Carbon Commentary » Siemens http://www.carboncommentary.com A critical appraisal of issues in the move to a low-carbon economy Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:16:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 en UK offshore wind farm development http://www.carboncommentary.com/2007/12/12/62 http://www.carboncommentary.com/2007/12/12/62#comments Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:31:05 +0000 Chris Goodall http://www.carboncommentary.com/2007/12/12/62 The UK government has announced an intention to allow offshore wind farm development around most of the UK. John Hutton suggested that about 33 GW capacity could be added by 2020. This would provide about 25% of current UK electricity demand (which is itself rising by 1 to 2% per year). Simple calculations suggest that this change may add about 15-25% to UK electricity bills. Offshore wind is more expensive to construct and operate than onshore wind farms. The announcement may suggest that the government believes that offshore wind can be pushed through but that onshore farms are likely to be successfully opposed. The big push for offshore wind seems to mean that the government is losing faith in nuclear.]]>

The UK government has announced an intention to allow offshore wind farm development around most of the UK. John Hutton suggested that about 33 GW capacity could be added by 2020. This would provide about 25% of current UK electricity demand (which is itself rising by 1 to 2% per year).

Simple calculations suggest that this change may add about 15-25% to UK electricity bills. Offshore wind is more expensive to construct and operate than onshore wind farms. The announcement may suggest that the government believes that offshore wind can be pushed through but that onshore farms are likely to be successfully opposed. The big push for offshore wind seems to mean that the government is losing faith in nuclear.

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]]> http://www.carboncommentary.com/2007/12/12/62/feed Community-owned wind farms http://www.carboncommentary.com/2007/11/26/58 http://www.carboncommentary.com/2007/11/26/58#comments Mon, 26 Nov 2007 23:16:54 +0000 Chris Goodall http://www.carboncommentary.com/2007/11/26/58 In Denmark and Germany, large numbers of individuals own shares in local wind farms. If the government encouraged this in the UK, a large part of the local opposition would disappear. Onshore wind farms in windy locations are good investments which could form an effective part of many people’s pension plans. One of the few co-operatively owned wind farms in the country has almost finished raising its funds. Investors have put up £3m to buy two existing turbines in the Fens. Locally owned wind farms should be encouraged as a cost effective means of cutting emissions.]]> In Denmark and Germany, large numbers of individuals own shares in local wind farms. If the government encouraged this in the UK, a large part of the local opposition would disappear. Onshore wind farms in windy locations are good investments which could form an effective part of many people’s pension plans.

One of the few co-operatively owned wind farms in the country has almost finished raising its funds. Investors have put up £3m to buy two existing turbines in the Fens. Locally owned wind farms should be encouraged as a cost effective means of cutting emissions.

(more…)

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