The Mirror (Foster), Page: 3 Wednesday,
9 August 2006
COMPROMISE was finally reached in a lengthy and at times passionate debate on wind farms at last Wednesday's meeting of South Gippsland Shire Council at Port Welshpool. Cr David Lewis had proposed the motion: That Council writes to the Federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage in support of the submission on the proposed national code for wind farms made by the Prom Coast Guardians, dated 26 May 2006, and requests the Minister ensure that wind farms are not constructed without the approval of the local council involved. 'Affronted by what she saw as "an outrageous attempt to bulldoze a sectional interest through Council", Leongatha resident Wilma Western rose to her feet in the public gallery during submissions and expressed her outrage that Council should consider supporting the submission of a lobby group whose views were contrary, she said, to those of many ratepayers. "Please listen to all points of view," she pleaded.
When it came time to debate the motion, Cr Bob Newton was first to stand up, stating that he should not vote as he owned a property at Korumburra which had been identified as having potential as a wind farm site. Cr Heather Bligh suggested that Cr Lewis's motion be split and the two points - Council writing to the Minister in support of Prom Coast Guardians' submission and Council requesting the Minister ensure that wind farms are not constructed without the approval of local councils - be voted on separately. Cr Lewis made the point that neither Council nor Prom Coast Guardians were against wind energy facilities per se, but that they saw difficulties in finding appropriate locations. He said that the State Government in its planning guidelines had removed the rights of communities to have a say in the location of wind farms, although it had been recognised that they produced significant noise, many people found turbines unsightly and they had a detrimental effect on land values.
Cr Lewis said that in contrast to the State, the Federal Government had proposed a national code which would bring local councils and the communities they represented back into the equation regarding wind farms. He was supported by Cr Kieran Kennedy, who added that it would be helpful to have a national code on a variety of issues for the sake of clarity and to make the job of councillors easier. Cr Clyde Paterson said he agreed with many of the points raised so far, but he was not in favour of endorsing a view which came from a pressure group -Prom Coast Guardians. He claimed that Council was gaining a reputation of being against wind farms, when this was not the case, and he lamented the time spent on discussing wind farms when there were "many more important issues Council should be dealing with."
Cr Paterson did, however, praise the quality of Prom Coast Guardian's submission, but he said that a poll should be taken of all ratepayers in the shire before one particular view was pushed by Council. He asked councillors not to support Cr Lewis's motion. At this point Cr Diane Casbolt said that as a member of Prom Coast Guardians she had a declared interest and should not be voting on the motion, but she added that she believed there was a need for a national code on wind farms. Cr Bligh spoke next, saying that in contrast to Cr Paterson she felt that Council had not spent enough time on wind farms.
"Much as I support a national code, I can't support this motion unless it is debated by the community. That is why I am calling for the motion to be split. 1 can't support the first part," she said. Cr Bob Newton was reminded to keep to the point when he said that he agreed that "we've wasted enough time on this issue" and that the water issue was the most alarming one around. He went on to say that he did not believe that there was one property which had decreased in value because of wind turbines. He added that Senator Campbell had egg on his face for halting the Bald Hills Wind Farm because of the Orange-bellied Parrot - because there was no parrot.
Cr Kennedy and Toora resident Steve Garito had rejoinders for Cr Newton later, when it came time for 'Urgent or Other Business. 'Cr Kennedy claimed that he had had an Orange-bellied Parrot in his front yard. "How do we go about getting a rate reduction?" asked Steve Garito, stating that the value of his property had dropped considerably since the Toora wind energy facility had been built nearby, whilst there had been a general increase in property values of around 25 per cent across the shire. "Wind energy facilities do devalue the land and this is a cost councils will have to bear in the future," he said, a view which was supported by the mayor, who promised to take his question on notice.
Concerned, he said, that three councillors would not be voting on his motion (Cr Jennie Deane was absent on leave), Cr Lewis recommended altering it to read That Council writes to the Federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage in support of a national code for wind farms and requests the Minister ensure that wind farms are not constructed without the approval of the local council involved. 'The mayor, Cr Nigel Hutchinson-Brooks, took the opportunity to speak at this point, prefacing his remarks with the understatement "Wind farms are a fairly emotional issue."
The mayor said he had a background as a planner in favour of sustainable development and he was disappointed that not nearly enough was being done to promote either solar energy or water saving measures. He objected, he said, to wind farms being thrust on communities who did not want them and he said as someone who had expertise in planning issues relating to airports he could understand the objections people had to the noise from wind turbines. "No-one in government is taking things seriously enough. The community gets nothing from wind farms," he said [at which point Cr Newton remarked that history had shown the Toora community had benefited quite considerably from its wind farm].
Cr Hutchinson-Brooks said that it was unfair that wind energy facilities were an industry but councils could only charge rural rates for them. He stressed that he was not opposed to wind farms but was against them at inappropriate sites, such as Dollar. What he particularly objected to was that the view of local councils on wind farms had been wiped out [by the State]. "It's the biggest issue facing this generation," said Cr Lewis, defending the time spent on the wind farm debate.
"If the government had its way the whole of South Gippsland would be covered with wind turbines. "He said that the government saw green votes in wind farms and the multinationals welcomed the subsidies. "Don't make the people of South Gippsland pay for it!" he urged. He said that his motion was designed to give power back to Council.
The amended motion was passed unanimously, Cr Casbolt having withdrawn her declaration of interest once the Prom Coast Guardians were dropped from the motion. Wilma Western saw the amendment as a victory of sorts, commenting later that it might not have happened without her submission. She said there had been a lot of intimidation surrounding the wind farm debate in the community and she "was concerned that there had been some blatantly political views aired" at the Council meeting. Secretary of Prom Coast Guardians, Peter Wingett, was also at Wednesday's meeting. He said he would have preferred the original motion getting up, but he was happy with the motion that Council had passed supporting a national code on wind farms.
Saturday, 12 August 2006
Blow-in for west
Herald Sun, Page: 3
Saturday, 12 August 2006
A NEW $66 million wind farm has been approved for the state's southwest. The 21-turbine farm at Naroghid, 7km south of Camperdown, will be built on grazing land leased from farmers. Victoria's eighth wind farm should generate enough capacity to power 25,000 homes a year. Planning Minister Rob Hulls said the permit, granted to Wind Farm Developments, had been approved by an independent panel.
Each turbine will be 125m tall and they will be spaced about 300m apart.
Saturday, 12 August 2006
A NEW $66 million wind farm has been approved for the state's southwest. The 21-turbine farm at Naroghid, 7km south of Camperdown, will be built on grazing land leased from farmers. Victoria's eighth wind farm should generate enough capacity to power 25,000 homes a year. Planning Minister Rob Hulls said the permit, granted to Wind Farm Developments, had been approved by an independent panel.
Each turbine will be 125m tall and they will be spaced about 300m apart.
Wind benefits
The Wimmera Mail-Times, Page: 5
Friday, 11 August 2006
RESIDENTS of a southern Mallee township at the centre of a study into renewable energy have rejected claims that wind farming will 'tear the community apart'. The Hopetoun community is adamant that the University of Ballarat research project will benefit the town and its people. Hopetoun Progress Association committee member Bert Hallam said the community was excited about the imminent study."This is certainly a positive thing for the community," Mr Hallam said. "The progress association and others have embraced the idea of renewable energy."The University of Ballarat will start a $100,000 study into Hopetoun's power demand and potential renewable energy technologies later this month.
Nationals leader Peter Ryan challenged the feasibility of renewable energy resources for rural communities in State Parliament yesterday. He said social issues were of 'significant concern in communities where the construction of wind turbines had divided residents'.
But Mr Hallam said the people of Hopetoun were ready for wind turbines and other renewable energy resources."I don't think anyone is concerned about the impact it will have on the community," he said."This won't tear us apart."The only thing that will tear us apart will be choosing whose property gets the turbines.
"University of Ballarat National Centre for Sustainability manager Dennis Olmstead, who will coordinate the study at Hopetoun, said it was an 'exciting opportunity for everyone in the town'."Through this project we aim to investigate the possibility of developing permanent, secure provisions of renewable energy for the Hopetoun area.".
Friday, 11 August 2006
RESIDENTS of a southern Mallee township at the centre of a study into renewable energy have rejected claims that wind farming will 'tear the community apart'. The Hopetoun community is adamant that the University of Ballarat research project will benefit the town and its people. Hopetoun Progress Association committee member Bert Hallam said the community was excited about the imminent study."This is certainly a positive thing for the community," Mr Hallam said. "The progress association and others have embraced the idea of renewable energy."The University of Ballarat will start a $100,000 study into Hopetoun's power demand and potential renewable energy technologies later this month.
Nationals leader Peter Ryan challenged the feasibility of renewable energy resources for rural communities in State Parliament yesterday. He said social issues were of 'significant concern in communities where the construction of wind turbines had divided residents'.
But Mr Hallam said the people of Hopetoun were ready for wind turbines and other renewable energy resources."I don't think anyone is concerned about the impact it will have on the community," he said."This won't tear us apart."The only thing that will tear us apart will be choosing whose property gets the turbines.
"University of Ballarat National Centre for Sustainability manager Dennis Olmstead, who will coordinate the study at Hopetoun, said it was an 'exciting opportunity for everyone in the town'."Through this project we aim to investigate the possibility of developing permanent, secure provisions of renewable energy for the Hopetoun area.".
No ill wind for project
Melbourne MX, Page: 2 Friday,
11 August 2006
The State Government has shrugged off the Bald Hills wind farm controversy and approved another similar project. The $80 million Naroghid wind farm, to be built mainly in cleared grazing land near Camperdown in western Victoria by New Zealand company Wind Farm Developments, is expected to power about 24,000 homes after it is constructed in 2008. The project ’s approval came despite an earlier move by Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell to block a 52-turbine wind farm in South Gippsland, citing concerns about the endangered orange-bellied parrot. Wind Farm Developments spokesman Jonathan Upson said the company had sought an area free from controversy.
He said the Naroghid site, where 21 turbines will be built on 600ha, was appealing because it was on a plateau that got good winds and was on an electrical transmission line. He said as the site was cleared grazing land there were no environmental issues.
11 August 2006
The State Government has shrugged off the Bald Hills wind farm controversy and approved another similar project. The $80 million Naroghid wind farm, to be built mainly in cleared grazing land near Camperdown in western Victoria by New Zealand company Wind Farm Developments, is expected to power about 24,000 homes after it is constructed in 2008. The project ’s approval came despite an earlier move by Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell to block a 52-turbine wind farm in South Gippsland, citing concerns about the endangered orange-bellied parrot. Wind Farm Developments spokesman Jonathan Upson said the company had sought an area free from controversy.
He said the Naroghid site, where 21 turbines will be built on 600ha, was appealing because it was on a plateau that got good winds and was on an electrical transmission line. He said as the site was cleared grazing land there were no environmental issues.
No ill wind for project
Melbourne MX, Page: 2 Friday,
11 August 2006
The State Government has shrugged off the Bald Hills wind farm controversy and approved another similar project. The $80 million Naroghid wind farm, to be built mainly in cleared grazing land near Camperdown in western Victoria by New Zealand company Wind Farm Developments, is expected to power about 24,000 homes after it is constructed in 2008. The project ’s approval came despite an earlier move by Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell to block a 52-turbine wind farm in South Gippsland, citing concerns about the endangered orange-bellied parrot. Wind Farm Developments spokesman Jonathan Upson said the company had sought an area free from controversy.
He said the Naroghid site, where 21 turbines will be built on 600ha, was appealing because it was on a plateau that got good winds and was on an electrical transmission line. He said as the site was cleared grazing land there were no environmental issues.
11 August 2006
The State Government has shrugged off the Bald Hills wind farm controversy and approved another similar project. The $80 million Naroghid wind farm, to be built mainly in cleared grazing land near Camperdown in western Victoria by New Zealand company Wind Farm Developments, is expected to power about 24,000 homes after it is constructed in 2008. The project ’s approval came despite an earlier move by Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell to block a 52-turbine wind farm in South Gippsland, citing concerns about the endangered orange-bellied parrot. Wind Farm Developments spokesman Jonathan Upson said the company had sought an area free from controversy.
He said the Naroghid site, where 21 turbines will be built on 600ha, was appealing because it was on a plateau that got good winds and was on an electrical transmission line. He said as the site was cleared grazing land there were no environmental issues.
Wind turbine approved for Keysbrook
Mandurah Mail, Page: 36 Thursday,
10 August 2006
A TWENTY-metre high wind turbine to generate electricity on a rural lot has been approved by Murray Shire Council, despite some objections from neighbours. After discovering the cost to connect to the electricity grid on their new property in Preece Road, Keysbrook would be $12, 900, the residents decided to use solar power instead. But with the shorter days and cloud cover of winter they said they have not been getting enough solar power to meet their needs and have had to rely on a generator to boost the batteries. Using the generator was not a long-term solution, as it is loud and expensive to run, with the shire receiving a noise complaint about the generator from a neighbour.
The wind turbine will have a central pole 20 metres high with rotors 2.1 metres in diameter. Approval was given on the condition the turbine was painted a non-reflective colour that blended into the surroundings.
10 August 2006
A TWENTY-metre high wind turbine to generate electricity on a rural lot has been approved by Murray Shire Council, despite some objections from neighbours. After discovering the cost to connect to the electricity grid on their new property in Preece Road, Keysbrook would be $12, 900, the residents decided to use solar power instead. But with the shorter days and cloud cover of winter they said they have not been getting enough solar power to meet their needs and have had to rely on a generator to boost the batteries. Using the generator was not a long-term solution, as it is loud and expensive to run, with the shire receiving a noise complaint about the generator from a neighbour.
The wind turbine will have a central pole 20 metres high with rotors 2.1 metres in diameter. Approval was given on the condition the turbine was painted a non-reflective colour that blended into the surroundings.
Focus on the environment
The Moyne Gazette, Page: 3
Thursday, 10 August 2006
PORT Fairy Consolidated School is hoping to develop solar and wind energy facilities planned for a new building into a community education resource. Principal Michael Keyburn said the school hoped to create a visual display board that would show how much energy was generated by solar panels and a small wind power generator that were planned for the new building.
The display board will be part of a move to give other schools and community groups an opportunity to see how solar and wind energy was produced. Mr Keyburn said the State Government had approved to fund part of the cost of the construction of a wind power generator and the school was seeking sponsorship from wind power companies with interests in the Moyne Shire to meet the remainder.
He said Moyne Shire Council was helping the school determine the amount of funding needed to develop the renewable energy sources to be installed at the school into a community education resource. The use of renewable energy is part of an environmental theme for a new bank of 10 classrooms to be built at the school. Expressions of interest from builders wanting to be involved in the classroom project closed yesterday. Tenders will soon be invited from a shortlist of applicants and construction is expected to get underway in November.
Thursday, 10 August 2006
PORT Fairy Consolidated School is hoping to develop solar and wind energy facilities planned for a new building into a community education resource. Principal Michael Keyburn said the school hoped to create a visual display board that would show how much energy was generated by solar panels and a small wind power generator that were planned for the new building.
The display board will be part of a move to give other schools and community groups an opportunity to see how solar and wind energy was produced. Mr Keyburn said the State Government had approved to fund part of the cost of the construction of a wind power generator and the school was seeking sponsorship from wind power companies with interests in the Moyne Shire to meet the remainder.
He said Moyne Shire Council was helping the school determine the amount of funding needed to develop the renewable energy sources to be installed at the school into a community education resource. The use of renewable energy is part of an environmental theme for a new bank of 10 classrooms to be built at the school. Expressions of interest from builders wanting to be involved in the classroom project closed yesterday. Tenders will soon be invited from a shortlist of applicants and construction is expected to get underway in November.
Tuesday, 8 August 2006
The farmers' burden
The Gundagai Independent, Page: 5
Thursday, 3 August 2006
The Federal Government's recent claims of meeting greenhouse commitments fails to recognise the extraordinary burden placed on farmers to achieve this outcome according to the NSW Farmers' Association. Chair of the NSW Farmers' Association's Conservation and Resource Management Committee, Louise Burge says Australia can only claim to be meeting its greenhouse commitments because of restrictions imposed on agricultural land, primarily native vegetation restrictions."Australian Greenhouse Office reports show that agriculture is effectively subsidising the greenhouse gas pollution of - other industries, leaving family farming businesses to foot the bill for other industry sectors," Mrs Burge said." There is no compulsion on these greenhouse emitters to pay agriculture for the burden imposed,""In fact Government policies have created this inequity via agreements made in relation to the Kyoto Protocol, where potential future carbon credits schemes can only apply to vegetation planted or regrown since 1990 should Australia sign the convention," Mrs. Burge said.
Mrs. Burge says the real sting in the tail comes from the Federal Government's recent change to thetaxation arrangements in regard to renewable fuels."On the one hand Government policy is directing industries, including agriculture to become more greenhouse efficient -yet supports policies that don't fully recognise the environmental importance of renewable fuels such as biodiesel that can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 70%," Mrs. Burge said.
"Now, with many farmers wishing to reduce their fuel costs and reduce their impacts on the environment, Governments should be aware of the benefits of renewable fuel and support the use of biodiesel as a way of meeting international emissions," Mrs. Burge said.
Mrs. Burge is also concerned that a report by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) due to be released in December will place yet more of the greenhouse burden on agriculture and still fail to address the major greenhouse pollution caused by the energy and transport sectors."COAG's report may well find farmers facing new restrictions on the use of fertilisers or having to find solutions to prevent their cows passing too much wind," Mrs. Burge said.
Thursday, 3 August 2006
The Federal Government's recent claims of meeting greenhouse commitments fails to recognise the extraordinary burden placed on farmers to achieve this outcome according to the NSW Farmers' Association. Chair of the NSW Farmers' Association's Conservation and Resource Management Committee, Louise Burge says Australia can only claim to be meeting its greenhouse commitments because of restrictions imposed on agricultural land, primarily native vegetation restrictions."Australian Greenhouse Office reports show that agriculture is effectively subsidising the greenhouse gas pollution of - other industries, leaving family farming businesses to foot the bill for other industry sectors," Mrs Burge said." There is no compulsion on these greenhouse emitters to pay agriculture for the burden imposed,""In fact Government policies have created this inequity via agreements made in relation to the Kyoto Protocol, where potential future carbon credits schemes can only apply to vegetation planted or regrown since 1990 should Australia sign the convention," Mrs. Burge said.
Mrs. Burge says the real sting in the tail comes from the Federal Government's recent change to thetaxation arrangements in regard to renewable fuels."On the one hand Government policy is directing industries, including agriculture to become more greenhouse efficient -yet supports policies that don't fully recognise the environmental importance of renewable fuels such as biodiesel that can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 70%," Mrs. Burge said.
"Now, with many farmers wishing to reduce their fuel costs and reduce their impacts on the environment, Governments should be aware of the benefits of renewable fuel and support the use of biodiesel as a way of meeting international emissions," Mrs. Burge said.
Mrs. Burge is also concerned that a report by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) due to be released in December will place yet more of the greenhouse burden on agriculture and still fail to address the major greenhouse pollution caused by the energy and transport sectors."COAG's report may well find farmers facing new restrictions on the use of fertilisers or having to find solutions to prevent their cows passing too much wind," Mrs. Burge said.
Texas Now Leader in U.S. Wind Energy
RenewableEnergyAccess.com
August 4, 2006
Peterborough, New Hampshire [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] In a forecasted record year for the U.S. wind industry, Texas surpassed California as the leader in wind energy capacity with the addition of 275 megawatts (MW) in 2006, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).
AWEA projects that 3,000 MW of wind capacity could be added during the remainder of the year. If those projects come to fruition, total U.S. wind capacity could exceed 10 gigawatts (GW) in 2007. The added capacity gives Texas a small lead over California, which had been the leader for the last 25 years. Texas now has a total of 2,370 MW of wind power capacity compared with California's 2,323 MW. Although the lead is marginal, the announcement is significant because it illustrates how much the industry has changed in recent years.
"The news was definitely not a surprise to us," said Kathy Belyeu, Manager of Industry Information at AWEA, speaking on RenewableEnergyAccess.com's Inside Renewable Energy podcast. "We could see late last year that Texas was going to surpass California because of the size and number of projects going on in the state."
Belyeu outlined three factors gave Texas a boost: it has the second greatest wind potential in the country, it passed a strong renewable energy portfolio standard and the state's business climate makes it easier for developers to build projects.
The combination of those elements, said Belyeu, will ensure that "quite a few more projects are going to come to fruition in Texas than in California."
But California is not sitting on the sidelines, she said. There are still plenty of developments going on throughout the state, including a 150 MW project that came online earlier in the year.
Overall growth in Texas, California and other states is ensuring another record year for the wind industry. Although only 822 MW of capacity have been installed so far in 2006, AWEA projects that 3,000 MW of wind capacity could be added during the remainder of the year. If those projects come to fruition, total U.S. wind capacity could exceed 10 gigawatts (GW) in 2007.
August 4, 2006
Peterborough, New Hampshire [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] In a forecasted record year for the U.S. wind industry, Texas surpassed California as the leader in wind energy capacity with the addition of 275 megawatts (MW) in 2006, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).
AWEA projects that 3,000 MW of wind capacity could be added during the remainder of the year. If those projects come to fruition, total U.S. wind capacity could exceed 10 gigawatts (GW) in 2007. The added capacity gives Texas a small lead over California, which had been the leader for the last 25 years. Texas now has a total of 2,370 MW of wind power capacity compared with California's 2,323 MW. Although the lead is marginal, the announcement is significant because it illustrates how much the industry has changed in recent years.
"The news was definitely not a surprise to us," said Kathy Belyeu, Manager of Industry Information at AWEA, speaking on RenewableEnergyAccess.com's Inside Renewable Energy podcast. "We could see late last year that Texas was going to surpass California because of the size and number of projects going on in the state."
Belyeu outlined three factors gave Texas a boost: it has the second greatest wind potential in the country, it passed a strong renewable energy portfolio standard and the state's business climate makes it easier for developers to build projects.
The combination of those elements, said Belyeu, will ensure that "quite a few more projects are going to come to fruition in Texas than in California."
But California is not sitting on the sidelines, she said. There are still plenty of developments going on throughout the state, including a 150 MW project that came online earlier in the year.
Overall growth in Texas, California and other states is ensuring another record year for the wind industry. Although only 822 MW of capacity have been installed so far in 2006, AWEA projects that 3,000 MW of wind capacity could be added during the remainder of the year. If those projects come to fruition, total U.S. wind capacity could exceed 10 gigawatts (GW) in 2007.
Global Marine Begins Work on Pioneering UK Wind Energy Project
RenewableEnergyAccess.com
August 4, 2006
Chelmsford, United Kingdom, Global Marine Systems Limited has begun subsea cable installation work on the Beatrice Wind Farm Demonstrator Project (Beatrice Project), a flagship project for offshore wind energy development, states the release. The initial project will use two wind turbines 25 kilometers off the east coast of Scotland to test the viability of the Beatrice Oil Field as a future site for a commercial deep-water wind farm.
Global Marine's experience in the renewable energy sector includes working on the Kentish Flats offshore wind farm in summer 2005; Horns Rev, the world's largest offshore wind farm in 2002; and wind farms at Blyth Northumberland in 2000. Global Marine partnered with Talisman Energy (UK) Limited, Scottish & Southern Energy and the Department of Trade and Industry on the project.
It is hoped the Beatrice Project will help in addressing the fact that up to one third of the UK's oil and gas generating capacity will reach the end of its life over the next 20 years, as reported in July's Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Energy Review. The DTI's strategy is to increase the proportion of electricity generated from renewables to 20% -- a five-fold increase from today's level.
"Beatrice is an important project involving industry, academia and government collaboration which we are pleased to be part of as Global Marine continues to diversify its core telecom cable installation experience into other sectors, such as renewable energy," said Ian Gaitch, Renewable Energy Manager at Global Marine.
Using its Cable Ship Sovereign, Global Marine will install two main cables, each comprising a power and fiber optic cable, to connect the two 5-megawatt (MW) turbines to Talisman's Beatrice Alpha oil platform. The cable installation will enable Talisman to power Beatrice Alpha using energy generated from the turbines and also remotely control and monitor certain aspects of the turbines' performance from the oil platform, such as altering blade pitch and sending back turbine performance data for analysis.
"Global Marine has a significant track record in providing cable installation to the renewable energy sector which, when coupled with their industry leading expertise and technology, made them a natural partner of choice for this project," said Allan MacAskill, Wind Farm Project Director at Talisman Energy.
Global Marine's experience in the renewable energy sector includes working on the Kentish Flats offshore wind farm in summer 2005; Horns Rev, the world's largest offshore wind farm in 2002 and wind farms at Blyth Northumberland in 2000.
August 4, 2006
Chelmsford, United Kingdom, Global Marine Systems Limited has begun subsea cable installation work on the Beatrice Wind Farm Demonstrator Project (Beatrice Project), a flagship project for offshore wind energy development, states the release. The initial project will use two wind turbines 25 kilometers off the east coast of Scotland to test the viability of the Beatrice Oil Field as a future site for a commercial deep-water wind farm.Global Marine's experience in the renewable energy sector includes working on the Kentish Flats offshore wind farm in summer 2005; Horns Rev, the world's largest offshore wind farm in 2002; and wind farms at Blyth Northumberland in 2000. Global Marine partnered with Talisman Energy (UK) Limited, Scottish & Southern Energy and the Department of Trade and Industry on the project.
It is hoped the Beatrice Project will help in addressing the fact that up to one third of the UK's oil and gas generating capacity will reach the end of its life over the next 20 years, as reported in July's Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Energy Review. The DTI's strategy is to increase the proportion of electricity generated from renewables to 20% -- a five-fold increase from today's level.
"Beatrice is an important project involving industry, academia and government collaboration which we are pleased to be part of as Global Marine continues to diversify its core telecom cable installation experience into other sectors, such as renewable energy," said Ian Gaitch, Renewable Energy Manager at Global Marine.
Using its Cable Ship Sovereign, Global Marine will install two main cables, each comprising a power and fiber optic cable, to connect the two 5-megawatt (MW) turbines to Talisman's Beatrice Alpha oil platform. The cable installation will enable Talisman to power Beatrice Alpha using energy generated from the turbines and also remotely control and monitor certain aspects of the turbines' performance from the oil platform, such as altering blade pitch and sending back turbine performance data for analysis.
"Global Marine has a significant track record in providing cable installation to the renewable energy sector which, when coupled with their industry leading expertise and technology, made them a natural partner of choice for this project," said Allan MacAskill, Wind Farm Project Director at Talisman Energy.
Global Marine's experience in the renewable energy sector includes working on the Kentish Flats offshore wind farm in summer 2005; Horns Rev, the world's largest offshore wind farm in 2002 and wind farms at Blyth Northumberland in 2000.
Acid rain in China threatening food chain
Yahoo! News
Sunday August 6, 01:40 PM
BEIJING (AFP) - China's sharp rise in sulphur dioxide emissions, the main component of acid rain, is ruining the nation's croplands and threatening the food chain in rivers and lakes, experts have said. The emissions, largely caused by burning coal to sate China's booming appetite for electricity and by vehicle exhaust, are further exacerbating severe ecological degradation in the world's most populous nation, they said.
China announced this week that it emitted nearly 26 million tons of sulphur dioxide last year, a 27 percent increase since 2000, making the nation the world's biggest polluter of acid rain-causing substances. "The sulphur dioxide acidifies the soil, hurting the roots of the crops that farmers are growing and reducing total yields," Edwin Lau, assistant director of the Hong Kong branch of Friends of the Earth, told AFP.
"Acidity of rivers and lakes also affects the growth of marine organisms, killing the lower-level species needed by bigger organisms to survive and disrupting the food chain." Such negative impacts on the environment could lead to social instability in acid rain-hit areas as Chinese crop growers and fish farmers increasingly struggle to earn a living in face of a worsening environment, Lau said.
Each ton of sulphur dioxide causes 20,000 yuan (2,500 dollars) in economic losses, according to Li Xinmin, deputy director general of the State Environmental Protection Administration's pollution control department. This means China suffered nearly 65 billion dollars in economic losses last year from sulphur dioxide emissions, he told journalists on Thursday.
Over half of the 696 cities and counties under a national monitoring program experienced acid rain last year due to sulphur dioxide pollution, the administration said in a report. "The effects of acid rain on China is going to be much worse than in the United States and Europe when they had acid rain problems in the 1970s," Paul Harris, a China expert monitoring the nation's environment from Lingnan University in Hong Kong told AFP.
"China's soils are already in bad shape after being depleted following centuries of farming. Soil scientists will tell you that things are already on the edge in China."
Deteriorating soils will mean the loss of the protective vegetative cover over croplands, which eventually could lead to desertification as winds and rains further erode planting areas, he said. "What acid rain means is that chemical reactions are taking place. These reactions are having different effects on different types of soil. Although you may have an unsure outcome, it is going to make things more difficult for farmers," Harris said. "Forests could also be impacted and China is already having problems with forests and have banned logging."
China's farmlands are already shrinking due to rapid urbanization -- a phenomenon that is threatening the nation's capacity to grow food, Yang Jian, a senior official at the Ministry of Agriculture told the China Daily on Friday.
"The amount of land dedicated to grain production is expected to continue shrinking in the years ahead, but (farmlands) will still have to produce a minimum of 500 million tons to feed China in 2010," the China Daily said.
With shrinking acreage, falling water tables, environmental degradation and a growing population, some grain experts have predicted that China will remain a net food importer for the coming decades.
"If China does not take effective measures to curb rising coal use, then the acid rain will get worse as the economy grows and people get richer and buy even more electric appliances and vehicles," Friends of the Earth's Lau said. "China needs to move into alternative energies like wind power, use more natural gas which is cleaner than coal and implement desulphurization technology at energy plants."
Sunday August 6, 01:40 PM
BEIJING (AFP) - China's sharp rise in sulphur dioxide emissions, the main component of acid rain, is ruining the nation's croplands and threatening the food chain in rivers and lakes, experts have said. The emissions, largely caused by burning coal to sate China's booming appetite for electricity and by vehicle exhaust, are further exacerbating severe ecological degradation in the world's most populous nation, they said.China announced this week that it emitted nearly 26 million tons of sulphur dioxide last year, a 27 percent increase since 2000, making the nation the world's biggest polluter of acid rain-causing substances. "The sulphur dioxide acidifies the soil, hurting the roots of the crops that farmers are growing and reducing total yields," Edwin Lau, assistant director of the Hong Kong branch of Friends of the Earth, told AFP.
"Acidity of rivers and lakes also affects the growth of marine organisms, killing the lower-level species needed by bigger organisms to survive and disrupting the food chain." Such negative impacts on the environment could lead to social instability in acid rain-hit areas as Chinese crop growers and fish farmers increasingly struggle to earn a living in face of a worsening environment, Lau said.
Each ton of sulphur dioxide causes 20,000 yuan (2,500 dollars) in economic losses, according to Li Xinmin, deputy director general of the State Environmental Protection Administration's pollution control department. This means China suffered nearly 65 billion dollars in economic losses last year from sulphur dioxide emissions, he told journalists on Thursday.
Over half of the 696 cities and counties under a national monitoring program experienced acid rain last year due to sulphur dioxide pollution, the administration said in a report. "The effects of acid rain on China is going to be much worse than in the United States and Europe when they had acid rain problems in the 1970s," Paul Harris, a China expert monitoring the nation's environment from Lingnan University in Hong Kong told AFP.
"China's soils are already in bad shape after being depleted following centuries of farming. Soil scientists will tell you that things are already on the edge in China."
Deteriorating soils will mean the loss of the protective vegetative cover over croplands, which eventually could lead to desertification as winds and rains further erode planting areas, he said. "What acid rain means is that chemical reactions are taking place. These reactions are having different effects on different types of soil. Although you may have an unsure outcome, it is going to make things more difficult for farmers," Harris said. "Forests could also be impacted and China is already having problems with forests and have banned logging."
China's farmlands are already shrinking due to rapid urbanization -- a phenomenon that is threatening the nation's capacity to grow food, Yang Jian, a senior official at the Ministry of Agriculture told the China Daily on Friday.
"The amount of land dedicated to grain production is expected to continue shrinking in the years ahead, but (farmlands) will still have to produce a minimum of 500 million tons to feed China in 2010," the China Daily said.
With shrinking acreage, falling water tables, environmental degradation and a growing population, some grain experts have predicted that China will remain a net food importer for the coming decades.
"If China does not take effective measures to curb rising coal use, then the acid rain will get worse as the economy grows and people get richer and buy even more electric appliances and vehicles," Friends of the Earth's Lau said. "China needs to move into alternative energies like wind power, use more natural gas which is cleaner than coal and implement desulphurization technology at energy plants."
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