IPCC forecasts.
"Averaged over all horizons, IPCC errors were more than seven times greater than errors from the benchmark. Relative errors were larger for longer forecast and backcast horizons."
Benchmark forecasts for climate change:
Dr Green's web site.
http://kestencgreen.com/
----------------------------------
A comprehensive demolition of global warming fears and emissions trading.
VISCOUNT MONCKTON GIVES SENATOR McCAIN A LESSON ON CLIMATE CHANGE
In this 4-part link, Viscount Monckton, in an open letter to US presidential candidate Senator John McCain, treats the Republican candidate to a longish but very readable, and convincing lesson on the whole issue of "global warming" and emissions trading, which ought to be required reading for politicians everywhere. When you get to the end of each section, click on "Continue reading" to take you to the next section.
In this 4-part link, Viscount Monckton, in an open letter to US presidential candidate Senator John McCain, treats the Republican candidate to a longish but very readable, and convincing lesson on the whole issue of "global warming" and emissions trading, which ought to be required reading for politicians everywhere. When you get to the end of each section, click on "Continue reading" to take you to the next section.
A personal journey from an AGW believer to confirmed sceptic with very detailed supporting evidence.
http://www.greenworldtrust.org.uk/Science/Curious.htm
Check out the latest world temperature graphs.
Check out the latest world temperature graphs.
All four of the world’s major surface temperature data sets show seven years of global cooling.
The world has never seen such freezing heat
Politics and the economic " climate "
See the third comment in this post where Bryan Leyland argues against the Emissions Trading Scheme in an article published in the Dominion Post 11/11/2008
Pre-industrial CO2 levels were about the same as today. How and why we are told otherwise?By Dr. Tim Ball Wednesday, December 10, 2008 ( linked here with the express approval of the author )
There’s a lot of rich people backing this cause
A former lawyer for Enron, shocked to discover that his main job would be to help draft a global warming treaty, tells spiked that censorship and conformism are preventing proper investigation of climate change hysteria.See the fourth comment in this post for the full expose.
See the fifth comment for the unabridged version of this article published 8/12/2008 in the Dominion Post or click the link above.
The media is doing a poor job of reporting on climate change. Here is one recent example 10.12/2008 in the Guardian.
The Skeptics Handbook.
The Boston Globe examines climate facts.
Whatever your views on this subject a wind farm in our water supply and dominating our city will not make a scrap of difference to the climate but will certainly ruin our local environment and exacerbate the general decline in property values and saleability throughout the city.
Geographic spread needed
Wind farms in the pipeline greatly exceed projected national electricity demand. Many more wind farms are proposed for Wharite, the Puketoi ranges and a very large one between Linton and Shannon.
Placing too many turbines in the Manawatu increases generating inflexibility. They have to be spread geographically to overcome intermittency and increase reliabilty. This will not be achieved by errecting more turbines in the Manawatu.
Placing too many turbines in the Manawatu increases generating inflexibility. They have to be spread geographically to overcome intermittency and increase reliabilty. This will not be achieved by errecting more turbines in the Manawatu.
Exciting new developments are waiting in the wings.
NZ Herald April 15, 2008
Green light for Cook Strait energy generator trial
Approval has been given for a marine energy trial in Cook Strait, which the project's backers believe has the potential to provide more than the country's current generation capacity.
Neptune Power has been granted resource consent for an experimental turbine capable of producing 1MW of power in 80m of water 4.5km off the south coast of Wellington.
Chris Bathurst, a director of the two-year-old Christchurch company, said installation of the tidal stream turbine could begin next summer.
"When we first started this people said it wasn't technically possible. Then they said the fishermen would never allow it."
But Bathurst said when the plan was outlined in meetings with stakeholders, including fishing groups and Forest & Bird, objections were overcome.
Greater Wellington Regional Council's approval of the trial last week was "big news", he said.
Bathurst, an engineer, and Neptune co-director David Beach, a physicist, have been working on the project for three years.
Bathurst's calculations suggest there is enough tidal movement in Cook Strait to generate 12GW of power, more than one-and-a-half times New Zealand's present generation capacity.
But tapping that energy would cost billions of dollars.
Neptune isn't disclosing financial details of the project, except to say technology providers and electricity network companies will be given first options to invest.
Bathurst would like up to a third of the value of the venture to be open to public investment.
An "awful lot of people" had already expressed interest, including a potential investor from China who emailed Bathurst within hours of resource consent being granted. Neptune is confident of the economics of the Cook Strait project, and will use the experimental turbine to study effects on marine life and the general seabed ecology.
A condition of the resource consent, granted for 10 years, is that Neptune submit an annual report to the council based on its observations. With the turbine in 80m of water, lack of sunlight will mean marine growth won't be an issue.
Neptune has been talking to lines company Vector about making use of the trial turbine's power - enough for about 500 homes.SEA POWER
* Installation of a $10m tidal stream turbine in Cook Strait could begin next summer.
Neptune Power has been granted resource consent for an experimental turbine capable of producing 1MW of power in 80m of water 4.5km off the south coast of Wellington.
Chris Bathurst, a director of the two-year-old Christchurch company, said installation of the tidal stream turbine could begin next summer.
"When we first started this people said it wasn't technically possible. Then they said the fishermen would never allow it."
But Bathurst said when the plan was outlined in meetings with stakeholders, including fishing groups and Forest & Bird, objections were overcome.
Greater Wellington Regional Council's approval of the trial last week was "big news", he said.
Bathurst, an engineer, and Neptune co-director David Beach, a physicist, have been working on the project for three years.
Bathurst's calculations suggest there is enough tidal movement in Cook Strait to generate 12GW of power, more than one-and-a-half times New Zealand's present generation capacity.
But tapping that energy would cost billions of dollars.
Neptune isn't disclosing financial details of the project, except to say technology providers and electricity network companies will be given first options to invest.
Bathurst would like up to a third of the value of the venture to be open to public investment.
An "awful lot of people" had already expressed interest, including a potential investor from China who emailed Bathurst within hours of resource consent being granted. Neptune is confident of the economics of the Cook Strait project, and will use the experimental turbine to study effects on marine life and the general seabed ecology.
A condition of the resource consent, granted for 10 years, is that Neptune submit an annual report to the council based on its observations. With the turbine in 80m of water, lack of sunlight will mean marine growth won't be an issue.
Neptune has been talking to lines company Vector about making use of the trial turbine's power - enough for about 500 homes.SEA POWER
* Installation of a $10m tidal stream turbine in Cook Strait could begin next summer.
* Cook Strait has the potential to generate 1.5 times NZ's total existing generation capacity, Neptune Power says.
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The city is built on a flood plain. The foothills, a sensible place to build, has three main elements, housing, a city water supply and an ecologically sensitive reserve.
These uses are not compatible with a massive industrial installation.
The Tararua ranges and foothills south of the Pahiatua track to Linton provide not only a landscape of very high regional importance but also a safe, flood free area for residential and rural residential development. There are already 2,004 dwellings ( 2006 census ) on the Summerhill side of the bridge from Aokautere to Linton and development is continuing apace. The city is built on a flood plain. Wind farm development on the ranges behind the city will have very adverse effects on future development and on the property and amenity values of those who live there currently ( 7,542 - 2006 census , that's 10 % of the city's population )
Natural hazards and the location of Palmerston North.
Sound reasons why a wind farm within the city boundary , in our water supply and in a rapidly developing secure residential area ,contradicts basic risk management strategy and is a foolish idea. The foothills of the Tararua ranges behind Palmerston North are quickly developing as a residential area. Their backdrop is the Turitea Reserve which forms part of what is acknowledged by Horizons as a landscape of regional importance. Palmerson North city is for the most part built upon the flood plain of the Manawatu River. Extensive earth works have been undertaken over the recent past to secure as best as is possible a large area of very valuable real estate from a catastrophic flood. The late summer floods of 2004 demonstrated once more how vulnerable the Manawatu is to a significant rainfall event. Had the weather system dumped its rain just 20 -30 kms eastwood the city would have been in danger
There have been catastrophic floods and storms in the past which predate "global warming" and which if they were to occur again today would put the city at risk. Manawatu-Whanganui could be up to 20% wetter with more varied rainfall patterns and flooding could become up to four times as frequent by 2070 according to one AGW projection.
Cyclone Bola caused extensive flood and wind damage in March 1988, and Cyclone Gisele sank the Wahine in April 1968. They were both examples of decaying tropical cyclones. So too was the great storm of February 1936, which has largely fallen from popular memory, but was arguably the most damaging storm to strike New Zealand in the last 100 years. Palmerston North was hardest hit. Houses lost roofs, chimneys were blown over, and the grand stands of the A&P Association, the Awapuni Racecourse,and the sports grounds were demolished. A man was killed when he was blown off his roof as he was trying to repair it. Hoardings, fences, and brick walls were blown over. Twenty-eight trees came down over the main power lines in a 120 metre stretch of road. The Manawatu River rose five metres and flooded theTaonui Basin, turning it into an inland sea. A train was derailed near Makerua, just south of Palmerston North. The last two carriages and the guards van were caught by a gust of wind and thrown down a bank into the Makerua swamp. Empty railway wagons on sidings at Levin and Linton were blown over and the small railway station at Karere was destroyed. Fallen trees blocked the line between Levin and Otaki,and passengers had to cut through them with axes before trains could pass. At Longburn, the Anglican church was demolished and scattered over the road and railwayline. A horse on a nearby farm was cut in half by a flying sheet of corrugated iron. The Feilding Aero Club hanger was blown away and the two planes inside it destroyed.
The huge floods of 1880, 1897, 1902, were they to occur today would be a disaster for the city as the forest cover and swamps which existed at the time to slow the passage of the water no longer exist. So the danger of floods is one compelling reason for developing the Tararua foothills for residential purposes.
The other factor to take into account is the vulnerability of the city to earthquakes. Much of the soil in the lower lying areas is river silt which is particularly prone to liquefaction. PNCC has identified a number of buildings which are potentially a significant risk. Earthquakes are a given in this part of New Zealand and the " silent " earthquake which occurred in 2004 -5 lowered the Manawatu by up to 30 mm. This occurred without any one knowing it. Here is what was reported in the local newspaper.The Manawatu and Wanganui regions are sinking, according to GNS Science.At the plate boundary far below the earth's surface, the region is about 350mm lower than it was two years ago, Hugh Cowan, research manager at the Earthquake Commission said. The slip at surface level is between 10mm and 30mm, he told nzherald.co.nz. The land around Ashhurst, Wanganui and Dannevirke slipped very gradually between January 2004 and June 2005 as a result of "silent quakes", the Manawatu Standard reported. It would require an earthquake of magnitude 7 to cause the slip in a few seconds, the scientists said. Manawatu-Wanganui region emergency manager Mark Harrison said the slip reported in the latest Earthquake Commission newsletter Ru Whenua highlights the need to be prepared for an emergency. "This is a timely reminder that we live in a very hazardous region of New Zealand," he said.NZPA snipurl.com/15gw5
Altering Natural Events
earthquakes have been made in USA.
The main problem with this approach is that the measures are far from reliable. For example, embankments (stop-banks) in New Zealand may prevent floods of moderate size and frequency, but sooner or later they are breached and/or overtopped when a major flood occurs, as at Paeroa, 1981; Mataura 1978; Opotiki, 1964; Whakatane 2004, Manawatu 2004; and many other places. In the meantime, stopbanks encourage intensification of human settlement in the path of the eventual flood.This problem is illustrated in Figure 8 for the area in Palmerston North affected by flooding from the Mangaone Stream. See page 12
The cross-section through Mangaone Stream shows the way in which stop-banks have enlarged and the stream artificially deepened in response to each major flood starting in the 1920's.
Thus, as for post-disaster relief, pre-disaster measures that try to modify the cause or effects of a natural event may reduce some losses from smaller natural events, yet actually increase the natural hazard and with it disaster potential with respect lo larger more rare events.
Thus, as for post-disaster relief, pre-disaster measures that try to modify the cause or effects of a natural event may reduce some losses from smaller natural events, yet actually increase the natural hazard and with it disaster potential with respect lo larger more rare events.
The long term future of the city is at stake. For what were once logical reasons the city was built beside the Manawatu River, but if the opportunity presented itself again, with what we now know of the natural hazards facing the city, it would be built on elevated land on the Summerhill side of the city right beneath the Tararuas. Remember Hokowhitu was once a large swamp area fed by the Manawatu River. A huge wind farm will leave the city sandwiched between " hell " and "high " water and as the above academic paper says, the measures taken to protect the city, will in a catastrophic flood, eventually fail. A prudent review of what basic geography and geology can teach us can save the city from a disaster. Still as one poster, ThermalGeneration said...
"Who cares about Palmerston North anyway?"
"Who cares about Palmerston North anyway?"
Well we do.
What comes first, a wind farm or a city ???
Wind generation facts.
I
It's very obvious from this graph that energy production fluctuates wildly at the windiest time of the year in the Manawatu. Peak demand in the hours from 5pm to 10 pm during the winter months has had a dismal contribution from Manawatu wind farms. For the last three years during these peak hours in winter when electrical energy demand is highest the three Manawatu wind generation facilities have produced at less than 1% of their installed capacity. Wind farms are not about reliable electrical generation. So why is an SOE like Mighty River Power attempting to sacrifice local amenity values on the altar of renewable energy generation?????? To claim that additional wind generation in the Manawatu increases reliability and security of supply is a joke at the expense of local residents.
Representation of electricity production over 24 hours, showing base, intermediate, and peak loads -- only peak load plants are able in most places to respond sufficiently quickly to variations in wind energy production. The Manawatu is already over-represented in intermittent wind energy production. 
Turbines have to shut down in high winds. This causes additional wear and tear on componentry.
Wind in California was unable to meet peak demand when it was needed most. It's no different here in the Manawatu.
A week of wind energy production in German Eon Netz grid -- huge swings. Similar variability in output is the norm here in the Manawatu. Thermal backup is required to be on hot standby. No wind farm or combination of wind farms has replaced a conventional generation facility anywhere in the world.The Halkema report is an authoritative examination of the viability of wind generated electricity.
http://www.countryguardian.net/halkema-windenergyfactfiction.pdf
LESS FOR MORE: THE RUBE GOLDBERG NATURE OF INDUSTRIAL WIND DEVELOPMENT:
BC WORLD SERVICE Thursday 5 June 2008One Planet – Carbon Trading Ep 1/2Thursday 5 June 10.30-11.00am BBC WORLD SERVICE
Major flaws in carbon offsetting, the UN's main mechanism for dealing with climate change, are investigated in this One Planet two-parter.
Carbon offsetting allows the developed world to offset its carbon emissions by paying for emission-cutting projects in the developing world. Integral to this is the "additionality" test whereby the developing world projects must show that without the additional (carbon-credit) money, the projects would not, and could not be, implemented.
If these projects would have taken place in any case, then no emissions are being saved and millions of dollars will have been wasted.
Presenter/Mark Gregory, Producer/David Edmonds
Major flaws in carbon offsetting, the UN's main mechanism for dealing with climate change, are investigated in this One Planet two-parter.
Carbon offsetting allows the developed world to offset its carbon emissions by paying for emission-cutting projects in the developing world. Integral to this is the "additionality" test whereby the developing world projects must show that without the additional (carbon-credit) money, the projects would not, and could not be, implemented.
If these projects would have taken place in any case, then no emissions are being saved and millions of dollars will have been wasted.
Presenter/Mark Gregory, Producer/David Edmonds
Here is a link to the podcast.
See also
Carbon Credits: Another Corrupt Currency?Carbon trading in
troubleGAO Unable to Verify Effectiveness
of International Carbon Markets
December 2, 2008
WASHINGTON – The
Government Accountability Office today released its report about the European
Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme and international carbon offset scheme, the Clean Development Mechanism. GAO found that the available information on the Emissions Trading Scheme could not substantiate either emissions reductions or clear economic benefits, and that negative economic effects could occur if the European Union further reduced emissions allowances.
In July 2007, following news reports raising questions about the cost-effectiveness and integrity of the ETS and CDM, U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky., then-ranking member of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, asked GAO to examine the experience to date of the ETS and CDM. U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., ranking member of the Oversight and Government Reform Domestic Policy Subcommittee, also joined the request.
The Republicans wanted to know how well the two markets
actually control greenhouse gases and whether available information substantiates the net benefits of the programs. They also sought GAO’s assessment of lessons from the international experience that might apply to upcoming congressional deliberation of carbon-energy rationing or reduction schemes.
“As European nations attempt to deal with the hardships of the current economic crisis, the harsh reality of carbon-energy rationing schemes is hitting home. Across Europe at this moment, environmental technocrats’ plans for larger emissions reductions and restraints on carbon-based energy supply are literally melting away in the heat of economic reality,” Barton said. “This report identifies some of the potential risks and concerns about regulatory cap and trade and related rationing schemes. It further underscores my concerns that we should not follow Europe’s course as it creates potential economic disaster for its citizens.”
“The GAO’s studies of both the European and
domestic carbon emissions reduction schemes have raised serious doubts about their effectiveness,” Issa said. “The federal government certainly shouldn’t spend taxpayer dollars on uncertain and unverified benefits until critical questions are fully answered.”
“The GAO report indicates that enacting a cap
and trade system in the midst of a recession would only further harm our economy,” said U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill., current ranking member on the Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. “In addition, the
whole idea of a cap and trade system isn't a proven method of actually reducing
carbon emissions. The American public will end up the victims and will have to pay more for energy and many other products.”
A copy of the report
can be found here
The 10,000 turbines in the US generate less power than a single coal-fired plantIndustry forced toImpact on the land - images from Tararua 3
admit environmental benefits of wind power only half of what previously
claimed.
Wind farm benefits
'overstated' 21 Dec 2008
So if so called wind farm "CO2 reduction benefits" have been exposed as lies, as in the UK, does this mean that to have similar " benefits " here there would need to be 1,012 turbines on the hills behind the city and not the projected total of 506 ??
So will this also mean that they will stop clear felling the CO2 absorbing pine forests which are currently well below the existing turbines, or are they being felled because of the fire risk ??
The person in the distant background is approx 1.9 metres tall.
Published Date: 30 August 2008 By Jenny HaworthEnvironment Correspondent
A LEADING power company has claimed wind energy is so unreliable that even if 13,000 turbines are built to meet EU renewable energy targets, they could be relied on to provide only 7 per cent of the country's peak winter electricity demand.
E.On has argued that, during the coldest days of winter, so little wind blows that 92 per cent of installed wind capacity would have to be backed up by traditional power stations.It argues this would require new coal-fired power stations to be built so they could be used in an emergency when little wind blows.This, E.On suggests, will mean that, to meet renewable targets of 20 per cent of energy being provided from renewables by 2020, the UK's installed power base will need to rise from 76 gigawatts today to more than 100GW.The company estimates this could cost £100 billion.
The Scotsman online.
Wind forces Texas power cuts.
The US waking up to the pitfalls of wind farms.
December 8, 2008
President-elect Obama has said that he would promote “wind farms” as one way to create more jobs. This idea is consistent with popular wisdom about wind energy and, therefore, sounded good while Mr. Obama was in the Senate and during his presidential campaign. The problem for Mr Obama now is that this popular wisdom is wrong. Contrary to reports issued by various wind energy advocates, “wind farms” provide few energy, environmental, or economic benefits and create very few jobs – far fewer than could be achieved if the money was used for other investments. Also, wind energy has adverse impacts that advocates like to ignore.
More here:http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/images/stories/papers/reprint/obama_wind_energy_plan.pdfAlarm bells ringing
in Britain.
22 Nov 2008
An area the size of Wales would need to be covered in wind turbines to meet just a sixth of the nation's daily energy needs, according to a new study that has cast doubt over the Government's push for wind energy.
Professor David MacKay, a physicist at Cambridge University, said ministers would have to look at other forms of alternative energy, like tidal power, if they were to meet their ambitious renewable energy commitments.
Ministers have pledged to provide 20 per cent of the country's energy from renewable sources by 2020 and have relied on wind energy to provide almost all of the capacity.
By analysing the average power output possible from wind turbines and comparing it to the amount of land needed to house each turbine, Professor MacKay believes wind farms will need at least five times more land than has been previously estimated.
His research has raised further doubts over the viability of the Government's push for wind power.
Critics insist that wind energy is too unreliable to replace the creaking network of fossil fuel power stations and would require an extensive network of back up power stations to provide energy on calm days.
Wind farms have also faced intense opposition from rural campaigners who say the huge turbines, which can be up to 400 feet tall, are spoiling the countryside and pose a risk to wildlife.
Professor MacKay, who has published a new book that examines a range of different renewable energy sources, insists he is a strong supporter of wind energy.
His calculations show, however, that current plans to build wind farms with a capacity of 33 gigawatts offshore would produce only enough energy to provide each person in the UK with 4.4 kilowatt hours of energy per day.
He said: "The average energy used per person in the UK is 125 kilowatt hours per day. To achieve even 20 kilowatt hours per day per person it will require enough wind turbines to cover an area the size of Wales.
"It is an incredibly large area and with the difficulties in getting planning, it is hard to imagine how it could be achieved. The government needs to look at some of the other options such as tide energy. We need a plan that adds up."
Professor MacKay's calculations will alarm opponents of wind farms who fear the countryside is already blighted with unsightly turbines that are failing to provide a reliable alternative to fossil fuels.
Wind farm developers already rely upon extensive subsidies to help them earn a profit and energy experts fear paying such subsidies for technology that is already in use is stifling development of alternative sources of energy.
There are currently more than 189 wind farms, with 2,136 turbines, in operation around the UK. According to the British Wind Energy Association, the body that represents the wind industry, another 173 wind farms, are either being constructed or awaiting construction.
Plans for a further 266 wind farms are being considered by planning authorities.
Ministers have pledged to provide 20 per cent of the country's energy from renewable sources by 2020 and have relied on wind energy to provide almost all of the capacity.
By analysing the average power output possible from wind turbines and comparing it to the amount of land needed to house each turbine, Professor MacKay believes wind farms will need at least five times more land than has been previously estimated.
His research has raised further doubts over the viability of the Government's push for wind power.
Critics insist that wind energy is too unreliable to replace the creaking network of fossil fuel power stations and would require an extensive network of back up power stations to provide energy on calm days.
Wind farms have also faced intense opposition from rural campaigners who say the huge turbines, which can be up to 400 feet tall, are spoiling the countryside and pose a risk to wildlife.
Professor MacKay, who has published a new book that examines a range of different renewable energy sources, insists he is a strong supporter of wind energy.
His calculations show, however, that current plans to build wind farms with a capacity of 33 gigawatts offshore would produce only enough energy to provide each person in the UK with 4.4 kilowatt hours of energy per day.
He said: "The average energy used per person in the UK is 125 kilowatt hours per day. To achieve even 20 kilowatt hours per day per person it will require enough wind turbines to cover an area the size of Wales.
"It is an incredibly large area and with the difficulties in getting planning, it is hard to imagine how it could be achieved. The government needs to look at some of the other options such as tide energy. We need a plan that adds up."
Professor MacKay's calculations will alarm opponents of wind farms who fear the countryside is already blighted with unsightly turbines that are failing to provide a reliable alternative to fossil fuels.
Wind farm developers already rely upon extensive subsidies to help them earn a profit and energy experts fear paying such subsidies for technology that is already in use is stifling development of alternative sources of energy.
There are currently more than 189 wind farms, with 2,136 turbines, in operation around the UK. According to the British Wind Energy Association, the body that represents the wind industry, another 173 wind farms, are either being constructed or awaiting construction.
Plans for a further 266 wind farms are being considered by planning authorities.
This may possibly solve all the western world's energy needs.
http://www.nss.org/news/releases/pr20080909.html
Submissions on the Kahuterawa Outdoor Recreation Area draft management plan closed August 13th, 5 days after MRP lodged its application for a resource consent. This timing is no coincidence.
Submissions on the Kahuterawa Outdoor Recreation Area draft management plan closed August 13th, 5 days after MRP lodged its application for a resource consent. This timing is no coincidence.
The plan - see link below - draws attention to the opposition to wind turbines in the area.
Note, as of 4/11/08 access to this online
document has been denied. No surprise as to why.
document has been denied. No surprise as to why.
NB The John Love quoted at the end of the news release is a wind farmer whose property dominates the Kahuterawa valley and Ngahere Park subdivision. The Kahuterawa stream is an important trout spawning stream for the Manawatu river, already it has suffered sedimentation as the result of careless roading development on private land. The proposed wind farm poses a major threat.
Wind turbines block radar.( An issue for Palmerston North airport and Ohakea )
ROYAL DUTCH SHELL has become the second big energy company to abandon the UK wind-energy sector in the last month.
Shell, Danish firm Dong Energy and Scottish Power have cancelled the £800m Cirrus Array project off the northwest coast after five years and millions of pounds in investment.
The consortium blamed Ministry of Defence concerns over radar interference from turbines.Less than a month ago, Shell denied a Sunday Times report that it had exited the project. However, on Friday the company confirmed that it had no plans for further investment in the UK wind sector.
Shell, Danish firm Dong Energy and Scottish Power have cancelled the £800m Cirrus Array project off the northwest coast after five years and millions of pounds in investment.
The consortium blamed Ministry of Defence concerns over radar interference from turbines.Less than a month ago, Shell denied a Sunday Times report that it had exited the project. However, on Friday the company confirmed that it had no plans for further investment in the UK wind sector.
December 7 2008
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/natural_resources/article5299195.ece
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/natural_resources/article5299195.ece
The left hand doesn't know what the right is doing.
See quotes from this Government submission 28 August 2008.
See quotes from this Government submission 28 August 2008.
Central Wind windfarm
Ministry for the
Environment
Government submission
While supporting the proposal because of its national significance the Defence Force has concerns about the potential for radio frequency interference from the windfarm to affect military communications in the area. The issue has arisen recently and is the subject of ongoing consultation between the Defence Force and Meridian.
Wind is an intermittent source, and this intermittency needs to be carefully factored into the electricity systems operations. However, the Central Wind windfarm will also promote a reliable electricity supply through its geographical location. Most of New Zealand’s wind generation at present is in the Manawatu. Spreading windfarms across New Zealand reduces the risk of disruptions to the electricity supply if the wind is not blowing at a particular location.
Wind is an intermittent source, and this intermittency needs to be carefully factored into the electricity systems operations. However, the Central Wind windfarm will also promote a reliable electricity supply through its geographical location. Most of New Zealand’s wind generation at present is in the Manawatu. Spreading windfarms across New Zealand reduces the risk of disruptions to the electricity supply if the wind is not blowing at a particular location.
Well at last something we can agree on.
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/rma/central-wind/html/appendix1.html
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