Shetland windfarm - Viking Energy

[paulb]

but this is the size of farm that the antis have wanted. another company thinks there is money to be made. could it just possibly be that there is money in the VE PLANS. worrying thought that the antis maybe wrong.

 

Maybe.. but this is in addition o the VE project and there would still enough capacity in the interconnector for a few more.

 

Like it or not, Shetland could easily become a massive generator.

 

And that's bad how. it does need a control over were thou. which should be coming from the planning dept.

[PressedCurdsOfMilk]

but this is the size of farm that the antis have wanted. another company thinks there is money to be made. could it just possibly be that there is money in the VE PLANS. worrying thought that the antis maybe wrong.

 

Maybe.. but this is in addition o the VE project and there would still enough capacity in the interconnector for a few more.

 

Like it or not, Shetland could easily become a massive generator.

 

And that's bad how. it does need a control over were thou. which should be coming from the planning dept.

 

What you say should be right, but I doubt if that will happen in reality.

The planning department opposed VE saying it would have unacceptable environmental impact and therefore would be contrary to the local development plan. They were ignored.

Is this acceptable to you and do you think it bodes well for the control of similar future developments? (I think you are fantasising if you think this is or even could be under control)

[stilldellin]

I take it this would be scheduled maintenance going on at Burradale or has there been a lot of wind up North recently ? :-

http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb479/beenister/burradale2.jpg

http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb479/beenister/burradale1.jpg

[ArabiaTerra]

It's routine:

 

http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2012/07/12/burradale-blades-removed-for-maintenance-work

[paulb]

yes routine servicing. a bit like tire changes. they get worn.

[stilldellin]

^ So which part is it that lasts 25 years ?

[shetlandpeat]

Never heard of Triggers Broom?

[paulb]

^ So which part is it that lasts 25 years ?

the none moving bits.

[PressedCurdsOfMilk]

^ So which part is it that lasts 25 years ?

the none moving bits.

 

I heard that subsidies are moving. They might last for 25 years, but will probably wear down like some of the other moving parts... apparently

[paulb]

yes im sure they will.but the cost of power is not going to be less in 25 years time.

[Ghostrider]

^ Perhaps not, but can you guarantee that windmills aren't going to be obsolete on financial grounds long before 25 years are up? Their maintenance and repair budget is going to continue to spiral, the older machinery gets the more troublesome it becomes, and wages, manufacturing, transport etc costs are going to steadily rise due to inflation.

 

On a "good" year Burradale can (allegedly) attain approx 56% output, all it takes is for advances in technology to be able to have tidal units installed and maintained for the same cost as equivalent plated wind output, and windmills are dead. There only two periods of slack water every 24 hours which combined last a whole lot shorter than 44% of each day....Need I go on, its basic arithmetic.

 

Shetland is exceedingly stupidly throwing money at a dying golden egg laying goose, the writing is on the wall, wind has already peaked and at best will tread water from here on. The smart people got in at the very start, have already made their mint from the subsidies, and are now coasting not really caring whether their windmills still turn or not, waiting to be in at the beginning of the next wave of technology.

 

You very probably weren't here when previous South Sea Bubbles landed in Shetland, but a little lesson from history might not go amiss here...."learn from history, or you're destined to repeat it...." bumpf and all that. Salmon Farming arrived in the 80's, a few forward looking astute individuals caught on right away, set themselves up, and did very, very well out of it. Then the second wave caught on, joined them and did quite well too, thankyou very much. Finally a third wave came along and invested, but before they had a chance to thrive, the market fell apart, the industry began to evolve, consolidate and restructure, and most of the third wave went down the tubes, taking their shirts with them....

 

Almost all new industries evolve in the same manner, and windmills are now entering their "third wave".... Far better Shetland just sits on its hands and cash and waits to jump on the next wave of technology, if we must get inveigled at all.

[matlo]

^^^

[ArabiaTerra]

On a "good" year Burradale can (allegedly) attain approx 56% output, all it takes is for advances in technology to be able to have tidal units installed and maintained for the same cost as equivalent plated wind output, and windmills are dead. There only two periods of slack water every 24 hours which combined last a whole lot shorter than 44% of each day....Need I go on, its basic arithmetic.

 

Basic Arithmetic FAIL!

 

What on earth gives you the idea that a tidal stream runs at full flow all the time except at slack water?

 

The flow of the tides follows a sine wave. The only time the flow is at maximum is at the top of the wave. The average output from the tide and from any tidal generator is 50%. That is the maximum possible output for any tidal generator over a 24 hour period.

 

And no technological innovation can ever make tidal generators as cheap to install or maintain as onshore wind because they are under the water. They will always be more expensive.

 

And finally, how will tidal generators be exempt from exactly the same wear and tear and rising maintenance costs as onshore wind as they age, except that such costs will be much larger because they are under the water.

 

You do post some drivel sometimes, Ghosty.

[stilldellin]

^ Quote from above :-

costs will be much larger because they are under the water.

 

and best place for them, and it seems costs are now irrelevant as it means the planet will be saved.....

[Ghostrider]

On a "good" year Burradale can (allegedly) attain approx 56% output, all it takes is for advances in technology to be able to have tidal units installed and maintained for the same cost as equivalent plated wind output, and windmills are dead. There only two periods of slack water every 24 hours which combined last a whole lot shorter than 44% of each day....Need I go on, its basic arithmetic.

 

Basic Arithmetic FAIL!

 

What on earth gives you the idea that a tidal stream runs at full flow all the time except at slack water?

 

The flow of the tides follows a sine wave. The only time the flow is at maximum is at the top of the wave. The average output from the tide and from any tidal generator is 50%. That is the maximum possible output for any tidal generator over a 24 hour period.

 

You think?

 

The average output from a tidal generator, sited within the tidal stream may, or may not average 50% of plated, but that is not the only method from which tidal energy can be harvested, and if other concepts were to prove workable the output theoretically could be very much higher.

 

And no technological innovation can ever make tidal generators as cheap to install or maintain as onshore wind because they are under the water. They will always be more expensive.

 

And finally, how will tidal generators be exempt from exactly the same wear and tear and rising maintenance costs as onshore wind as they age, except that such costs will be much larger because they are under the water.

 

Firstly, tidal can have higher actual ongoing costs if it also has higher output (earning) capacity, its all about percentage of income written off to those costs, not the actual numbers.

 

Secondly, tidal generators need not necessarily be under the water, they just need a method to harvest the energy from the water.

 

So far the concept of "tidal" has been punted to one and all as anchoring or otherwise securing an assortment of hurdie gurdies directly in strings. Of course its difficult (and expensive) to install and maintain, its exposing the hardware to a massive battering. Were I to slip in to conspiracy theorist mode for a moment, I might be tempted to say it was approaching the task from the most difficult angle, just to "prove" what a bad idea it is.

 

There are many, many other opportunities out there from which energy from the effects of tides could be harnessed, I'm not saying everyone of them will work, or work well enough to be commercially viable, but they're worth investigating. Its nigh on impossible though for your average Joe Public to educate themselves on any of it though, as information and data is sparse and difficult to source.