Machrihanish Offshore Windfarm

[jowett63]

SKYKON, I agree that some windfarm developments can work well in harmony with their surroundings if they are proportionate and carefully sited. I remember driving past the Ardrossan one on a classic car run and did not pay it much heed, so like Tangy it is very innocuous. But it is only 25mw and much the same size as Tangy. What is proposed for Machrihanish bay is 378mw with 105 turbines which are not the small onshore ones but 405ft tall goliaths and sprawling over 70 square kilometres. They are also in direct line with the amazing views to sea and the isles, wheras Tangy and Ardrossan back onto the natural seascapes and you largely face away from them. Re the enviromental and noise impacts the one thing that ALL the experts agree on is tha the further out to sea you put the turbines in deeper water, then the less detrimental impacts there are and that is all we are asking for in KOWAG.
Frodo I agree that the massive increase in turbine manufacturing capacity in China is the biggest threat to the long term viability of the local plant, but even if SSE were to guarantee production (which they cannot) to our plant it would only provide the jobs for the duration of their manufacture and then we would have no plant and huge windfarm generating few local benefits, compared to the many disbenefits. I am more optimistic and believe that like Weetoonboy says the Government's avowed path to generate 80% of our leccy by sustainable means along with the Infrastructure Plan and supporting investment, is the long term guarantor for local turbine manufacture. But that does not rely on having a windfarm 2km away or 10km away, it relies on the wider long term commitment to many wind,wave,tide investments across the SW,W and NW regions.
The simple fact is that if SSE or any other developer had come along and said they wanted to put up an extension to Tangy involving 105, 400ft turbines with all the associated substations etc. the existing planning guidelines would not have given them an earthly, so Crown Estates and SSE should not be allowed to exploited the absence of offshore planning and protection rules to make a fast buck at Kintyre's expense. Let them pay the additional cost of siting it truly offshore, so they make a bit less profit (but still loadsamoney), Scotland benefits from the green energy and Kintyre benefits from its positon as one of the Renewables Infrastructure Plan's regional hubs.
Long Live The Machrihanish Turbine factory, no to the ill sited and opportunistic SSE inshore windfarm....

[SKYKON EMPLOYEE]

jowett63,
One of the most significant technical constraints of offshore wind farms is seabed depth. Turbine and foundation technology cannot currently cope with very deep waters. Unlike the North Sea, which is relatively shallow waters, we have water depths which modern wind farm technology cannot yet overcome. To suggest that SSE are simply trying to save a few pounds is seriously misleading. So until technology catches up with an increasing demand to locate the wind farms further off shore Alex Salmond and Jim Mather are going to have to anger hundreds of devoted campaigners like yourself to keep their promise and make Scotland a world leader in renewable energy and tackle the much larger and more recognised problem of climate change.

You are correct in stating that Skykons future does not lie in the manufacturing of one offshore wind farm, but what a selling point for Skykon to potential buyers. Machrihanish Bay coupled with the Argyll Array (300-500 wind turbines 5km off Tiree) is a huge selling point.

A 2008 Scottish Government study notes the lack of published work on the impact of offshore windfarms on tourism, but highlights a case study from Nysted in Denmark. Visitor numbers at the Nysted camping site have increased over the last ten years despite the fact that it is situated on the coast with a view to a large offshore windfarm. Additionally, Nysted Tourist Information has been arranging boat trips to the windfarm since 2003, and these have seen considerable interest.

[argylltourist]

SKYCON EMPLOYEE
When reading your post, you give the impression,(correct me if I'm wrong),that windfarms are technically unable to be sited offshore.But don't we already have many offshore windfarms at some distance out to sea?

[SKYKON EMPLOYEE]

argylltourist, far out at sea does not necessarily mean deep water. Wind farms are sited in relatively shallow waters. Their are some technological advances in offshore foundations, mainly floating foundations, but they are being mainly used as singular windmills for research and development. Floating wind turbines are still immature and commercialization is distant.

I wish we were more advanced, but the fact is we are not, so unfortunately the wind farms have to be placed in locations where our technology allows us. But don't be too upset, if technology was more advanced the most viewed thread ever on the kintyre forum would not exist..

[Kintyre Forum News]

BBC Alba report from last week's meeting in Campbeltown.

[Ags]

A very interesting supportive polemical article on For Argyll regarding Windfarm consultation and the Kintyre Site, well worth the read:
http://forargyll.com/2011/01/public-mee ... sultation/

[Ags]

Please find below the link to the excellent Kowag newsletter which will be available in paper copy to members, stakeholders and in public locations over the next few days:
http://www.kintyreoffshorewindfarmag.co.uk/news

[russanros]

Unlike the North Sea, which is relatively shallow waters, we have water depths which modern wind farm technology cannot yet overcome.

- that sort of begs the question, why not put them there then?

The discussions and arguments for and against the development are very interesting and it shows a strong community spirit. People in the 'for' camp argue that the development will bring investment and jobs and secure a future for people in the area. People in the 'against' camp believe it will have a detrimental effect on the area with tourism and there will be a loss of jobs. They are also concerned about the damage to the natural habitat.

No matter what the argument both believe they have the interests of the community at heart and that is admirable.

Yes it is - the argument seems to have been polarised into amenities versus jobs- and though I hate to sound like a 'croaking raven of doom' I think a point that is therefore being missed is that we could have a situation whereby Machrihanish Bay is desecrated by politcal will (the subsidies are huge & they are coming out of yours & my electricity bills & taxes) and yet Skycon doesnt get the job . I've been reading of factories in Dundee and Nigg gearing up for wind turbine production in the press this week, are these as well or instead? .

Surely the tender for construction will be awarded on its competitiveness, and could come under scrutiny if not, from a taxpayers point of view
Given the amount of desecration involved I think we should look wider than just the Kintyre and Argyll arrays:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cif-green/2009/mar/25/wind-climate-change
-and also look at the disasterous performance of already established German off shore wind farms, where the electricity produced is so unreliable it has to be subsididsed at sale as well as production.

I broadly agree with renewable energy and conservation, but I do think that to claim wind power as being of 'environmentally friendly' is quite a mis-representation and I am frankly quite scared of Ed Milliband & Alex Salmond being willing to commit us to more fuel poverty nationally- I think the crises in Denmark/Germany of costs/subsidies versus reliable output may have been realised and its now time for the UK to think again? just a thought

[bakbjerg]

Vestas has started testing a new floating windmill at sea in Portugal. Floating, this windmill doesn't need shallow waters. Everything is assemled on shore, and then towed to sea, which solves some other practical problems compared to setting up traditional off shore windmills. It's supposed to be tested for 12 months, so with a litle patience, perhaps ..

[SKDT]

KINTYRE OFFSHORE WINDFARM ABANDONED

SKDT has recieved confirmation from SSE that the Kintyre Offshore windfarm will not be going ahead:

SCOTTISH AND SOUTHERN ENERGY KINTYRE AND ISLAY WIND FARM SITES

SSE (Scottish and Southern Energy plc) has decided to halt work on the development of its proposed offshore wind farm at Kintyre. West Coast development effort will be focused on the site off Islay. SSE was granted exclusive rights to develop both these sites by The Crown Estate in February 2009.

Kintyre
Initial site survey work and consultations relating to the wind farm planned to be developed 2km off the west coast of Kintyre have identified a number of factors that have led SSE to decide not to proceed further with the development of this site. These include: the wind resource; the proximity to Campbeltown Airport and local communities; and the impact on
recreational sailing in the area.

Islay
Survey work undertaken so far indicates that this site, 13km off the west coast of Islay, is suitable for the development of a viable wind farm. SSE remains committed to developing the site although it presents a number of challenges resulting from difficult weather and seabed conditions.

These are not unique to Islay and SSE believes that it will be able to apply advances made in construction techniques and the technology being developed for Round Three offshore wind farms to overcome these challenges.

SSE expects to submit an application to develop the site to the Scottish Government around the end of 2013.

Colin Hood, Chief Operating Officer of SSE, said:

“SSE remains committed to developing offshore wind in the UK, with Greater Gabbard and Walney wind farms producing their first electricity in January. Our plans to develop the Galloper and Beatrice offshore sites are on course and we aim to submit applications to develop these sites within the next twelve months.

“Having assessed the wind resource, listened to the concerns of local residents, businesses and other stakeholders, and having regard to the impact of Campbeltown Airport and the recreational sailing community, we believe our decision to halt the development of the Kintyre site is the responsible course of action to take. We are grateful to everyone who took part in our consultations on the project.

“Islay has massive potential to contribute to the Scottish and UK governments’ renewable energy targets. Our proposed timetable for developing this site will allow time for the innovative development of the offshore technology and construction techniques necessary to build a wind farm in such a challenging environment.”

[bakbjerg]

[bill]

MACHRIHANISH OFFSHORE WINDFARM ABANDONED

SKDT has just recieved confirmation from SSE that the Kintyre Offshore windfarm will not be going ahead:

I thought it was March 1st.not April 1st.


I suppose the next thing on the agenda to protest about is the proposed motorway from Campbeltown to Dumbarton.

[Mr.Everready]

I suppose the next thing on the agenda to protest about is the proposed motorway from Campbeltown to Dumbarton.

I thought it was March 1st.not April 1st.

[kirk]

They'll be singing and dancing in the streets of Machrihanish tonight !

[WC1]

I suppose the next thing on the agenda to protest about is the proposed motorway from Campbeltown to Dumbarton.

I thought it was March 1st.not April 1st.

Oh happy day, whatever the date!