Yes, I think a balanced approach to energy is a good idea.
As I said I don't mind wind turbines in an unobtrusive or industrial location. They can make a contribution to the overall energy supply, and it is a fantastic thing that they generate electricity without having to use any fuel, nuclear, fossil or otherwise
The question is should they be placed on a piece of barren, virgin hillside in full view of around 3 million people. Irrespective of the issues surrounding whether they are an efficient form of energy, I would prefer not to see them on that particular section of hills.
I liked it better the way it was, and thank goodness I managed to get the photo before they were put up there. I will have to use Photoshop to clone them out on any future photographs.
It all becomes a question of need. As few governments are keen to bite the bullet of controlling population growth, we will continue to see increased need for some sort of sustainable energy generation, with minimal environmental impact, and especially as more of our our existing power stations are decommissioned, and feeding fossil fuels to those remaining becomes ever more expensive. Reliance on oil/gas imports is a very risky strategy. So yes, I am prepared to tolerate wind farm presence. I have read of them killing large birds of prey, which is unfortunate, and maybe someone can come up with and idea to reduce the numbers killed.
BUT, is there any colour, other than their present white, which might make them stand out rather less? Some, viewed usually again a hill background might well be better in brown or green. Others seen against the sky might better be a dull grey. How might the photos look, if photo-shopped to paint them a different shade?
Their clean aerodynamic and clean lines may well be stunning, but they are never going to be a tourist attraction.
Clearly Rural Britain is not improved by lines of Industrial looking Turbines across the Landscape, whether on a prominant hiil, or viewed for miles around on Lincolnshires Fens. And so we are in complete agreement. It would be an ill wind that blew nobody any good, and so I think they might have their place in certain locations, although, I personally would follow the Geraman lead, and withdraw all subsidy, direct and stealth. If they are cost effective they do not need it. With regard to fluctuations, in production, see 'When the wind stops-the other side of the argument' and in particular the figures for October 2007. Pressumably a time of high need.
As I said I don't mind wind turbines in an unobtrusive or industrial location.
Yes, that small collection of wind generators and solar collectors on the roof top of a building in the Oxford Road/Hulme Street area are quite dramatic and add to the Manchester skyline.
You are referring to the innovative Green Building, which has stacks of solar panels and a lone wind turbine up on the roof.
How much power it produces, I'm not sure. At B&Q I've seen home wind turbines that can be installed on the roof of your house. I would certainly consider one of those, if it was possible to recoup the investment in a reasonable period, and then start saving on energy bills.
In the Darmstadt Manifesto (please google search) the point is made....'At present total energy consumption in Germany is growing about seventy times(!) faster than the production potential of wind energy.'.....and 'Wind energy is running a race which is already lost in an eeconomic order orientated towards growth.'
I feel myself that we are fortunate then, that we have an arrising Hydrogen powered technology, and that Fussion power can be achieved with Helium 3
What would houses in Manchester look like with wind turbines
That makes me wonder what the urban landscape of Manchester would look like with a forest of domestic wind turbines on the roofs of houses - in addition to the aerials, satellite dishes and other stuff.
I think they would look okay. Must try doing a visualisation in Photoshop.
A neighbour three houses up, has a fairly large one. There not unusual here on the Fens. They look ok (to me). And so I checked out the costs, against the benefits, using information trawled from the web. It seemed to be the case, that they produce so little benefit, it would not have paid for itself, within its own expected lifetime. But I did'nt do a very extensive study. Mainly because my imediate neighbour was complaining about the irratating squicky noise that keeps coming from the one close by, and I decided not to add to her troubles, and ultimatly, my own.
Sorry Aidan, I think it would look horrible. This whole green thing is a ridiculous fad and I completely switch off from it. Propaganda, especially when it comes from the political and business establishments, has a kind of reverse effect on me and I then tend to believe the exact opposite.
18/08/08, 09:57 PM
A useful energy source but not here please
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