Anger As SNP Backs Biggest Wind Farm on the Planet Just Days After Trump Condemned Turbines
The SNP has signed off on the world’s largest offshore wind farm in what conservationists are calling “a very dark day for seabirds”. The Mail has the story.
Ministers confirmed that the giant Berwick Bank project off the south east coast of Scotland – which will contain up to 307 turbines – has been given the go-ahead.
Developers SSE Renewables, claim that, if it is fully delivered, then it “would become the world’s largest offshore wind farm”.
Conservation groups raised concerns about the danger that the development will kill tens of thousands of puffins, kittiewakes and gannets, including globally important colonies at Bass Rock.
It comes just days after Donald Trump attacked the spread of “windmills” during his visit to Scotland, saying they were “ruining” countries in Europe. …
The development will feature up to 307 turbines and have two connection points to the grid – one in Dunbar, East Lothian and another in Blyth, Northumberland.
But the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and partner conservation groups condemned the decision to approve the development.
Anne McCall, director of RSPB Scotland, said: “This is a very dark day for seabirds. It is a terrible decision on a really bad development.
“Berwick Bank would be catastrophic for Scotland’s globally important seabirds which are already facing alarming declines. In addition, its impacts are so damaging they will make the relative impacts of other wind farms significantly higher.
“This one wind farm is going to make it really challenging to accelerate renewable projects across Scottish seas. We are incredibly concerned that Scottish Government have granted consent for a project which could catapult some of Scotland’s most-loved seabird species towards extinction.”
The National Trust for Scotland said the news was “deeply disappointing”, fearing there will be “significant harm” caused to seabird colonies at the nearby St Abb’s Head National Nature Reserve. …
The approval comes after the SNP Government unveiled a new target of having up to 40GW of offshore wind capacity by 2040, which is a significant ramping up from the existing target of 8-11GW by 2030.
Based on current average operating capacities it would mean an increase from around 1,000 turbines in five years’ time to 5,000 within 15 years.
“The approval comes after the SNP Government unveiled a new target of having up to 40GW of offshore wind capacity by 2040, which is a significant ramping up from the existing target of 8-11GW by 2030.”
UK seems to average about 30% of nameplate capacity from windmills, averages of course can include some very low numbers. So “capacity” numbers for windmills are not overly helpful. You can add as many windmills as you want, but that average will still include some very low numbers – and of course when the wind blows a lot you will have to pay them not to generate too much.
Indeed. Green finance is hard to obtain these days, because the city boys have finally woken up to the fact that they cannot have their cake and eat it. i.e. no money in green energy.
Presumably more giant pylons like the ones planned from Norfolk to the Thames. The Net Zero project is turnng our green and pleasant land into a metallic grey and black no-go area for nature.
They might be going for more submarine HVDC cable from north to south to cope with it. After all, Scotland can’t use it all locally at the peak values quoted.
Douglas Brodie
8 months ago
I was disappointed that President Trump didn’t give the SNP’s John Swinney a hard time. Maybe he’s being canny and biding his time.
In just a few words of supposed justification for the approval of the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Swinney summed up the lunacy of his thinking: “I am a believer in climate change”.
What an absurd statement given that the climate has always changed and always will. What he means of course is that he believes in alleged man-made CO2 global warming, a fake hypothesis which honest independent scientists have proven to be of negligible threat to the climate.
Even if the fake hypothesis were true, which it isn’t, it is obvious to anyone with more than two brain cells that unilateral UK Net Zero will make negligible difference to the global climate but will almost certainly ruin the UK. Swinney is either mad (short of brain cells) or bad (a puppet for the globalists who want to destroy us). Maybe a bit of both.
Correct. The absence of facts allows them to get away with all sorts of things without feeling guilty about it all. They can always appoint experts to deal with that.
Well done to Richard Eldred & the DS for featuring this, especially that heartrending photo. See how far the poor eagle has been flung away from the wind turbine blades, which is why the turbine companies use only a very small radius around the base of each turbine when doing surveys of wildlife killed.
Michael Staples
8 months ago
The Welsh, Scottish and Labour governments pursuing their fantasy of Net Zero are doing evil to people, the wildlife and the landscape. One day there will be a reckoning (in 2029) and I just wish these zealots could then be punished.
RTSC
8 months ago
I wonder if that great Eco Nutter, Charlie-Boy …. so concerned about the preservation of wildlife around the world ….. is going to be making a fortune from this deliberate destruction of Scottish sea birds?
Simon MacPhisto
8 months ago
40GW of offshore wind capacity that produced 0GW when the wind doesn’t blow. The back handers these clowns receive must be astronomical.
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“The approval comes after the SNP Government unveiled a new target of having up to 40GW of offshore wind capacity by 2040, which is a significant ramping up from the existing target of 8-11GW by 2030.”
UK seems to average about 30% of nameplate capacity from windmills, averages of course can include some very low numbers. So “capacity” numbers for windmills are not overly helpful. You can add as many windmills as you want, but that average will still include some very low numbers – and of course when the wind blows a lot you will have to pay them not to generate too much.
It will go bust.
Hasn’t ReformUK said that if they are to form a government that all subsidies for wind power will be removed.?
Who is going to finance the project?
You!!!!!
Indeed. Green finance is hard to obtain these days, because the city boys have finally woken up to the fact that they cannot have their cake and eat it. i.e. no money in green energy.
Another big theft from innocent taxpayers, the majority of whom don’t support the climate catastrophe lie.
Major problem: the RSPB is unreliable these days because it supports wind turbines on its own land. They can’t have it both ways.
The SNP do something stupid?
Well I never. I don’t think any of us could have foreseen such an occurrence.
No information on associated grid connections and other action required to make it work?
Presumably more giant pylons like the ones planned from Norfolk to the Thames. The Net Zero project is turnng our green and pleasant land into a metallic grey and black no-go area for nature.
They might be going for more submarine HVDC cable from north to south to cope with it. After all, Scotland can’t use it all locally at the peak values quoted.
I was disappointed that President Trump didn’t give the SNP’s John Swinney a hard time. Maybe he’s being canny and biding his time.
In just a few words of supposed justification for the approval of the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Swinney summed up the lunacy of his thinking: “I am a believer in climate change”.
What an absurd statement given that the climate has always changed and always will. What he means of course is that he believes in alleged man-made CO2 global warming, a fake hypothesis which honest independent scientists have proven to be of negligible threat to the climate.
Even if the fake hypothesis were true, which it isn’t, it is obvious to anyone with more than two brain cells that unilateral UK Net Zero will make negligible difference to the global climate but will almost certainly ruin the UK. Swinney is either mad (short of brain cells) or bad (a puppet for the globalists who want to destroy us). Maybe a bit of both.
Classic example of being ignorant is no handicap to a top political job.
Correct. The absence of facts allows them to get away with all sorts of things without feeling guilty about it all. They can always appoint experts to deal with that.
Not good news for defence radar either.
Well done to Richard Eldred & the DS for featuring this, especially that heartrending photo. See how far the poor eagle has been flung away from the wind turbine blades, which is why the turbine companies use only a very small radius around the base of each turbine when doing surveys of wildlife killed.
The Welsh, Scottish and Labour governments pursuing their fantasy of Net Zero are doing evil to people, the wildlife and the landscape. One day there will be a reckoning (in 2029) and I just wish these zealots could then be punished.
I wonder if that great Eco Nutter, Charlie-Boy …. so concerned about the preservation of wildlife around the world ….. is going to be making a fortune from this deliberate destruction of Scottish sea birds?
40GW of offshore wind capacity that produced 0GW when the wind doesn’t blow. The back handers these clowns receive must be astronomical.
‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ says the legacy political parties will do, without any thought, the opposite of what Trump says.