Welcome to the Highlands

Welcome to the Highlands, the land of  sparkling Burns, The Heather hughed Glens, High Mountains where the Eagles soar, a land of Deer and Salmon, Kilts and Pipes. The Corbetts, the Grahams and the Monros. A place to revitalise the Spirit and the Soul. This is a land of proud people, people that will give any man the time of day.

But today a certain sadness pervades all. In a desperate drive for fame our politicians have sold Scotland and its wild places to the lowest bidder. The march of the wind factories is heard in the Glens. Tourism for Scotland is dead. Our way of life crushed beneath the greed of mostly foreign adventurers and aided by our Government and Planners.

This is the opportunity for all you to have your say and perhaps we will save something for our children.

The first great requisite of motive power is; that it shall be wholly at our command, to be exerted when, and where, and in what degree we desire.The wind, for instance, as a direct motive power, is wholly inapplicable to a system of machine labour, for during a calm season the whole business of the country would be thrown out of gear.

William Stanley Jevons (1865)

“God never made an ugly landscape. All that sun shines on is beautiful, so long as it is wild.”

— John Muir

“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is necessity; that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.”

— John Muir

Loch Shin and Ben Assynt Wind Farm application decision

After all the grand words about protecting wild places we may all look a little surprised at The Highland Council’s decision not to raise an objection to the two wind farms that came before them last week. This follows closely on the tail of Stronelairg over which no objection was raised.

The belief, wrong headed in my view, of Highland Councillors is that if they object to developments in isolated parts, we will see an explosion of proposals in more populated areas(I am reliably informed that there are a whole raft of applications being discussed). My view is that if they seem acquiescent to these developments, Highland Council will be seen as a soft touch and the explosion will be even greater. They have been sold this principle and they don’t really like it but they see the alternative as much worse. We have some planners who are beholden to the Climate lie! The truth is that as the Beauly-Denny line comes to its conclusion it will be like throwing chum off the back of a boat. The sharks will come in for a feeding frenzy the like of which we can’t even imagine. I know of at least three local schemes that are just awaiting developments and then will be putting in fast track applications. SSE has just approved £200million for Drumnaglas which we all thought had been superceded by West Glenmoriston. If they get their way there will not be one hill, glen or byroad not totally obliterated by a wind farm in this area. Other applications already approved have requested upgrades in size and extra turbines. Novar is now talking about Novar 3 and Fairburn is planning Fairburn 2 of an extra 36 turbines. The truth is that Highland Council, and by that we mean us, the “rate” payer, has to take a pragmatic view of what financial resources are available to fight these wind farms. If despite all the cost of a public local inquiry, ScotGov is simply going to rubber stamp the application in pursuance of their political ambitions, is this a responsible use of limited funds. Now here I and Highland Council may differ, as I believe that if you are seen as difficult and willing to take any application to the wire, developers, by their very nature, will pursue applications in other more welcoming areas. However, taking a pragmatic view; head rather than heart; I must accept that the termination of the Beauly-Denny line at the Wester Balblair substation means that we are dealing with a pack of cards of which the developers have all the aces and we are left with the joker. Our only hope is that the independence vote will show that the Scottish people are far happier to be part of a United Kingdom and that the SNP leadership are consigned to history, possibly as those that did more to destroy Scotland than the Duke of Cumberland. Then and only then can local democracy stand a chance of prevailing.

 

Are the New Planning Guidelines a Ray of Hope or just Humbug.

At the proposal of yet another mega windfarm we are advised:

the new planning policy

(1) is only a proposal at this stage

(2) won’t come into force until 2014

(3) contains no buffer zones and no absolute protection for most of the Scottish landscape

In truth there is little new here. There have been no wind farms built in National Parks although several National Parks have objected to proposals on their borders. No protection is being considered in those cases. National Parks are their own Planning Authority! They are already a Stakeholder. Outside, even by a yard, is outside their remit. Scottish Government have always parroted the line “not in unsuitable places” and yet applications in such as the Monaliadths have been approved. What this may bring is a rash of new applications in unsuitable areas to make sure the application is in before the new conditions become ratified. This is just political posturing whilst concealing the real aim. That is the economic development potential in green and unencumbered land. Like all contracts with people who have been proved un-trustworthy, READ THE SMALL PRINT! This really is a prime example of double speak.

There will be an opportunity for you to have your say. There will be national Drop-In events around Scotland. Take this opportunity to have your voices heard. I know that you know that they know that they don’t actually listen, but it is called Democracy,

City / Town         Venue  Date      Time

Inverness            Eastgate Centre                14 May 2013       9 am – 6 pm

Aberdeen           Bon Accord         15 May 2013       9 am – 6 pm

Irvine    Rivergate Centre              21 May 2013       9 am – 5.30 pm

Oban     Corran Halls        23 May 2013       12 pm – 6 pm

Dundee                Overgate Centre              28 May 2013       9 am – 6 pm

Edinburgh           The Gyle Centre               30 May 2013       9 am – 9 pm

Kirkwall                Kirkwall Town Hall            4 June 2013         1 pm – 6 pm

Glasgow               St. Enoch Shopping Centre          6 June 2013         9 am – 8 pm

Dumfries             The Cairndale Hotel        13 June 2013      9 am – 6 pm

 

Beauly Denny – 1, Ospreys – 0

A condition of the Beauly Denny line was contained in Section 13 and section 28. (a) – (f) whereby work is prohibited during the Osprey breeding season (April to August) where it would result in disturbance to nest sites in the working area for this very rare species of bird. In the Kilmorack and Ruttle Wood district there are two such nest sites but that has not stopped SSE and their contractors going ahead with wiring the new conductors which includes the use of helicopters. RSPB and SNH have both been appraised of the situation but have done nothing as has Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit. The Highland Council has taken some action which has resulted in a local bird expert being requested to present an urgent report. And anyone who thought that conditions of consent were to be adhered to must now realise that the interests of the wind energy companies over-rides all such conditions, UNLESS WE SHOUT VERY LOUDLY. A condition was attached not only on Osprey but on Hooper Swans and yet delays in work have meant that SSE, the company recently fined £10million for dishonest practices seem to think that they are above the law. RSPB, or should we say the Royal Society for the Protection of Wind Farms, have been complacent at best. In fact all the bodies have prevaricated and delayed, no doubt hoping that by the time they make some statement they can mitigate it by saying that SSE have now finished their work.

Time to shoot the Husky, David

An illuminating article by Delingpole on the collapse of the EU Carbon Trading Mechanism

High Court Ruling Supports Wind Turbine Exclusion Distances

The Spin of the Wind Industry is just a pack of lies. A recent court hearing about the Milton Keynes case in the High Court exonerated the Council and supported Exclusion Distances decided by Councils. Read the Windy Spin and you would think that they were in another High Court. Nanky-Poo comes to mind! The Full Report by the Renewable Energy Foundation is here. The local council has also written an open letter which clarifies their take on it. Letter to DCLG

The Great Wind Farm Scam – Struan Stevenson

Limitations of Renewable Energy

This is a must read for anyone interested in renewable energy and the real density of energy. Limitations

To understand the reality of energy density I would recommend a book by Robert Bryce called “Power Hungry”.

International Aid and Wind. The two worst parts of Government Policy

Pitcairn Island Pop. 55
UK aid for Renewables £31k per person!

Hey ho! You couldn’t write a more ridiculous scenario. What idiots have we got in our foreign office. We give a big grant to a south sea island and the aussie contractors pocket the cash and vanish. And no one is to blame.

The Mutiny on the Bounty (Part 11) Or how to waste our hard earned cash. Wonder which MPs had to go out on a fact finding visit?

Brief Summary of recent International Research on the Risk to Bats from Wind Turbines

Many thanks for this recent report on Bats. The facts speak for themselves. For a country whose greatest predator is The Midge, it seems strange that we would not better protect the one species that actively targets The Scottish Midge. The Bat is protected by Law and should you or I harm or damage a bat or its habitat, the full force of the law would descend upon us. Why then are wind farms immune from prosecution? Another Inconvenient Truth!

Acknowlegements:

Thanks go to Professor Paul Racey (Aberdeen) whose Press Announcement about the Risk to Bats from Wind turbines alerted me to these concerns, and who kindly sent me the initial 2 Research papers. Thanks also are due to Professor Ingemar Ahlen (Uppsala, Sweden); and to Professor Tom Kunz (Boston, USA). Both Professors Ahlen and Kunz have given me permission to quote from their Papers. The Bat Conservation Trust (UK) helpfully guided me through their comprehensive website. A Reference List of some of the Research Papers is attached at the end of this Summary, with guidance how to access them through the Internet, as they are all in the public domain.

 

Summary:

There is international acceptance that bats are killed by wind turbines, and also a concern that the population of some bats is in decline, including within the UK.

Legal Position:

The legal position in Europe is that in order to implement the EU Habitats and Species Directive, Member States have to enact their own domestic legislation, and in the UK this is done through the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc.) Regulations 1994 (amended in Scotland in 2004).  The European Commission keeps a close eye on how well member States are implementing the Directive. During the past couple of years, the UK has been obliged to make some changes.  Thus in the UK, the legal protection of bats was strengthened in relation to the EU Habitats Directive, and in Scotland the previous laws were again amended. We now have:    The Conservation (Natural Habitats etc.) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2007.    This states that “It is an Offence, intentionally or recklessly , to kill, injure or take a bat.”

Interestingly, the European Court of Justice in 2006 also made a Verdict against Germany, based on the Habitats Directive. This Verdict has been interpreted as “a prohibition against letting wind turbines operate if bat collisions are to be feared.” As a result, many wind turbines in Germany are now having to be stopped for periods of time. (from Prof Ahlen`s Paper 26).   (Verdict C-98/03 )

In the UK, recent prosecutions for killing bats appear to arise mainly from domestic, building and renovation incidents. For instance, in March 2005 in Fife, a man was fined in Court for killing 6 bats which had found their way into his children`s bedroom. As yet there has not been a prosecution for bats being killed by wind turbines (Bat Conservation Trust).

Eurobats Convention:

There is a European Convention of Bat Experts, including UK members, called The Eurobats Convention. In 2006 the Eurobats Convention produced detailed recommendations for bat surveys in relation to windfarm applications and operations. These recommendations included the need for both comprehensive pre-construction bat monitoring surveys, and also post-construction bat monitoring surveys. These 2 types of surveys are required to identify both the pre-construction population of bats in an area, with their foraging, flight patterns and roosting behaviour (for both resident and migrating bats), and then after the wind turbines are up and running, to have detailed monitoring again, so that the effects of the operating wind turbines on bats can be established in the same area, with respect to their foraging, flight patterns and roosting behaviour, and to examine bat deaths beneath the turbines.

The Bat Conservation Trust hosted a DEFRA funded “Turbines and Bats Workshop” in the UK in February 2007. This drew bat Experts from all over the UK and from Germany, to focus on the implementations in the UK of the Eurobats Recommendations of 2006.One of their unanimous conclusions identified the urgent need to asses and quantify bat deaths around already existing wind turbines in the UK (post-construction monitoring surveys). This would provide evidence for any further assessments required, and for recommendations in relation to bats and wind  turbines in the UK for the future. Their priority was to identify the existing mortality of bats around already working wind turbines in the UK.  They also noted the early research work of possibly using radar to discourage bats from approaching wind turbines (Nicholls and Racey 2007).

It is of concern to discover that in Scotland and the UK there have as yet been no formal post-construction bat monitoring surveys at all since wind turbines started to be built (as at 2009). There have been no surveys to discover how many bats are being killed by wind turbines. There is only anecdotal evidence in the UK that bats are being killed by wind turbines, usually provided by researchers looking for dead birds beneath the turbines. For instance, an ornithologist discovered the bodies of a  Pipistrelle bat and a Red Kite at the Braes of Doune Windfarm in Stirlingshire in Autumn 2007. Although financial subsidies are being paid to Energy Companies to encourage the construction of wind farms, no monies are being released to fund the necessary independent research into the consequences of operating wind turbines, particularly in relation to bat deaths (as at 2009).

Until such time as this situation is rectified, we have to rely for evidence on post-construction bat surveys from overseas. In the world of scientific research, it is good  practice to do so. Although we recognise that some of the overseas bats may be of a different species to those in the UK, there is evidence that some of the bats studied are of the same species as those found in Scotland (eg. Pipistrelles and Daubentons bats mentioned in Prof Ahlen`s Papers, and Pipistrelles mentioned in Prof Kunz` Paper).

Bats:

Before looking in more detail at some of the research Papers, it is useful to establish why there are so many concerns about bats. Bats are small flying mammals who are aerial hunters of their insect prey. They will fly long distances following insects, and have been observed in Sweden flying about 14 kilometres out to offshore windfarms to hunt overnight before returning to land .They occupy an important place in the natural balance of nature`s ecosystem, and together with insect eating birds such as swifts, swallows, house martins, red kites and willow warblers, take care of our insect population, including mosquitoes and midges. Insect-eating birds take care of the day shift, and bats take care of the evening and night shifts. It is estimated that 1 bat may eat 3,000 insects in one night. Within Europe, bats are considered now to be amongst the most endangered species of mammals, and their numbers are in significant decline (Brinkman and Schauer-Weisshaln 2002). In contrast to some other mammals, bats are slow to reproduce, the female bats usually giving birth to only one baby bat each year, in early summer. If a lactating bat is killed, then her pup will also die of starvation. Bats are vulnerable to natural disasters too, and in the summer of 2007 which was cold and wet, there were not enough flying insects for the adult bats, and the national helpline of the Bat Conservation Trust was inundated by calls from members of the public who were discovering baby bats starving, exhausted, and dying. Cats are also predators of bats, particularly the baby bats emerging from their nursery roosts. Because of their slow reproductive pattern, bat populations are particularly vulnerable to any deaths. All the researchers confirm that new bat mortality factors (such as wind turbines) cannot be easily compensated for, and the cumulative effect of regular bat deaths will continue to have a serious effect on bat populations. In the face of natural dangers, and in relation to the already steadily falling bat population within Europe, it seems unacceptable that man made structures such as wind turbines should recklessly present further hazards to bats.

Where are bats being killed by wind turbines?

From reading the research Papers, we know that bats are being killed in significant numbers by working wind turbines within a whole variety of geographical sites, including forested hilltops, agricultural plains, deserts, coastal areas and lakesides. Both resident and migrating bats have been victims. This seems to be confirmed wherever post-construction bat surveys are undertaken: in the USA, Canada, Spain, Germany, Australia and Sweden. (Kunz and Ahlen).  Professor Ahlen reports that Bat Conservation International estimate that approximately 1 bat may die every 2 days (in West Virginia and Pennsylvania USA). While Professor Kunz estimates that approximately 20 bats per MW of installed capacity may be killed annually in the USA.

Bats emerge from their hibernation sites in March/April, and are particularly vulnerable then, and also during their breeding season (June to October). It is suggested however, that bats can probably be killed at any time of their active year before they hibernate again in November.  Prof Kunz suggests that the only safe way to monitor bats is to undertake “full-season, multiyear research”, picking up the dead bodies within 24 hours, to reduce the effect of natural scavenging, which would render monitoring figures to be an underestimate.

 

How are bats killed by wind turbines?

From the research Papers it seems that bats are killed by wind turbines in 2 ways:

(1)   By collision with the rotating turbine blades.     Despite their echolocation skills, bats seem unable to identify the location of the moving turbine blades in time to avoid them. As we know, some blades can be rotating up to nearly 200 mph. It is estimated that about 20% of bat deaths around wind turbines are caused by collision with the rotating blades. (Kunz and Baerwald ).

(2)    By barotrauma.     When the wind turbine blades rotate, they create a vortex of negative atmospheric pressure. The bats get caught up in this and are swept into the vortex of negative pressure.  The negative pressure produces an effect like the bends in deep sea divers, and causes massive internal bleeding particularly in the lungs, causing instant death (barotrauma).    Baerwald et al. (August 2008) describes how more than 80% of bat fatalities at wind turbines are caused by barotrauma, rather than by collision.

Prof Ahlen says that internationally, the threat from wind turbines is now judged to be more serious for bats than even for birds, and understanding why bats are being killed by wind turbines remains an urgent priority.

Why are bats being killed by wind turbines?

In 2002, Prof Ahlen undertook a Pilot Study during August to September in southeastern Sweden. 160 wind turbines were investigated, resulting in 17 bats (of 6 species) and 33 birds (of 17 species) all found killed. Half the bats were resident and half migratory. Almost one third of the birds were swallows and swifts (which are insect-eating ). Other birds included willow warbler, mute swan, golden plover, buzzard and red kite.  Observations with heat imaging cameras showed that bats were actively hunting for insects in and around the turbine blades.

He continued these studies in 2003.  He found no evidence of acoustic attraction for bats to wind turbines. However, he did find that around the tops of the wind turbines (the nacelles) there were clear concentrations of flying insects, probably due to the heat radiation emitted by the nacelles. Using a heat imaging camera, it could be seen that the top part of the tower, the blades and the generator were warmer than their surroundings during the evening and the early part of the night. His observations showed that the attraction of insects to the wind turbines caused a concentration of hunting bats of both migrating and non-migrating species. Those same species were found dead under the turbines in the mornings.  He confirms that bats are at serious risk from wind turbines.

Also, in his study of Bats and Offshore Windfarms in 2007, Prof Ahlen found that as well as migrant bats, resident onshore bats were flying out about 14 kilometres across the sea to the wind turbines to feed on the abundance of insects around the nacelles of the turbines. For both the insects and the bats, the best flying conditions were in calm weather, or in a light breeze. The insects were collected and included many mosquitoes. It was discovered that some bats fed by skimming the water one minute, and then swooped up to feed in and around the turbine blades, so flight altitudes were very variable, depending on the available insects, and were different to their usual altitude patterns. Surprisingly, Pipistrelle bats (common and pygmy), and Daubenton`s bats were found flying out to the offshore turbines in large numbers. Sometimes, Pygmy Pipistrelles used the turbines as roosts.   Prof Ahlen concluded that bats will fly several kilometres to hunt insects, even over the sea, before returning to land. As insects seem to be attracted to the heat generated by the nacelles of wind turbines, bats will hunt them there, among the blades. The risk of collision or barotrauma is therefore as great at offshore windfarms, as at onshore windfarms.

Prof Kunz and Colleagues, and the UK Bat Experts also confirm that further research is needed to explore the phenomenon of insects gathering around the nacelles which then attract bats to wind turbines . (Prof Kunz in fact suggests 11 hypotheses which require urgent research including insect attraction, echolocation failure, and electromagnetic field disorientation).

In the Autumn of 2007, Horn et al. (of Boston) prepared a Paper to be published in the Journal of Wildlife Management, but released videos early, taken with a heat imaging camera, of bats flying and hunting in and around wind turbine blades.

The risk to bats from working windturbines:

 

Understanding this recent research, we are now aware of the active new dynamic which working wind turbines will introduce into the environment for bats. It seems  that the heat generated by the nacelles of the working turbines attracts insects in great numbers, and that bats will alter their previous flight patterns and deliberately fly to the nacelles to hunt the insects, and therefore be placed at risk of death, from collision with the blades or from barotrauma.  We now know that bats will follow swarms of insects over great distances to forage, even over the sea to offshore turbines, before returning home to their land roosts.  We can be aware therefore, that the Risk Assessment for Bats from Wind turbines cannot be fully established by solely relying on pre-construction bat monitoring surveys, as we know now that insect and bat behaviour will alter once wind turbines are up and running. We know that insect eating birds (eg. swifts and swallows) will also fly to working wind turbines during the day, and be at risk of collision.

This information of the effects of insect behaviour around wind turbines attracting bats actively to forage around the nacelles, and changing their previous flight patterns, is now in the public domain.

In relation to this information, the question could be asked as to whether the continued construction of wind turbines could be considered to be an offence of “recklessly killing bats”.

Should wind turbines continue to be constructed and the bat population decline further, then we might be faced with an upsurge in the numbers of midges and mosquitos.

(Vi Shannon February 2008)

Addenda:    

(1)     In 2009 it was announced that the Leverhulme Trust had awarded a research grant to Dr. Kirsty Park of Stirling University for a 2 year study, of the effects of domestic wind turbines on bats and birds. There is already observational evidence that bats and insect-eating birds such as swifts and house martins are being killed by microturbines. This is thought to be the first such study of its kind in relation to domestic turbines.

Dr. Park`s Statement can be accessed at:     http://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/news/Awards_in_Focus/RPGS2     (underscore between Awards and in, and between in and Focus).

In 2012 Dr. Park published her results in her initial Paper which can be accessed at:

http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0041177

and a further Paper published in the Journal of Applied Ecology 2012 entitled:

“Integrating Applied Ecology and Planning Policy: the case of Microturbines and Wildlife Conservation”  (Kirsty J. Park, Alex Turner and Jeroen Minderman)

(2)      Also in 2009 Amy Coyte (then Chief Executive of the Bat Conservation Trust) confirmed that research has now been commissioned by DEFRA to establish whether wind farms pose a threat to bat populations in the UK, and that the University of Bristol in partnership with BCT will take the preliminary research forward.

To my knowledge this will be the first such research project in the UK.

(Bat Conservation Trust: Bat News, Issue 88, Spring/Summer 2009, ISSN 0269 8501, and www.bats.org.uk)

(3)              An update from SNH in December 2010 confirms that SNH is engaged in the Project Steering Group for the DEFRA “Bat and Wind Turbine Study”.       The Study will be co-funded by DEFRA, the Countryside Council for Wales, Renewable UK and SNH. It will be carried out by Dr. Fiona Mathews and her Team at ExeterUniversity (not now by BristolUniversity).   The results of this Research Project would not be expected until 2 or 3 years hence (hopefully Autumn 2014).

The results of these UK Studies will be important, in helping to clarify the risk to bats from wind turbines as discovered in the UK, and to compare the results with the many Studies already available throughout the world.

References:

—- Professor Ingemar Ahlen……his recommended  Papers can be accessed at:

www.slu.se/ecology     (click on Staff, then on Ahlen)

Paper 4 …..2002 (Bats and Birds killed by wind power turbines)

Paper 10….2003   Wind turbines and Final Report to the Swedish National Energy                                                                               Administration  (translated into English in 2004)

Paper 26….2007…(Ahlen,I., Bach,L.,Baagoe,H.J.,Pettersson,J.)

Bats and Offshore wind turbines studied in Southern Scandinavia

Paper 2009….(Ahlen.I.,H.J.Baggoe and L.Bach)

Behaviour of Scandinavian Bats during migration and foraging at sea. Journal of Mammology 90(6) 1318-1223

—-Professor Thomas H. Kunz

His Paper can be accessed at: www.frontiersinecology.org

(And also if you Google the names of “RMR Barclay and E Baerwald pers comm.”)

2007….(Thomas H Kunz, Edward B Arnett, Wallace P Erickson, Alexander R Hoar, Gregory D Johnson, Ronald P Larkin, M Dale Strickland, Robert W Thresher and Merlin D Tuttle)

“Ecological Impacts of Wind Energy Developments on Bats: Questions, Research Needs and Hypotheses.”

(Front Ecol Environ 2007; 5(6): 315-324)

 

—–Gustave P Corten, Herman F Veldkamp

2001….Insects can Halve Wind-Turbine Power

This paper can be accessed at:   www.cortenergy.nl/NATURE.pdf

—–Horn et al 2007  ( Journal of Wildlife Management)

the videos can be accessed at:   www.bu.edu/cecb/wind/video

and also at: http://www.wind-watch.org/documents/infrared-video-clips-of-bats-interacting-with-wind-turbines/

(Horn Jason; Arnett Edward; and Kunz Thomas)

from Horn et al. 2008 Journal of Wildlife Management 72:1  123-132

and 2008:….  Jason Horn, Edward B. Arnett, Thomas H. Kunz

Behavioural Responses of Bats to Operating Windturbines

(Journal of Wildlife Management 72(1) 123-132, 2008

 

 

 

—–Dr. Robert Brinkmann, Horst Schauer-Weisshahn

2006…..Survey of possible operational impacts on bats by wind facilities in Southern Germany    (Frieberg, Conservation and Landscape management).

This paper can be accessed at: www.buero-brinkmann.de/downloads/Brinkmann_Schauer-Weisshahn_2006.pdf-

—–Tony Mitchell-Jones, Jean Matthews

2007…..Changes to the Habitats Regulations

This brief can be accessed in “Bat News”, (Bat Conservation Trust Issue 84  Autumn/Winter 2007  ISSN 0269 8501)

 

Baerwald E., D`Amours G.H., Klug B.J., Barclay R.M.R. August 2008……

“Barotrauma is a significant cause of bat fatalities at wind turbines”

(Current Biology, 2008, Vol.18, R695-696) …….Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, ABCanada T2N IN4

www.ucalgary.ca/news/aug2008/batdeaths

also www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090928095347.htm

Of additional interest:

Arnett E.B, Huso M, Schirmacher M, Hayes J.P,    May 2011

        ( Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment)

“Altering turbine speed reduces bat mortality at wind-energy facilities”

http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/100103

Clive Hambler (Lecturer at OxfordUniversity) writing in The Spectator             (5 January 2013)

“Wind Farms driving Birds and Bats to Extinction”

http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/wind/uk-ecologist-wind-farms-driving-birds-bats-to-extinction.html

Rare Earth Minerals – The Truth

Would you accept this in the UK? No, of course not. But this is what people in China (Xinguang Village) have to live with so that you can have your Prius cars, your mobile phones and your wind turbines. This is the residue from the processing of rare earth minerals such as Neodymium which is used in magnets for wind turbines, for the magnets in the electric motors in electric cars and even in mobile phones. The dead vegetation around is the result of the vapours and toxins exhuded by the waste materials. In recent months China has sought to reduce the sale of these minerals, citing ecological grounds. Obviously a shortage of the minerals, presently only produced in China as no other country has been able to pass the environmental standards in the production of these elements, has the advantage to China of increasing the prices. The US and EU have objected vociferously. Seems a little strange when neither the US or the EU would allow such mining practices in their countries. Surely they should be welcoming the belated concern as to the environment. Surely it couldn’t be about the cost, could it?

more photos

RSPB admits to earning one million pounds from wind energy deal

The RSPB are well noted for their stance, or lack of it, on wind farms. For a number of years they had an energy deal with SSE. Now they have a new dual fuel deal with Ecotricity. A recent article by James Delingpole is illuminating and exposes the organisation as a money grubbing politically motivated organisation far removed from it’s original remit. Should it remain with charitable status? They cling to the outdated notion that man made climate change will kill more birds than wind turbines but recent evidence points out that Climate Change has stalled. Not so their support for Renewable(wind) energy. James Delingpole’s article.

Gear we go, Gear we go, Gear we go!

The Turbine Story

We should have a very close look at the way these turbine generators work. Not the ‘wind-turns-blades-makes electricity’ stuff, but the very nature of their engineering.

Did you know they have 3 gearboxes? Each gearbox is controlled by a servo step motor, and these are, in turn, controlled by a little computer.

Gearbox 1, this turns the head so that the blade assembly faces into the wind.

Gearbox 2, this adjusts the pitch of the blades for optimum rotational force. (Not speed)

Gearbox 3, this connects the axle from the blades to the armature of the generator.

And they are all constantly being adjusted by their respective servo motors.

Burrr to the left, bur to the right, burrrrrr to the left, burrrr to the right.

All this to get the generator frequency to match the National Grid frequency of 50 Hz. It cannot be 1% out. There cannot be any error whatsoever as this would undermine the National Grid itself.

If the generator looses sync by 1 degree (not %) then it automatically disconnects from the Grid. When it re-establishes absolute sync, the generator re- connects with the Grid. So we now have — on—-off———on——————-off–on———————off———————on—–off. Get the picture? As for those gearboxes, they have to be replaced about every 2 years, having a lifespan of just 7 years. And each gearbox costs more than all the electricity the unit generated in that time. Who benefits from this? Neither the end user nor the environment due to the level of waste, but the contractors and the companies claiming huge subsidies to pay for the wind turbines their installation and maintenance. Yet when installed in a remote location, such as the various islands off Scotland where the National Grid cannot reach, they are a perfect solution. But once structured to be connected to the National Grid they become totally inefficient because their connection cannot be guaranteed.

Cosmo Anayiotos.

An Arrogant Snub to a Lovely lady

23rd March SNP Conference at Eaton Court, Inverness.

Despite high winds and very low temperatures a good turnout of protesters assembled at the Castle and marched through Inverness to the Eden Court Theatre. A petition raised by

Rhona Weir – widow of Tom Weir – an indefatigable and lovely lady of 93

Wind Wise Radio in the US was to be presented to the Alex Salmond by the 93 yr widow of Tom Weir. Rhona Weir is a lovely lady and the total arrogance of the SNP leadership that refused to accept the petition of some 4400 people from some 45 countries who value Scotland’s scenery and landscape. The best they could offer was a meeting with Paul Whitehouse, the rural affairs Minister at a hotel in the Town. This was an insult on the belief of out of sight out of mind!

The Source of Nonsense, but very costly Nonsense!

There is a world wide organisation that has a great number of very influential politicians on. Are they working for you? Like hell they are. Just have a look at this site and note the names and their position in the Climate Committees of UK PLC. Globe International The Climate Agenda has been driven from day one but big international pressure. From Enron to the IPCC and so many other interested parties. This organisation has been paying large sums of expenses to members of the Lords and Commons to travel to Climate Love-ins around the world. Where does their finance come from. This is an unelected lobby group that controls Climate Think in Westminster. All the members have financial interests in the Renewable industry. This is not about the good of the world. This is about making a few wealthy individuals with seats in Parliament stinking rich!

Germany’s Energy Supply Transformation Has Already Failed

Only days ago we had a load of Politicians waxing lyrical about German Wind. Too many Bratwürst after too may steins of German Lager. There are major problems with German Wind and a large and vociferous anti wind movement now in Germany. Read this article on the problems of energy in Germany.

A Living Nightmare

 

Perhaps Mr. Ewing will swap his house in wind farm free Cairngorm National Park with the Siddells.

 

The EU bet our future on red and black came up!

Read this article which asks why we bet the House on Climate Change and lost! Even the IPCC now agrees that their models were wrong. Who drew up the models? WWF was one guilty party and yet the BBC hangs on their every word. One might suggest that WWF activists are are bit like a certain seemingly fireproof TV presenter. They shafted everyone and laughed all the way to the bank! Like the presenter, they were also given the keys to the cookie jar.

It’s not about saving the environment, it’s simply about carpetbaggers Money

A recent briefing document for investors in the wind industry exposes the hypocrisy of the Renewable Industry. Nowhere is any comment made of the green credentials but much is made of recent legislation which will force up the cost of energy and the profits of the wind investors. Exposed by the Daily Telegraph and challenged by such stalwarts as the MP Chris Heaton-Harris, it again questions whether the DECC works for us or a small internal clique of “born again” evangelists. It is simply not fit for purpose and should be immediately disbanded with the portfolios distributed between Industry and Environment. Story here The cost to the consumer is a heart stopping £1 billion on our already considerable energy bills.

Barely 2000 jobs in Scotland’s On-shore Wind Farms

So Alex Salmond got his knuckles wrapped on his 18,000 jobs in the wind industry which he later had to downplay to 11,000 jobs, which figure he admitted was provided by Scottish Renewables. Well questions have been asked and Fergus Ewing has now provided a definitive reply. There are 2235 jobs connected directly to Scotland’s Onshore Wind Industry Farms. (click for story) So does this mean that the First Minister told an outright lie or simply believed one.

How many windfarms does it take to power a lightbulb? – Civitas

As we hear that the Cockenzie Coal Fired Power Station has now closed to comply with EU Emission targets, a quick look at this Civitas Comment would be appropriate!