Wind and Wave
Posted: Wednesday, 07 September 2005 |
Comments
I don't understand why all this time, money and effort is being spent on wind generation when tidal power seems so much easier. I watch the tide running past Fladda at up to 10mph every day and think how simple it would be to dam a small passage (cuan?) and make a tidal generator which will create much more power than the biggest wind generator, be more reliable and less intrusive. The French did it 30 years ago at La Rance so its hardly new technology. Perhaps wind generators are funded because they are so visible? Then the government can point to them and say they are doing something about alternative energy or is this very cynical?
Fladda from Fladda
Sounds fine but many if not most areas are locked up by the power dist'n system and various political issues. An example would be for us on Islay/Jura/Colonsay where we can't produce energy for our own use but have to be able to "export" it as others already expect to be able to supply to us. Islands supplied by undersea cables etc result in high energy losses in the process clearly undesireable if we are to improve energy efficiency and could provide the same enery locally but it needs a political will and commitment to breakdown the barriers. In addition we need to see wind replaced by tidal and/or wave power but that means taking a risk with new technology, seeing the big picture. Its there for the taking but needs the politicians to roll up their sleeves and remove the barriers to our/government targets.
John from Jura
Hi Steve, it would be helpful if you could put up a link to the news item so we know what is being considered. Don鈥檛 you ever feel you are way out of touch with politics? I am so out of touch with current political thinking that I haven鈥檛 ever thought about setting fire to some hotel curtains in an Edinburgh hotel as our former tourism minister did. Please do tell us what they are planning for us then perhaps we can discuss supporting or not supporting Scotland鈥檚 largest industry: tourism. It employs 197,000 (9% of the workforce and 13% of the Highlands & Islands workforce) and it injects 拢4.4 billion annually into the Scottish economy (5% GDP). Tourism pays the wages of more people than the oil. gas and whisky industries combined and employs over four times more than agriculture/fishing. Steve, with 7000 or so turbines already planed for Scotland鈥檚 hills it might be nice to hear how many more are planned then we can discuss how beneficial this will be for most people?
pondhead from Mull
D'oh! Yep, it would have been a good idea, thanks pondhead! Here it is, the article in full: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4221062.stm
Stevie from IBHQ
Hi Stevie. Appologies for dashing off my rant and failing to spell your name correctly. Thanks for the link to the article.
pondhead from Mull
I agree whole heartedly with Fladda. So far we haven't got a wind farm because of the possible danger to our protected birds although many of our agricultural friends would be glad to see the back of the hen harriers.
Sunny from Arran
Hi Sunny. Didn鈥檛 I hear talk of a 5 turbine windfarm at Glenkiln, Lamlash? Has that fallen foul of the birds Sunny? A couple of weeks ago I was chatting to the farmer who wants the windfarm on his land at Dervaig on Mull. He believes that there are too many Sea Eagles on Mull.
pondhead from Mull
I.B.H.Q. is your 大象传媒 host, moderator and friend for Island Blogging.
RSS Feed