Comments on: wind farm

By: cliff

cliff — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:59:33 +0000

Sorry, I should tell you how to contact me: cliffrock@gmail.com

Thanks!

By: cliff

cliff — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:55:41 +0000

Hi Paula,
Do you know if the image you use on your blog about the wind farm (http://locksparkfarm.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/wind-turbine-2.jpg) is public domain or who owns it? I would like to use it for some marketing material and am wondering if it’s available for use.
Thanks!
Cliff

By: paula

paula — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:46:16 +0000

Thanks for this Dustin – all interesting stuff. I haven’t as yet had time to look at your link properly but will do as soon as I have a chance.
It is difficult to get balanced info on many of the above issues. If you find any more do let me know.

By: Dustin

Dustin — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:46:51 +0000

You might have a look at http://www.withouthotair.com, which has a lot of interesting information on renewables – I recommend having a look at the presentations on the right-hand side. There is a lot of detail, but I’m reliably informed by colleagues that the author’s figures are credible.

On the subsidy issue – ROCs and all that – I’ve found it difficult to get balanced information, but it’s worth pointing out that both OFGEM and the Carbon Trust have been critical of the existing Renewables Obligation.

By: paula

paula — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 21:20:26 +0000

I have no idea how to do the smiley face thing either alison!

Thanks so much for visiting and giving a very interesting link to that wind turbine. I think it’s a case of the more you know the less you know…well it is for me.

Fantastic – your food zone – I hope it becomes a more and more popular thing to do. And good to meet a friend of Heidi’s too. You are a talented lot over there!

By: alison

alison — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 03:29:10 +0000

I’m not sure how I got a smileyface on my post…

By: alison

alison — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 03:27:54 +0000

While I haven’t looked into the whole wind farm issue, I have been keeping my eyes on a new small wind generator which is in the testing stages here in Portland Oregon. It is a vertical axis turbine, rather than the “giant propeller blades type” and is designed to be visible to birds, as well as being suitable for urban use. Not yet available, but will hopefully be in the next year or so…

http://www.oregonwind.com/

(I’m an artist friend of Heidi’s and trying to make a little sustainable backyard food zone here in the city, with veggies and fruit and hens…)

By: paula

paula — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:44:51 +0000

Thanks for all this useful info Lizzy. And yes, when you start to delve into these things there’are many different considerations – cost especially. Olly is quite keen to build one himself to keep the cost minimal – though buying all the components isn’t exactly a free dinner!

All the available methods need a lot of looking into and research – nothing presently looks perfect; though I’m sure it will come.

By: Lizzy

Lizzy — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:18:47 +0000

I looked into a turbine for our land recently but we don’t have enough wind here to make it viable. It has to be positioned without any mountains, hills, trees or buildings in any direction. Plus, even if you can find such a place in our immediate postcode, the average wind speed for the area is too low.

Turbines certainly need to be big to produce anything more than just a token amount of electricity and they are currently (I think) non-viable for households. For the £35K+ it would cost to place one of the correct size to generate all our electricity needs, I could leave all our electrical appliances and lights on for the rest of my life, and it wouldn’t cost as much.

Evangelists have said, well that is not the point. Saving the earth is the point. There is some debate regarding turbines and birds.

We’ve looking at an alternative method of lowering our bills, heating the house and generating electricity that doesn’t involve wind.

By: paula

paula — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:21:40 +0000

I’m all for your gut feelings mopsa!