The Windturbine story.

[Chevalier Blanc]

Yes it works.
The point i was making was that it is not as good as they say.
Water power is the way to go because it can be counted on not like the wind.
Alderney  is a very good place to have tide power in the race.
The cost of a wind turbine is incredible to what it costs including the running of it total out weigh the amount of electric that you get out of it.
Just remember these firms like the oil companies want to make money and they will put huge amounts of money into advertising to get there new product to be used like unleaded fuel which costs less that lead fuel to produce and the chemicals they use are more harmful that just plain leaded fuel.

[verystandrew]

The 'red snake' is Pelamis, (wave not tidal energy), don't know of any plans for a CI installation FWIW.

VStA

[Calimachon]

"Alderney Renewable Energy Ltd (ARE) is a consortium which has obtained a 5-year exclusive lease to research, survey, and test tidal power devices in the waters off Alderney. Currently they are undertaking an environmental impact assessment (EIA) to better understand how tidal power electricity generation will affect local mammals and bird life. When the first phase of this EIA is completed in March 2007 and accepted by the regulatory body ACRE (Alderney Commission for Renewable Energy), the first tidal turbines can be installed."

Above is a quote from the following website regarding what we have been referring to as the "Red Snake". 

Interesting article!

"The Lynmouth Seaflow has now run successfully for over three years operating completely unattended and controlled remotely and generating 25% more electricity than predicted."

Above quote from the following website:

http://www.reuk.co.uk/Worlds-First-Open-Sea-Tidal-Turbine.htm

Cali

[Malachi]

I have been trying to find some fair / impartial / objective data / opinion on wind turbines for this topic, but have not found any yet

Will keep trying though

But Booker is a "professional contrarian" (I am being polite), and should not be passed off as an authority on anything

[danrok]

The Daily Mail is always severely lacking in factual information.

But, I treat all purported facts, and information on certain subjects with suspicion.  Energy is one of those subjects, whether it be oil, nuclear, or wind, just because there's huge sums of money involved. 

[boatyboy]

Danrock two parts that you wrote earlier

The plan here is that all these European wind farms are to become part of a future European super-grid. The idea being that it will be windy enough somewhere in Europe, at almost all times.

In any case, we are most likely already using power from the Rance power station.

I  have to disagree because the idea of a grid system sounds a good idea but the reality is firstly cost and effect means that they never actually pay for them selves the manufactures charging so much per windmill and Governments and consumers subsidising the output, means a artificial non market.

Secondly they only supply a small percentage of the electricity in their own area, this being the case and no extra how will they export further supply to another part of the country as in a super grid system.

Regarding the Rance it is an excellent idea however I may be wrong but there were either four or six turbines producing power but the last I was told there was only one working the others being stripped for spare parts.

Maybe new technology will make it all work far more efficiently as it the power source ie the ebb and flow of the sea is a better bet than the wind.

I do agree with you in that windmills are not ideal, what is interesting is they cost more than they produce so they are a no brainer. Would it not be better to fund deeper research into other more stable options ?

BB