Is wind power doomed?

[milifestyle]

Wind Power is THE way to go... Unfortunately it takes intelligence to realize that - not something we can get from a government.

[Besoeker]

Originally Posted by milifestyle

Wind Power is THE way to go... .

I don't agree. We are a long way from solving the predictability and variability on a scale to make it THE way to go.
In fact, I don't think there is any one size fits all type of solution.

[Windguy]

Originally Posted by Besoeker

I don't agree. We are a long way from solving the predictability and variability on a scale to make it THE way to go.
In fact, I don't think there is any one size fits all type of solution.

They are there hidden in the background. It takes a lot of money, resources and the ability to gamble with a lot of money to investigate far better methods of capturing wind. You spend the time and money, and someone else goes one better. That would have to suck.

Future wind generators will possibly be 100Mw + and is capable of averaging out their output somewhat whilst rotating at slow speeds and accelerate up quickly. The chinese Maglev (not the train) is the first of such windgenerators. The standard windgenerator whilst has been a good faithful design, will eventually die off, but not by basic simplistic small generators such as the Turby on Beyond Tomorrow.

[milifestyle]

.... that is true but as a general rule once the skeleton of a windfarm is in place its only a matter of updating the out put, controls and general maintenance. But i'm not an expert in this area. Just thinking logically.

[LMagic007]

I think it's also important to appreciate that to progress technological development, you have to have technological development. You effectively have to "suck it and see". In order to improve wind technology, we have to have wind technology. We have to see what works and what doesn't.

Most technologies are evolutionary, rather than revolutionary breakthrough discoveries. Knowledge is built upon knowledge. New wind turbine designs are often influenced by previous designs. The same applies to most technologies. Wind power is just one way to go, solar is another, something else is another. As indicated, there is no single way though.

Thus my view in gerneral and global terms, is yes wind power is a way to go, but then so are other energy technologies and no wind power is not doomed, but it is evolving.

[Besoeker]

Originally Posted by Andrea

Oh, so they want the scheme?

According to my relatives who live there, yes they do.
Rather, they wanted it. But it doesn't look like it will get approval.
It would have been a valuable boost to the local economy.
And wind is one of the few natural reaources there.

From what I heard on the radio, one of the bodies most vociferous in lobbying against the project was the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
As Angus Campbell (vice-convener of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar) said, with a bit of resignation in his voice, "There are far more of them than there are of us."

In fact the RSPB has fifty times as many members as the entire population of Lewis.

[forfi]

Originally Posted by Andrea

Oh, so they want the scheme?

Oh no they don't except for the usual greedy buggers who stand to profit from the thing at the expense of others and the landscape and the ecology.There are still a lot of ifs and buts about this scheme and one needs to look closer at the sponsors and backers.As I have mentioned before Airtricity sold out here in Ireland and made 104 millionaires and a few multimillionaires on the backs of others.The never did manage to sell much power but did well on subsidies.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/renewable/...824720,00.html

The wind farm will be capable of producing a maximum of 700 megawatts of electricity, more than half the output of a modern nuclear power station.

Note the words " a maximum",only when there is a K in the month

http://www.robedwards.com/2004/10/battle_brewing_.html

So the hard fought for environmental protection can be cast aside to line the pockets of a few profiteers?

http://www.independent.co.uk/environ...se-774277.html

[LMagic007]

I just hope that the statistical information presented by the powers that be is accurate, so that a true and fair comparison of risk can be made and represented in the deliberations leading to their recommendations.

[spadlet]

Originally Posted by geoguy

Literally hundreds of thousands of resident and migrating birds are being slaughtered by wind generators. countless more thousands of bats and untold numbers of butterflies and other insects.

Conservation groups have been fighting these 'feel-good' monstrosities (including RSPCA) for over a decade.

As far as I am aware wind turbines are only supposed to be a potential problem for migratory species of birds and it is usually advised not to try and build a wind farm on a migratory route in the UK. There doesn't seem to be a significant problem with resident birds as they get used to them and the modern ones tend to have reletively low tip speeds. I've seen a photo of birds sitting along the edges of the blades of a wind turbine at RSPB Old Moor reserve, so it can't be a problem all of the time.

(I don't have any evidence either way for bats and butterflies etc)

[forfi]

The bigger ones need to have flashing lights for aircraft warning and these attract birdies.That also buggers up astronomy for any amateurs living near by.