Several local items on wind...Photo: Nympsfield Turbine near Nailsworth
Turbine to be repaired
Several people have asked after the Ecotricity Nympsfield turbine (more below re turbine). The blades had stopped turning more than a month ago.
An Ecotricity spokesman in the SNJ has responded saying: "The turbine was damaged in a recent storm when the wind reached speeds of more than 60mph. Sophisticated sensors detected a possible crack in the main carrier, which a visual examination confirmed. We have new parts and cranes to fit them on order and are expecting to compete the work and have it back up and running by the end of this month. This machine has been working day in and day out for the last 11 years. In fact it works more hours per year than a typical car does in a 20 year lifetime. The odd breakdown in effectively 220 years of car lifetime equivalent is perhaps to be expected. Wind turbines are amazing machines when compared to any other machine in the modern world. This one has another 20 years left in it, once we get it fixed."
Wycliffe College turbineThe college is one step closer to having a wind turbine after Stonehouse Town Council supported their planning application. The trouble is, it is only going to power a lap top - we need the big ones.
Views on turbines sought
Chas Fellows, Leader of Stroud District Council has asked for views on wind turbines in the latest issue of The Citizen's "Stroud Life" you can respond to his article by leaving a comment or emailing: stroudlife@glosmedia.co.uk
Here is what I left: "No secret that I'd love to see more wind turbines. The UK has a terrible record on renewable energy. Let Stroud take a lead. The simple reality is that reducing CO2 emissions and increasingly expensive fossil fuels require us to use less energy and switch to renewables. Wind is clean, safe, economic and in many cases beautiful. It has to be part of the answer."
Randwick Wind
This week I spoke with a local householder re the project to open homes for people to look at renewables - see 7th Jan blog - like all the households I've spoken to they were very positive about taking part. I'm now looking at funding for leaflets etc and hope to establish a website - someone has already kindly offered to help with that. Are there any other homes in the District with renewables that people could view - we are talking 13th/14th September this year.
More on the Nympsfield turbine
The single 42m turbine generates enough electricity to meet the requirements of approximately 400 homes ie between half and one percent of all residences in Stroud district. It was constructed in 1996 after 4 years of planning. In 2001 an application was made to add a further 4 turbines - a 1998 survey shows 70% of locals supported the idea but the Council voted against. Since then support for wind has grown stronger than ever - I am hoping the time is right for some more turbines in the District soon.
1 comment:
Just got this:
In the Transition Stroud Energy Group we have been conducting a
systematic survey of renewable energy options in the district and it is
clear from this that the only really significant resource available is
wind. Large wind turbines - even if located in the Severn Vale near the
M5 motorway - could produce substantial amounts of electricity. Each
large modern turbine can meet the electricity needs of up to 2000 homes.
Other than energy saving no other local renewable resource comes
anywhere near this. Even people who are not keen on turbines on the
hill tops might perhaps support them if sited near the motorway - what
do you think?
The economics of large wind turbines are also very favorable and there
is the possibility of establishing cooperative community ownership of
some new turbines and thereby protecting community members, to some
degree, against ever increasing electricty prices.
Reduce & renew - Dave Cockcroft, Transition Stroud Energy Group Coord.
Post a Comment