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UK Offshore Wind Capacity now 10 Gigawatts

The UK Coalition Government’s Ministers have said that they will be providing £66m of funding to improve the supply chain for offshore wind developments, boost innovation and bring new products to market. They anticipate that this could help the industry contribute £7bn to the economy and create 30,000 jobs by 2020. The announcement came just as… Read the rest

Pellworm, the Greenest Island?

Pellworm is one of the North Frisian Islands on the North Sea Coast of Germany. It is tiny- its area is 37 square kilometres and its permanent population is just over 1000 souls (and about 1000 sheep). Small and insignificant? No! When it comes to renewable energy, has long been ahead of its time. This Sleepy… Read the rest

Number of UK Onshore Wind Turbines: 4,400 or 30,000?!

How can there be such a discrepancy between the figures quoted in the title? The answer lies in what you call a wind turbine when doing your sums. The lower figure, most commonly quoted for reference in the wind industry, 4,400, is made up of larger wind turbines. The smaller number, over 30,000 according to new… Read the rest

Windy Beer Anyone?

It’s long been a grump of those who like a pint of beer now and then, that beer can be a little too “gassy” sometimes. And not to put too fine a point on it, that gas can give you gas… in the form of flatulence. But if beer can give you wind, bow about wind… Read the rest

The Transformation of Samso Island

Where is Samso? It’s a small island of just over 4000 people off the coast of Denmark (9 miles off the Jutland peninsula) which used to have potatoes as it’s main export. These days it is wind-generated p0wer. It’s a remarkable story. It also has a remarkable history: It witnessed a battle in Viking times between,… Read the rest

The Voices of Wind Farm Hosts Down Under

When it comes to opinions and debate about wind power, we usually get the pro-lobby arguing against the frackers, the NIMBYs and the Fossil Fuel lobby. But one set of voices is often absent in the mix. The voices of those who have experience of hosting wind turbines on their lands and properties. One would have… Read the rest

Can You be a YIMBY?

We hear a lot about those who profess green credentials yet when it comes to siting a wind turbine they cry “Not In My Back Yard!” NIMBYs. But what if you want to be a YIMBY and say “Yes, In My Back Yard!” Small wind energy is renewable, non-polluting, and, in the right circumstances, can save… Read the rest

Wind Farms on Family Farms in Minnesota, United States

Wind mills used to be regular sights on farms; used for grinding wheat, or for pumping water for the livestock. While windmills may be a lot rarer on farms these days, another form of mill is becoming more common.:The wind turbine. On a Minnesota family farm near Princeton, there are two identical 120 foot turbines rotating… Read the rest

Report Slams UK Missed Opportunities for Offshore Wind

The UK Institute for Public Policy Research, a leading and respected Think Tank, has presented a damning report which claims that the future of offshore wind power generation in the UK is in serious doubt, and the Government’s plans to encourage new wind farms are over-expensive and flawed. It criticises the Coalition Government for doing too… Read the rest

KidWind

It has long been said that to win over the hearts of minds of adults in the future you need to educate the children now. Today, 18 June,sees the commencement of four days of free training for teachers at Waterford, Ireland, at KidWind workshops. KidWind workshops introduce teachers to the science behind wind energy while giving… Read the rest