Two of the key principles of having a viable wind farm , or even a single viable turbine is that:

a) The turbine(s) work(s), and;

b) the turbine(s) is/are sited in an area where there is sufficient wind.

Basic Junior school stuff you might think, but the Welsh Assembly (which is essentially the Government of Wales) got it spectacularly wrong by siting a £48k “faulty” turbine in a sheltered valley protected by large buildings. It’s situated at the Aberystwyth offices of the Welsh Assembly and at present output (of 33kwH of energy a month) yields a paltry £5 of electricty a month. At that rate it will pay for itself long after all those commissioned it are pushing up the welsh daisies. And their children. And their children’s children and their…. you get the idea. It will pay for itself in four centuries time at this rate. Red letter day then for 7 November 2413.

Welsh Wind Turbine Erected in Area with No Wind!
The becalmed turbine at Aberyswyth (Picture courtesy of Welsh News Service)

The £48k was not some wild over-idealistic investor, but the Welsh Assembly spending taxpayers’ money to have a statement turbine 2 miles from the sea and outside their Offices. Critics have called the Welsh-controlled assmebly’s no-wind folly  “an obscenely expensive vanity project”.

To add insult to wind-injury, the town is on the coast where the 60 foot tower could have been sailing its blades away in the fresh onshore breezes that sweep along the shore and cliffs from Cardigan bay and buffet the front. Officials blamed mechanical problems, which meant the turbine had been able to work at only quarter capacity until the start of this year. It is now reported to be operating at nearly 70% capacity, but the electricity it generates still works out at less than £9 a month. Over 200 years to break even then. And unless the turbine is moved, it is still limp in just 1/20th of the average wind speed compared to the exposed coast two miles away.

The company which supplied it, Quiet Revolution, denied mechanical problems were to blame and said it had warned the Welsh government in advance that the site was too sheltered.
It’s an ill wind that er.. doesn’t blow much at all!

 

 

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