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[ariane] 20/1/2007 12:00

cheers pc

enjoy your weekend

[pc4900074200] 20/1/2007 11:59

The world's largest community wind farm to be built on Shetland could supply energy to 25 per cent of Scots homes. Picture: Ian Rutherford.

Shetland islanders set for £25m wind farm windfall.
FRANK URQUHART. ([e-mail])

AMBITIOUS plans were announced yesterday to build the world's largest community wind farm on Shetland, capable of generating enough power to supply a quarter of Scotland's homes.

The islands council, which has already made a fortune from its oil fund established 20 years ago, is now poised to make a massive windfall from renewable energy. The £600-million development of 200 turbines is to be built across a 90sq-km site on the north of the Shetland mainland, near the village of Vidlin, in a groundbreaking partnership between Viking Energy, the company established to represent Shetland Islands Council's (SIC) interests in wind farms, and energy giant Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE).

The agreement, paving the way for the massive development, was formally signed at Busta House in Brae.

The development of the giant wind farm is expected to generate up to £25-million-a-year income for the islanders.

Councillor Drew Ratter, Viking Energy chairman, said the development would place the islands at the forefront of renewable energy development in Britain. The winds on Shetland are expected to keep the turbines turning at full power 50 per cent of the time - compared with the average load factor on the mainland of between 30 and 35 per cent.

Councillor Ratter said: "Shetland has the best natural energy resources in the world and it is important that these are developed in a way that leaves a significant financial and environmental legacy in the community."

But he stressed two major obstacles lay ahead before the development could begin - gaining planning permission and getting the go ahead for a subsea cable linking Shetland to the Scottish mainland.

The agreement was signed on behalf of SSE by the company's chairman Sir Robert Smith. He said: "This is the biggest community energy project anywhere in the world and the effect of this will be that we can actually provide the energy for 25 per cent of Scottish homes and reduce carbon emissions by 5 per cent."

A spokesman for Viking Energy said: "The next step is a significant public consultation exercise, beginning in February."

Jason Ormiston, acting chief executive of green energy trade body, Scottish Renewables, said: "Shetland is one of the windiest places in the world and this project would give a big boost to Scotland's bid to be the renewable powerhouse of Europe and help diversify the Shetland economy."

pc

[ariane] 20/1/2007 07:19

20 January 2007 08:17 Home > News > Business > Business News
Largest onshore wind farm given the green light
By James Daley
Published: 20 January 2007
Scottish & Southern unveiled plans yesterday to build the UK's largest onshore wind farm - capable of powering a quarter of all homes in Scotland - in the Shetland Islands.

The project, which is still subject to planning permission from the Scottish Executive, will be run in conjunction with the Shetland Islands' council, who will own a 50 per cent stake in the site through their subsidiary Viking Energy. The council will plough all profits from the venture back into the local community.

The farm will have approximately 300 wind turbines, covering 90 square kilometres of landand producing around 600 megawatts of power. The plan is to connect the farm to the Scottish mainland using a cable which will run underneath the sea.

With the backing of the Shetland Islands' council already sown up, the project has a good chance of receiving the green light from the Scottish Parliament.

Commenting on the launch of the project yesterday, Sir Robert Smith, Scottish & Southern's chairman, who signed the partnership agreement for SSE in Shetland today, said: "SSE has a long-established track record in renewable energy and ambitious plans for the future. This agreement helps pave the way for a renewable energy project which can be a world leader in terms of scale, the richness of the natural resources being harnessed and the involvement of the local community.

"Our partnership with Viking Energy is an exciting and significant step forward and I am optimistic that our joint venture for this leading-edge renewable energy project will become a reality."

Scottish & Southern also received planning permission for another smaller wind farm yesterday, at Toddleburn on the Scottish borders. The farm will comprise just 12 turbines, generating some 36 megawatts of electricity, and will cost £40m to build.

When the Toddleburn site is completed, the company will have more than 230 megawatts of power generated through its wind farms. Commenting on the news yesterday, Ian Marchant, the group's chief executive, said that while it was a relief to have received the go-ahead for the Toddleburn site, Scotland's planning system remains too complex. "I am pleased that the Toddleburn wind farm has received consent, and we will work to ensure that the construction work at Toddleburn is carried out efficiently and with minimal disturbance to the local community," he said.

"While we have had two recent successes, securing consent to develop wind farms remains a very difficult and time-consuming process, and reform is essential if Scotland's renewable energy ambitions are to be fulfilled."

[don muang] 12/1/2007 15:34

HOUSTON (AFX) - BP Alternative Energy North America Inc., a subsidiary of BP
PLC that combines the company's oil and gas interests in low and zero-carbon
power generation, on Friday said it plans to begin construction this year on
five wind power generation projects in the U.S.

[waldron] 12/1/2007 08:39

you're welcome

[don muang] 12/1/2007 07:18

waldron ... thanks for the postings....

[waldron] 12/1/2007 04:02

Thu 11 Jan 2007
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Revolution in wind turbine work wins £2m support
HAMISH RUTHERFORD

A SIMPLE but potentially groundbreaking design to cut the cost of wind turbine maintenance has been given a £2 million boost by ITI Energy.

The Orangutan, developed in Aberdeen by Oreada, would alleviate the need to use heavy duty cranes to repair wind turbines, often situated in remote areas, and increasingly offshore.

Yesterday ITI said it would provide £2m funding to turn the design into a commercial reality.

By attaching itself to the turbine chamber, the hydraulic structure would use the turbine's own foundations to lift workers and parts into place. Oreada was formed as a renewable energy spinout from the oil and gas consultancy Boreas five years ago.

Oreada co-founder Stuart McIntyre said initially the Orangutan was designed for the erection of wind turbines. However, when the device was shown to manufacturers, mainly based in northern Germany and Denmark, they indicated maintenance was the primary issue.

McIntyre admitted surprise that the company appeared to be alone in developing a device to remove the need for cranes, but a patent attorney had not managed to find any similar designs. "So, if we are able to develop this in around 18 months as we hope, we believe we could have an early advantage," he said.

While using the device on land could save costs and reduce the impact on the environment, McIntyre said the real commercial benefits would be offshore, where using cranes is even more complicated.

ITI Energy chief executive Nial McCollam said that, as the wind farm industry grew, the commercial potential for the Orangutan could be huge.

"The wind farm industry has grown to be quite substantial, there are huge numbers being deployed, so the market for maintenance, repair and servicing is really beginning to grow quite dramatically."

The wind farm industry is currently growing at around 20 per cent per year. At the start of 2006 there was 35 gigawatts of installed capacity globally, expected to rise to 90GW by 2010, with more than 40,000 operating turbines worldwide.

To find out more on this visit www.itienergy.com

[ben nevis] 04/12/2006 13:30

Just sent this suggestion to Panorama to investigate:


Idea for Panorama...

SWITCHING to GREEN ELECTRICITY ???

Nowadays you can choose 'green' electricity so you can have a clear conscience !!!

This is according to electricity companies. They will guarantee that your electricity comes from 'green' souces if you choose.

In Aberdeen the Council claims that all the street lamps create NO pollution because they have switched to 'green' electricity.

It is a NONSENSE, because they have NOT built windmills (or hydro plants) specially for the job !!

Just 'allocating' green electricity to Aberdeen streetlamps means somewhere else will clearly get LESS.

This would make a good Panorama programme, interviewing the Electricity boards, the councillors, the environmentalists etc.

There are also several websites where you can 'offset' your pollution by paying them money !! They will send some money to help build windmills for some distant community to get clean and free power, while you still drive a gas-guzzler with a 'clear' conscience.

(do Google search for 'carbon footprint' or 'carbon offset'.)

How about a Panorama investigation ? What is really going on ??

[ariane] 27/11/2006 19:35

Endesa building French wind farm

NEW YORK (AFX) - Spanish utility Endesa SA said Monday a subsidiary is
building a 10 megawatt wind farm in France.
The company is investing 13.4 million euro ($17.6 million) in the wind farm
in Brittany, a region in the Northwest of France.
Endesa said revenue from the wind farm is guaranteed, a result of a 2001
French decree that utility Electricite de France must buy all energy produced by
wind farms.
Endesa's U.S.-listed shares fell 41 cents to $46.14 in afternoon trading on
the New York Stock Exchange

[don muang] 07/11/2006 13:50

gerd ... tnx for that ...... since a dip 5 months ago it's up about 25% since then

[gerd212] 06/11/2006 15:06

I was looking up London listed Wind Turbine companies and was surprised to learn that Gamesa (GML) has a listing and even more surprised how little interest there is in the share given the sectors current popularity,as there wasn't a thread I set one up:-

[grupo guitarlumber] 04/11/2006 10:25

Wind turbines are money-spinner for B&Q
By Tom Braithwaite

Published: November 4 2006 02:00 | Last updated: November 4 2006 02:00

Wind turbines have become the top-selling item in cash terms for the B&Q do-it-yourself chain - weeks after they first went on sale.

Retailers want to flaunt environmental credentials amid concerns that "green taxes" could be imposed on some electrical goods following the Stern review on climate change last week.

Extract: Source ft.com

[grupo guitarlumber] 01/11/2006 09:45

you have response

enjoy your day

[pc4900074200] 01/11/2006 09:33

GG

You have email.

pc

:-]

[grupo guitarlumber] 01/11/2006 08:48

thanks pc but no

our friend did the honours


started new thread for bprg to try and keep track.

[pc4900074200] 01/11/2006 08:44

Morning GG.

.

pc

[grupo guitarlumber] 01/11/2006 08:29

E.ON to build wind farms with 700 MW total capacity by 2010

FRANKFURT (AFX) - E.ON AG plans to build wind farms with a total power
generating capacity of 700 MW by 2010, chief executive Wulf Bernotat told Die
Welt.
As a result, Germany "will take the lead in the field of offshore wind power
generation," he said.
E.ON will set up the wind farms in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, he
added.
[e-mail]
amk/jsa

[waldron] 02/10/2006 18:14

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Germany gives green light to new project for offshore wind farm

BERLIN (AFX) - The German environment minister Sigmar Gabriel gave the green
light to a project that will see the construction of 12 offshore windmills in
the North Sea.
The move will go someway to reversing the country's lag in the development
of offshore wind farms, he said.
Each windmill will generate 5 megawatts of electricity and will be ready for
commercial use at the beginning of 2008, Gabriel said. The farm will be located
45 km off the island of Borkum.
The scheme, which will cost about 175 mln eur, will be funded by a joint
venture between the three energy companies EWE, E.ON and Vattenfall. The
environment ministry will contribute at least 50 mln eur to the project
The ministry indicated that it had plans for seven other wind farms in the
North Sea.
[e-mail]
afp/gp/jfr

[waldron] 01/10/2006 06:30

Sun 1 Oct 2006

Windsave wins B&Q contract for turbines
GUY DIXON

SCOTTISH firm Windsave will supply the wind turbines that will be on sale to homeowners in 320 B&Q stores from this month.

Green-minded customers will be able to pick up a turbine for £1,500, which will cover the cost of having it installed on the roof of their home, slashing their electricity bill.

David Gordon, chief executive of Glasgow-based Windsave, said production at the group's assembly plant in Livingston was being ramped up to meet the expected increase in demand. He expects income to double to £50m.

Windsave's turbines come with a home survey and help with applying for planning permission. The retailer will advise customers on whether their homes are suitable for the turbines, which are 1.75m wide and 2m tall. The firm claims the kit can generate up to 1kW of electricity and that using a turbine will save up to a third of an average electricity bill.

Gordon said that before signing the B&Q deal, he had expected to sell around 18,000 turbines, worth around £20m, in the UK this year. But he now expects to sell up to 35,000.

He said: "This deal is going to double the size of our sales. Scotland is now at the leading edge of renewable energy generation. We have also got our overseas markets. We will supply to Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Germany and Scandinavia and have got heads of terms in many countries."

Gordon said his turbines would pay for themselves within three to four years. Windsave has been touted as a flotation prospect and Gordon said he was considering listing on the Alternative Investment Market.

B&Q said last week that it would also begin stocking solar panels which are fitted to household roofs and heat domestic water supplies.

The DIY group said the panels would supply around half of the hot water required by an average family.

[waldron] 30/9/2006 11:34

On your roof for £1,500, B&Q's windmill
Sean Poulter, Daily Mail
29 September 2006

They have a wingspan of almost 6ft, hum in the breeze and could be landing soon on a rooftop near you - whether you like it or not.


Home wind turbines are to go on sale at B&Q for £1,498, including installation. And from next year they are unlikely to require planning permission following a change in the law.


The DIY store chain is expecting to sell between 20,000 and 50,000 a year and believes they will become a common feature of the skyline within five years.


When the wind is blowing at 28mph, the turbines generate 1kilowatt of power, enough to run a TV, DVD player, computer, fridge freezer and several lights.


The company says government grants mean buyers can reclaim 30% of the cost of installation, which would cut the price to £1,048.

It claims one of the turbines, made in Scotland by a firm named Windsave, will cut annual electricity bills by up to 30% and pay for itself within five years. However, this seems optimistic.


The average annual electricity bill with British Gas, the most expensive of the major suppliers, is £428. Reducing this by 30% would save £128.40 a year.


Using these calculations, it would take just over eight years to recoup the £1,048 installation cost. If no grant were available it would take more than 11 years.


The windmill, however, has an official average lifespan of ten years. This will be reduced in coastal areas where salt in the wind will speed corrosion.


Apart from the financial issues, clearly the turbines will reduce demand for electricity from the national grid. In theory, less gas and coal will have to be burned to fuel power stations.


B&Q buying manager Paul Johnson said: 'We are the windiest country in Europe, so there is enormous scope for a home windmill. There is massive hunger out there for this product. I am absolutely convinced they will become as common as a satellite dish.'


Mr Johnson rejected suggestions from some quarters that the windmills are an eyesore and will upset neighbours.

'When you see one installed on a house, and high up on the roof, they are not intrusive,' he said. 'Someone coming up with this product ten years ago might have been considered a laughing stock, but today we all understand the need to reduce the use of fossil fuels.'


The windmills generate a noise of some 40 decibels when they are spinning. Mr Johnson said that is equivalent to the sound of someone chatting in the street as they pass your house.


Some might think this would disturb the home- owner and neighbours, particularly in the summer months when the windows are left open. However, Mr Johnson said: 'I would think it is rather relaxing. I quite like the idea of it whirring away.'


Buyers are currently required to secure planning permission - as happened with Tory leader David Cameron at his multimillion-pound home in Notting Hill. Some councils are throwing up obstacles.


However, the Department for Communities and Local Government has announced a change in planning rules. The change - unlikely to come into effect until the middle of next year - will allow windmills, unless they are in conservation areas or on listed buildings.


HARNESSING THE BREEZE

• The £1,500 Windsave windmill is mounted on a 6ft pole which needs to be at least 30ft in the air and out of the 'wind shadow' of any tall buildings.

• Typically, it will be mounted at the gable end of a property.

• A tail ensures it swings around to face into the wind.

• The average wind speed across the UK is 12.5mph at 33ft above the ground. The Windsave system will start to generate electricity at 9mph.

• The blades rotate to a maximum of 1,050 revolutions per minute. This creates a sound of 40-45 decibels, equivalent to someone talking.

[don muang] 14/9/2006 08:32

Blackpool lights powered by wind

[grupo] 12/7/2006 11:03

ABB wins 33 mln usd power equipment supply contract from Dutch wind farm Q7

ZURICH (AFX) - ABB Ltd said it has won a 33 mln usd contract to provide
power equipment and cable connection to Dutch wind farm Q7.
Q7 will be the largest wind farm in the Dutch North Sea -- producing energy
for approximately 140,000 homes -- and is scheduled to commence operations in
2007.
The Swedish-Swiss engineering group said it will provide underwater power
cables connecting 60 wind turbines to an offshore transformer station as well as
a power cable linking the offshore transformer to the grid onshore.
ABB also said it will provide and install primary equipment in the offshore
transformer station.

[e-mail]
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