Bob Neish, from the Ochils Environmental Protection Group, presented a sceptical perspective as a resident of the area affected by the Knowehead proposal south of Dunning.
A local farmer noticed a small advert in the Courier about a planning application for an anemometer mast. This was information gathering for what is now proposed as the Knowehead windfarm. There were thoughts of ... It's green ... It's cheap ... Shame about the landscape. We were initially torn between green, sustainable energy and a green, sustainable landscape.
We started to find out more and we've been swamped with information ever since. But information is difficult to get, constantly changing, very technical and time-consuming to gather. There is a massive number of proposals being floated (see www.viewsofscotland.org) and a politically driven "rush for wind". There will be major impacts in relation to the size of sites, unpredictability and intermittency of supply, the economics of wind power, noise, hydrology, wildlife, tourism, construction, access roads, abnormal loads, infrastructure, substations and power lines.
Fossil-fuels are running out. The legacy of their past and current use is a build-up of greenhouse gases which is causing climate change. The UK has committed to 10% of electricity generation from renewables by 2010. This has been increased to 18% for Scotland. Existing power stations are becoming obsolete, yet UK electricity consumption is still rising every year.
Scotland already meets the UK 2010 obligation, with about 10% of generation from renewable sources, mostly hydro. In contrast, renewables accounted for only 2.6% of electricity generated in the UK in 2001. Scotland is becoming the UK's windfarm. At what cost to the landscape, to the environment, to tourism?
Windfarms cannot replace power stations. At Knowehead the proposal (as at November 2003) was for 29 turbines to generate 72.5MW (one megawatt = 1,000,000 watts = 1,000 kilowatts). Longannet power station in Fife can produce 2304MW. It would take 921 large wind turbines each generating 2.5MW to replace Longannet. And if there is no wind? Wind turbines only generate about 28% of their installed capacity because the wind often doesn't blow enough, or blows too much.
Across the UK, it would take 10,000 turbines to produce only 16% of UK electricity production. It's subsidised electricity. Be prepared to pay for it.
Electricity generation is not the only source of greenhouse gases. Nine-tenths of the increase in CO2 emissions is attributable to transport, particularly road transport.
Even though energy-efficiency endeavours have gradually run out of steam, the economic potential of improving energy efficiency is still estimated at 18% of current energy consumption. The main stumbling block is the attitude of consumers, who are reluctant to use energy-efficiency technologies. The European Commission, in a 2002 report, stated that investment in lighting would make it possible to save 30%-50% of electricity and that through better building practices at least one fifth of energy consumption could be saved easily.
Scotland, the UK, the world must tackle its energy problems. The UK seems to be addressing only electricity. Land-based wind power is seen as the only solution, with a strong political push. Windfarms will not reduce the need for power stations. If windfarms go up they will stay. Don't sacrifice Scotland's biggest asset - its scenery.
The next FotO newsletter will appear, as normal, in the spring. We are keen for this to include thoughts and feedback on the windfarm proposals, so do please write in about this (or, of course, about any Ochils-related matter), ideally before the middle of March. Correspondence should be sent to: Dave Hewitt, FotO newsletter editor, 3 Ferry Orchard, Cambuskenneth, Stirling FK5 9ND, or emailed to Dave.Hewitt@dial.pipex.com