Wind News

Scottish planners offered advice on wind farm applications

21-11-08: Scottish ministers publish new Planning Advice Note laying out the issues local authorities should be aware of in determining wind farm applications

Dutch utility takes first step into UK wind energy market

20-11-08: Eneco buys development project building £9 million wind farm in Aberdeenshire as it seeks to expand renewable energy investments outside the Netherlands

npower proposes wind farm close to sites subject to inquiry

19-11-08: npower renewables has submitted plans for a 23MW wind farm at Kirkharle, close to the proposed locations of three wind farms currently awaiting planning inspector's decision

Government commits to feed-in tariffs for 2010

19-11-08: Energy Bill debate sees minister Mike O'Brien reassuring doubters that guaranteed long-term payments will be brought in for small-scale renewable electricity projects

Planning inspector rules against 23MW Lincolnshire wind project

18-11-08: Wind developer Infinergy left considering options, after inspector says views from six listed buildings would have unacceptable impact from proposed 10 turbines

Sheringham Shoal “going ahead” despite loss of backer

18-11-08: Dutch firm pulls out of offshore wind farm, forcing remaining partner to seek another backer; but developers say project is still going ahead

Government raises renewables feed-in tariff cap to 5MW

18-11-08: Although actual level of feed-in tariff threshold could still be lower, ministers raise proposed maximum level from three to 5MW within today's Energy Bill debate

News in Brief

17-11-08:

With news of two wood fuel initiatives; a wave power deployment; planning approval for a Gloucestershire wind farm; and, a new office for npower renewables

Ministers seek views on Northern Ireland's energy future

17-11-08: Ministers launch consultation on Northern Ireland's four-year-old Strategic Energy Framework, to significantly increase the amount of renewable power being generated

Wind energy: News in Brief

14-11-08: With news of a wind partnership between UK Coal and Peel Energy; new planning guidance in Yorkshire; a E.ON wind farm proposal; and, a new HQ for Wind Prospect

Shell Flat offshore wind farm scrapped over aviation concerns

14-11-08: Consortium withdraws application for Shell Flats after failing to reach an agreement with BAE and Ministry of Defence over radar and low-flying aircraft concerns

Offshore wind takes pride of place in European energy ambitions

13-11-08: Offshore wind at the centre of European Commission plans to reduce dependency on foreign oil and gas, and reduce exposure to high electricity bills

Energy security key in next wave of European energy laws

13-11-08:

Efforts to boost investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency are central to EU Commission's latest "package" of energy legislation for Europe, unveiled today

Scots call on Europe to back North Sea renewables "supergrid"

13-11-08: Alex Salmond says supergrid would be "major step forward" for Scotland's renewable energy, as UK government attempts to keep lid on nationalist agenda

Statkraft buys out partner in 23MW Carmarthenshire wind farm

12-11-08:

With its focus on building European wind capacity, Norwegian state-owned firm takes remaining 50% stake in Blaengwen wind farm from US-owned Catamount Energy

News in Brief

11-11-08: Including news of an offshore wind alliance; a renewables business centre in Lowestoft; a solar-powered swimming pool in Newcastle; and, a wind farm inquiry in Essex

National park to take wind farm opposition to High Court

11-11-08: In a case seen as important for wind developments near other national parks, Peak District park attempts to overturn inspector's approval for Carsington Wind Farm

Businesses encouraged to sign up to wind power

11-11-08: Electricity supplier Opus Energy and small wind turbine installer Eagle Power team up to show businesses how to profit from generating their own wind energy

Offshore renewable energy achieving £32m turnover

10-11-08: Crown Estate publishes economic assessment of marine renewables industry, and warns that future growth will depend on production costs

Manchester FC wind project axed over "one in a million" risk

10-11-08: Ecotricity decides risk of ice falling off turbine blades too high for site accessed by thousands of football fans each week, with no easy solution

Vattenfall buys 300MW Thanet offshore wind project

10-11-08: Swedish power giant purchases wind farm being built off Kent coast - but there are questions over the £35 million price tag it claims for the deal

ScottishPower and Vattenfall team up to bid for UK offshore wind

10-11-08: Two wind development giants unite to bid for up to 6,000MW worth of offshore wind capacity in UK's Round Three offshore wind programme

Nordex milestone wind turbine destined for UK wind farm

10-11-08: German wind turbine manufacturer celebrates completing its 1,000th wind turbine in the 2.5MW class, with the turbine itself heading to a wind farm being built in Yorkshire

BP pulls out of UK wind power - and also CCS competition

07-11-08: Oil giant confirms intention to focus wind development efforts in United States - and reveals it is pulling out of the UK's carbon capture and storage programme

E.ON completes first turbine at Robin Rigg offshore wind farm

06-11-08:

First of 60 turbines installed in Solway Firth, with E.ON hopeful that fleet of installation vessels can get the project back on track

Government sticks to 3MW cap for microgeneration feed-in tariff

06-11-08: Energy Bill debate fails to sway minister Lord Hunt in setting 3MW upper limit on forthcoming small-scale power incentives to protect larger-scale projects

Renewable Energy Holdings in £16m deal for Welsh wind farm

05-11-08: Investment firm to purchase 69MW Mynnydd y Gwynt wind farm in Powys, with bulk of funds payable when planning and operating consents are secured

Tories: Keep business tax local to help energy planning

04-11-08: Shadow energy minister Charles Hendry says local business rates from wind farms and other renewable energy schemes should remain with local authorities

News in Brief

04-11-08: Including news of a tidal power deal for Edinburgh University; Scottish planning shake-up; Friends of the Earth view on feed-in tariff amendments; and, installation of a biogas refuelling station in Camden

Shareholders of wind developer Eclipse back Vattenfall offer

03-11-08: Swedish power firm says shareholders representing 91.2% of issued shares have accepted offer for developer of 150MW Ormonde offshore wind project

npower to buy 50% stake in world's largest offshore wind farm

03-11-08: Scottish and Southern Energy to receive £308 million in cash for half equity share in 500MW Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Farm, predicted to be world's largest in 2011 

Wind developers "surprised and concerned" by local planners

31-10-08: Flood of wind farm applications being thrown out by planning committees across the UK, even when long feasibility studies and environmental assessments are carried out

PROFILE: Eco2 - building a £1 billion house of straw

31-10-08:

Cardiff-based company Eco2 may have been founded as a wind development company, but biomass power is now its future, using locally-produced straw as a feedstock

Dutch small wind turbine trial suffers low wind speeds

31-10-08:

Tests of small wind turbines including British systems report some "disappointing" results, with hopes that wind speeds will pick up in next six months of testing

Industry welcomes feed-in tariffs for power and heat

30-10-08:

Inclusion of feed-in tariff amendment to the Energy Bill prompts praise from renewables industry, but the REA doubts the government's timetable

Government unveils renewable power and heat feed-in tariffs

30-10-08: Ministers propose separate feed-in tariffs for renewable electricity and renewable heat, within amendments to the Energy Bill ahead of House of Lords debate next week

Rhyl Flats offshore wind project hit by loss of installation vessel

30-10-08:

KS Energy's Titan-1 ship sinks in Atlantic Ocean, npower renewables says too early to say how it will affect Rhyl Flats offshore wind project in Irish Sea

Scotland reaches 3GW renewable energy milestone

29-10-08: Jim Mather opens Dalswinton and Minsca wind farms, helping Scotland to break through 3GW barrier of installed renewable energy capacity

Ramco renewables arm bids to build Scottish offshore wind farms

28-10-08: Oil and gas company's offshore wind subsidiary SeaEnergy Renewables links up with wind developer Airtricity to pursue offshore wind farm lease in Scottish waters

3D radar system offers "silver bullet" for wind farm objections

27-10-08: Cambridge technology developers believe holographic radar system would help air traffic controllers distinguish effectively between moving aircraft and wind turbine blades

Air safety fears kill plan for 250MW wind farm in Ayrshire

27-10-08: Proposed 85-turbine Kyle Wind Farm posed problems for air traffic control at nearby Glasgow Prestwick Airport, said ministers, as they told developers to rethink plans

Curb local planners' powers in renewable energy, say Lords

24-10-08: Report into EU sub-committee inquiry into UK's 15% renewable energy target demands planning reforms beyond government's current proposals

SNP “gambling” with Scotland’s energy future, claim Labour MPs

23-10-08: Glasgow MP John Robertson and energy minister Mike O'Brien claim Edinburgh government's opposition to nuclear power will mean future dependence on foreign gas

Community skills "as important as engineering" for wind firms

23-10-08: Leading environmentalist Sir Jonathon Porritt advises a "struggling" British wind industry that it needs to prioritise staff with good community liaison skills

Energy minister calls on wind industry to “do its part”

22-10-08: DECC minister Mike O'Brien tells BWEA delegates government will help renewables industry overcome planning and grid barriers, but cannot do it alone

Centrica wins consent for Lincs offshore wind farm

22-10-08:

Planners give green light to 250MW offshore wind farm off the coast of Skegness, as owners Centrica announce further offshore plans

PM reassures wind industry of commitment to low carbon energy

21-10-08: Gordon Brown tells industry's annual exhibition and conference that "difficult economic times" will not make government back off from clean energy commitments