Wind Farms affecting Radar

That’s a hugely controversial subject in itself.

Whether or not it is controversial in the USA I do not know but it is certainly making a major contribution to the US’s target of self-sufficiency in energy by 2015.

It COULD be significant here too, although not to as great an extent, but the luke warm action by the government coupled with the usual media disinformation is likely to ground development for years. Had the last government committed to nuclear 10 years ago this thread would be irrelevant.

Charlie, so have we got shed loads of coal, but the mines need pumping out, and repairs to machinery, not used for years, I am sure in this day and age we could get them up and running, but as has been said we obtain supplies from Aus and other Countries.Just think of the unemployed who would probably jump at the chance of working for a decent Miners wage.
Jim
Lincoln .7

Our CO2 emissions targets prevent us from burning fossil fuels for much longer. Our current plants are being shut down within 5 years.

I saw on Sky TV the other day, that SHALE is the “IN” thing in the States, perchance John Boyle can tell us more on that topic.
Jim.
Lincoln .7

That’s a hugely controversial subject in itself.

Alan, I do not know if, when they break down, which according to my brother, is “Some” nearly everyday, whether when they do eventualy expire, they are just left to rot away. My brother is in Florida at the moment, but I will ask him that question, and I am fairly certain he will know the answer.
There is also another problem which the Government has swept under the carpet, and that is that there 600 redundant Oil platforms, no longer in use around the world, many belong to us, they need to be dismantled and scrapped, but no one will undertake the job. What happens when they reach the stage of falling apart due to rust, storms etc, what will the effect on the Sea enviroment be ?. No doubt oil will leak into the sea to some extent, then they will moan about the depleted fish stocks.
I saw on Sky TV the other day, that SHALE is the “IN” thing in the States, perchance John Boyle can tell us more on that topic.
Jim.
Lincoln .7

3) The actual cost of the placement of said turbine on its permanent site, either land or sea.

Lincoln .7

I stand to be corrected, but I was under the impression that when the ones offshore break down, it is not cost effective to repair or replace them (?)

3) The actual cost of the placement of said turbine on its permanent site, either land or sea.

Lincoln .7

I stand to be corrected, but I was under the impression that when the ones offshore break down,
it is not cost effective to repair them (?)

Partially they are because of the obsession with CO2 emissions as the prime driver of energy decisions, but all nations have different ways of financing them and different attitudes towards the essential back-up generation.

For example Germany, having decided against nuclear, is now accepting more fossil fuel generation simply because there is no other alternative. Unfortunately the UK has such a blinkered attitude that we are likely to suffer more than some others.

Charlie, so have we got shed loads of coal, but the mines need pumping out, and repairs to machinery, not used for years, I am sure in this day and age we could get them up and running, but as has been said we obtain supplies from Aus and other Countries.Just think of the unemployed who would probably jump at the chance of working for a decent Miners wage.
Jim
Lincoln .7

There are far better and younger brains on here than I, so perhaps one of them would be kind enough to try and give me a breakdown on the following.
1) How much does it cost to manufacture one turbine.
2) Cost of transportation to said site, (Take the average).
3) The actual cost of the placement of said turbine on its permanent site, either land or sea.
4) Annual cost the engineers are paid for maintainance of said turbine.
5) Annual cost of repairs to turbine.
6) Average amount of turbines are in use annualy.
7) Average cost of electricity generated by a turbine into the National Grid.
8) How long before the turbine has paid for itself, and starts to produce “Free ” electricity.
Cost of transporting the engineers to and from the offshore farms on a regular basis, ie what is the boat owner paid, who usually spends 12 hrs per time, whilst also acting as a safety vessel for the engineers who have to work on the turbine.Then multiply the cost to all the turbines sited on land and at Sea, in the U.K.
Tot it all up, and then ask, how these turbines are making the electricity suppliers a profit?.I.M.H.O. I think we have been brainwashed into thinking they are the be all and end all to energy pricing, in their own way.
Jim.
Lincoln .7

Partially they are because of the obsession with CO2 emissions as the prime driver of energy decisions, but all nations have different ways of financing them and different attitudes towards the essential back-up generation.

For example Germany, having decided against nuclear, is now accepting more fossil fuel generation simply because there is no other alternative. Unfortunately the UK has such a blinkered attitude that we are likely to suffer more than some others.

You could say the same about everything though. We are all expecting a vote on the EU and yet how many have read all that it involves, how many read the party manifestos before casting their votes in 2010?
If the British public are being fooled about the benefits of windfarms then they are not alone. Almost every developed nation have large plans for wind farms. Are they all wrong?

bazv – is there a problem here? A PM will do.

Looks like the public aren’t too bothered.

I don’t suppose they are since the government manage to do pretty good job of disinformation about the realities of energy supply as a whole. The papers and documents are there to be read and in the public domain but the majority of people are happy to be fed the headlines the media chose to provide them with.

It only needs a scare headline on a couple of tabloids for that dogma to be imbedded in Joe public’s psyche. Shale gas is just the latest.

The TV station I used to report for had huge problems with a wind farm disrupting transmissions. They eventually got a settlement from the owners.

Also, it’s not cheap. Texas ranchers get huge money for placing them on their land…something like $1000 dollars a month, add to that the cost of the machines ($1 million +) and it may be “free energy” but certainly not cheap.

BTW: The Kennedy’s are huge environmentalists, but they blocked a sea-based windfarm, off their property on the Mass. coast.
Classsic NIMBYs.

Personally I think the Gas, Electric and Water industries should be brought back under public control, it beggars belief that we have sold our energy companies to foreign powers.

Gas/Electricity…funnily enough …both supplied by ONE company to me …Hmmmmmm …with the program yet ????????????????

Yes Arfur 😉

I forgot you lefties do not have a sense of humour 😉

You still seem to think that I support any of our politicians LOL LOL LOL

I hate them all … equally 😉

OK – you need to make it clear you’re talking about electricity prices only – not gas. Presumably everyone thinks the wind farms somehow appear magically at no cost :confused:

As far as payments for the elderly are concerned, Gideon reduced the winter fuel payments for you last year. That was nice of him wasn’t it.

Yes I am sure that the ‘Public’ know all the ‘ins and outs’ of energy generation and efficiency LOL

So the few posting here are experts on renewable energy generation are they? Really?
The Guardian wouldn’t have asked you anyway. It was a Yougov and an ICM poll reported by the Guardian.

Looks like the public aren’t too bothered.

Yes I am sure that the ‘Public’ know all the ‘ins and outs’ of energy generation and efficiency LOL

Edit…the Guardian never asked me…oh wait… I never buy it LOL

Baz. It’s beyond a joke now, where do this lot in power now, think the elderly, infirm, who have to rely on their State Pension expected to pluck the extra money from to pay for these outrageous price hikes?, I can see where some say, “It’s either eat or heat”. You can die through hypothermia, by all means, but if you are suffering, God forbid, from a terminal illness, you are not allowed to get assistance to end your own life.
Jim.
Lincoln .7

Agreed Jim…I am glad that I am still working at the moment in spite of the best efforts of B Wastospace ;)…privatisation of energy is obviously a winner !!! and I do feel for the retired people who struggle paying energy costs …

rgds baz

It is not ‘gas’ price …it is ‘energy’ price …get with the program(me) 😉
Hmmmmm the ‘energy’ companies are making vast profits 😉

Looks like the public aren’t too bothered.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/oct/23/wind-shale-gas-icm-poll
The problem with opposing any particular form of energy generation is that you need to suggest an alternative and Gideon’s “dash for gas” cannot possibly be a good idea. We need to be more self-supporting in terms of energy – not less.

How can gas price increases be attributed to wind farms?

Oh no – the thread’s off again.