East: Wind power

Deborah McGurran Politics Show East

Work is beginning on a huge wind farm off the North Norfolk Coast. Foundations are being laid at Scroby Sands, east of Great Yarmouth. There is approval for 30 turbines.

In addition;

• approval is also in the offing for a 30 turbine 100mw wind farm, 7km off Cromer
• a large development is planned off the coast of Clacton in Essex
• a further 30 turbine site is proposed for Gunfleet Sands
• two sites are planned off the Lincolnshire coast and visible from Norfolk.

These developments could change our coastal views forever.

Wind farms could generate power for tens of thousands of homes

It is all part of the government's drive to get 10% of Britain's energy from renewable sources by 2010.

This will be derived from wind and a variety of other sources.

The target for 2005 is 5%, but the Government is not expected to meet its targets.

With the UK considered to be the windiest country in Europe, and a commitment that 10% of electricity in the UK should be generated from renewable sources by 2010, the future for offshore wind looks promising.

Given the nature of the wind resource around the UK, it is estimated that our present electricity needs could be met more than three times over by offshore wind energy.

But the best current estimates are that wind power on shore will supply 2.8% of the country's needs and offshore 1.8% by 2010.

Government grants of £10 million per proposal have been made available for the eight off-shore sites around the British coast currently developing 500 turbines.

Second phase begins

In July 2003 the government announced Round Two of the tendering process.

Swaffham in Norfolk already has a wind farm

Companies have been asked to come up with proposals for wind farms in three areas of the British coast; including the Great Wash, immediately north of the north Norfolk coast.

The government wants to see proposals for hundreds of giant wind turbines (80 metre tall towers, 50 metre tall blades) per wind farm in these areas and it reckons that these proposals will supply enough power for 3.5m households.

The question is has the government done enough to see all this coming to fruition by 2010.

It's own estimates talk about the new super wind farms coming on stream around 2008. But will they?

And is wind energy where the country should be going?

Considerable opposition to plans

Opponents marshalled by the Country Guardian organisation have campaigned vociferously against wind turbines on land.

Their main claims are;

• that they are noisy
• create "flicker" as the sun passes through them
• they interfere with TV reception
• cause radar black spots, a worry to the military.

Off-shore concerns are;

• seascapes will be ruined. At night the blades will be lit up so they can be avoided by ships and planes
• the blades will interfere with radar
• the towers run the risk of being hit by ships
• disturbance of the sea bed during construction will harm fisheries, damage that it's believed could be permanent
• their very presence deny some fishing grounds to fishermen
• concern that the blades will hit migrating birds.

The impact upon bird life is something the RSPB has looked at.

It has concluded that wind farms proposed or being built around East Anglia will not affect birdlife though they will look at proposals on a case-by-case basis and the giant multi turbine schemes of the future may offer greater hazards.

Opponents also point out that wind turbines will not lead to a single power station nuclear, coal or oil being closed down because where there's no wind or too much, turbines are shut down.

Other power supplies will be needed, so are wind farms a duplication?

Of course this ignores the fact that while the blades are turning they will be reducing greenhouse gases!

Have your say

Join presenter Etholle Pegrum for The Politics Show on Sunday, on BBC One at the later time of 1.30pm.

---