windfarm highlands

[islandgun]

Driving down through the central highlands and the flow country. Im wondering just how this stacks up as a way to save the planet, how much peat was removed, concrete poured and energy used, both in the construction and their eventual removal, in what is a very short life

[jall25]

Like so much of the green revolution - utter rubbish

[oowee]

A turbine will cost about 1.15 to 1.45 of its lifetimes output to construct. The surface area is minimal for its output so its benefit is huge.

These relatively remote and very windy areas are surely ideal locations? 

[London Best]

1 minute ago, oowee said:

 

These relatively remote and very windy areas are surely ideal locations? 

The last time I visited the highlands I was utterly appalled at the quantity of turbines that have largely ruined the most beautiful part of the U.K.

[Newbie to this]

6 minutes ago, London Best said:

The last time I visited the highlands I was utterly appalled at the quantity of turbines that have largely ruined the most beautiful part of the U.K.

I feel the same when I drive pass fields covered with solar panels, horrible way to ruin the countryside.

[oowee]

25 minutes ago, London Best said:

The last time I visited the highlands I was utterly appalled at the quantity of turbines that have largely ruined the most beautiful part of the U.K.

 

18 minutes ago, Newbie to this said:

I feel the same when I drive pass fields covered with solar panels, horrible way to ruin the countryside.

I feel the same but we need the energy. 

[islandgun]

56 minutes ago, oowee said:

A turbine will cost about 1.15 to 1.45 of its lifetimes output to construct. The surface area is minimal for its output so its benefit is huge.

These relatively remote and very windy areas are surely ideal locations? 

A quick google will reveal why its not great to dig up peatlands,  Like I said in the op is this the best way to produce power ? I completely agree we need power [all sorts] but question the use of large farms in remote areas, [250 miles to Glasgow] and the amount of energy used and damage done to construct them, why not erect a turbine outside every village 

"Peatlands have been described as Scotland’s rainforest because of the massive amount of carbon they store. Scotland’s peatlands hold 1620 million tonnes of carbon – this is ten times the amount of carbon as that stored in all of the UK’s woodland."  

[jall25]

Just put solar panels on every new build from now on - house factory shop whatever 

[Yellow Bear]

2 hours ago, islandgun said:

why not erect a turbine outside every village 

In short Green nimbys  -- they want renewables but not near them.

[Blackpowder]

3 hours ago, London Best said:

The last time I visited the highlands I was utterly appalled at the quantity of turbines that have largely ruined the most beautiful part of the U.K.

Lammermoors  in the Borders and East Lothian are awash with turbines

Blackpowder

 

[johnphilip]

This is not very green .

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Carbon fibre is being buried all over the place and for quite a long time now.

[derbyduck]

the last time I went up to Caithness after a break of 5yrs visiting the area it looked like they where trying to lift it of the the map !

those hideous things were everywhere ,  the Flow Country is covered with them on the moors we rented which we walked up grouse and snipe .

no way can they call it green energy !

 

[islandgun]

2 hours ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

Carbon fibre is being buried all over the place and for quite a long time now.

 

2 hours ago, johnphilip said:

This is not very green .

It appears that producing carbon fibre takes 14x more energy than steel [as an aside greta thunberg's zero emission trans atlantic yacht was also made from carbon] sadly it looks like those in charge must appear to be seen to be be reducing emissions regardless of cost  

[oowee]

5 hours ago, islandgun said:

A quick google will reveal why its not great to dig up peatlands,  Like I said in the op is this the best way to produce power ? I completely agree we need power [all sorts] but question the use of large farms in remote areas, [250 miles to Glasgow] and the amount of energy used and damage done to construct them, why not erect a turbine outside every village 

"Peatlands have been described as Scotland’s rainforest because of the massive amount of carbon they store. Scotland’s peatlands hold 1620 million tonnes of carbon – this is ten times the amount of carbon as that stored in all of the UK’s woodland."  

No one is suggesting digging them up. A small element taken out for a turbine. No doubt it had to receive a pass for Scottish equivalent of env impact study.

Large farms privide greater efficiencies of production. You can't put large farms next to centres of population as there is not enough room. The down side is power loss over distance. 

We do need a mix of energy generation and it would be good to make more use of hydro. If you know the scheme at loch awe there must be many more opportunities for projects like that particularly in the highlands.

If you are uk govt the last thing you want to do is invest in a part of the country that might soon breakaway? Its going to be interesting to see where the new flag ship energy projects end up. 

[Windswept]

34 minutes ago, oowee said:

Large farms privide greater efficiencies of production. You can't put large farms next to centres of population as there is not enough room. 

There often is, just thinking of the South downs, plenty of room in some places, but people don't want them close by. If they were close to towns and cities perhaps it would serve as a bit of a reminder to people of the impact of their lifestyle. Many people can live very comfortably with a lot less energy consumption.

Edited September 10, 2022 by Windswept

[oowee]

10 hours ago, Windswept said:

There often is, just thinking of the South downs, plenty of room in some places, but people don't want them close by. If they were close to towns and cities perhaps it would serve as a bit of a reminder to people of the impact of their lifestyle. Many people can live very comfortably with a lot less energy consumption.

That's a good point. 👍 

[islandgun]

11 hours ago, oowee said:

No one is suggesting digging them up. A small element taken out for a turbine. No doubt it had to receive a pass for Scottish equivalent of env impact study.

Large farms privide greater efficiencies of production. You can't put large farms next to centres of population as there is not enough room. The down side is power loss over distance. 

We do need a mix of energy generation and it would be good to make more use of hydro. If you know the scheme at loch awe there must be many more opportunities for projects like that particularly in the highlands.

If you are uk govt the last thing you want to do is invest in a part of the country that might soon breakaway? Its going to be interesting to see where the new flag ship energy projects end up. 

Quote "Over 1.6 billion tonnes of carbon are stored in Scottish peatlands – that’s a third of the carbon held in the Amazon rainforest despite being 250 times smaller in area." 

https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/2015/10/50-for-the-future-peatland-blanket-bogs/

None would be good.  No one would suggest removing parts of the Amazon rainforest to erect wind turbines.  Surely theres a bit of derelict land next to you that would be suitable for a turbine..😉

[johnphilip]

18 minutes ago, islandgun said:

Quote "Over 1.6 billion tonnes of carbon are stored in Scottish peatlands – that’s a third of the carbon held in the Amazon rainforest despite being 250 times smaller in area." 

https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/2015/10/50-for-the-future-peatland-blanket-bogs/

None would be good.  No one would suggest removing parts of the Amazon rainforest to erect wind turbines.  Surely theres a bit of derelict land next to you that would be suitable for a turbine..😉

Spot on most want wind power , BUT  not on there door step , when I used to holiday with my motorhome , saw In many different areas  of the country   signs in villages "  no windfarm here ".

[mowdy]

Up on the right as you drive along the M74 past Beattock  there is a huge wind farm . There are  5 turbine’s that were put on the wrong area due to it being a.  SSSI .
someone mistyped the coordinates  for the satnav . It cost back then £450.000 to install each base so the company that did them said they would take the fine if they could leave them there .2.5 million pounds was the fine ! The company was working for Scottish power and went bust just before completing the project to avoid paying the fine . 

[old man]

14 hours ago, oowee said:

No one is suggesting digging them up. A small element taken out for a turbine. No doubt it had to receive a pass for Scottish equivalent of env impact study.

Large farms privide greater efficiencies of production. You can't put large farms next to centres of population as there is not enough room. The down side is power loss over distance. 

We do need a mix of energy generation and it would be good to make more use of hydro. If you know the scheme at loch awe there must be many more opportunities for projects like that particularly in the highlands.

If you are uk govt the last thing you want to do is invest in a part of the country that might soon breakaway? Its going to be interesting to see where the new flag ship energy projects end up. 

Not sure personally that there is any chance of them staying, politicos are seemingly drunk on personal power? Always leaving the detritus for others to deal with as is the foundation of our politics?

Mount Etna dumps circa 5000 tons sulfur dioxide daily I believe?

Edited September 11, 2022 by old man