Wind Turbine Big Enough To Land A Helicopter On? Scotland Has It Covered

November 21st, 2011 by Charis Michelsen

Scotland has an ambitious and admirable goal: 100% renewable energy. Taking steps toward reaching this goal, the Scottish government approved an offshore test site for a new 6MW wind turbine.

2-B Energy, based in the Netherlands, has permission to install an innovative two-bladed wind turbine approximately 70 feet off the coast of Methil in Fife, according to Scottish energy minister Fergus Ewing. 2-B is one of several companies which has a lease in the 2010 offshore wind demonstration leasing round, which is supposed to help develop wind farms offshore and in deep water.

Local, Green, 100% Renewable

All of the energy generated by the prototype turbine is earmarked for local use. Ewing says that the demonstration will help Scotland achieve a low-carbon economy, and:

“Innovative companies deciding to test their new ideas in Scotland is further evidence of our reputation as a place to develop and deploy all forms of new green energy technologies. We are working to create the optimum conditions for low-carbon investment to ensure we remain well-placed to become an international hub for low-carbon expertise and a green energy powerhouse for Europe.”

2-B was initially supposed to install two prototypes, but only one is currently approved. Fife Council did not oppose the application, and no public representations were received. 2-B was founded in 2007 and is currently funded in part by developer Mainstream Renewable Power and the European firm Truffle Capital.

As part of an island, Scotland is pretty well suited to developing offshore wind farms — hopefully the project will generate some useful (or at least fun) information (landing a helicopter on a turbine looks fun, right?).

Source | Image: Business Green

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Tags: Scotland, scotland clean energy, scotland renewable energy, scotland wind energy, scotland wind power, scotland wind turbines

About the Author

Charis Michelsen spent 7 years living in Germany and Japan, studying both languages extensively, doing translation and education with companies like Bosch, Nissan, Fuji Heavy, and others. Charis has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and currently lives in Chicago, Illinois. She also believes that Janeway was the best Star Trek Captain.

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http://www.facebook.com/people/Bruce-Miller/100000952005408 Bruce Miller

So long as the Scots don’t try running an “American Dream Lifestyle” with SUV’s, McMansions, large screen TV’s in every room, and hot dogs and hamburgers for all, with beer on the side, all will go quite well. Wind Turbine power is renewable, perpetual and eternal and will support a very large population of humble means, and unmaterialistc desires. Time now for education, the arts, light manufacturing, uber-computing, and even just the “simple life” for many there. Don’t be sold out by all that glitters from the U.S. – it really is not Gold!
- Adam Grant
  
  Why stop at 100% replacement of fossil energy? Once you’ve replaced your existing power plants with renewables, why not go on and install another 100%, underpinning a guilt-free energy-intensive lifestyle?
  
  Once electric vehicles become more widely available, there’s no reason we won’t start seeing electric SUV’s. Upgrading the housing stock to larger, more comfortable, renewably-powered homes would also be a win both for the inhabitants and for the environment.
  - Bob_Wallace
    
    This article is out-dated. Someone is now building a 7.5 MW turbine.
    
    As for why stop at 100%? I don’t see any practical reason to stop there. As long as all the inputs are sustainable we can have what we want, within some level of reason.
    
    We certainly don’t have to live with less and those at the bottom certainly can have far better lives than we have now.
    
    In the short term we need to emphasize efficiency, included smaller/lighter vehicles, in order to get fossil fuels out of play as quickly as possible. But later if people want to drive large EVs and are willing to pay for the wind turbines/solar panels needed, why not?
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Anumakonda Jagadeesh

Great.

Dr.A.Jagadeesh Nellore(AP),India
E-mail: anumakonda.jagadeesh@gmail.com
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Gregorynorminton

Pedantry moment, but Scotland is *part* of an island. A more progressive part than its southern neighbour, England, when it comes to renewables, but still part of the same landmass.
- BlueRock
  
  That jumped out at me… although I’m sure many Scots would like to be an island separate from the toxic interference of Westminster.
  
  Here’s one prediction of what the more progressive Scottish energy policies will result in:
  
  * Scottish Green Energy to Keep Lights on in England. “…in ten years’ time power from offshore wind farms north of the border will be needed to help England meet its energy requirements.” http://www.offshorewind.biz/2011/11/03/scottish-green-energy-to-keep-lights-on-in-england/
  
  I’ll applaud if that happens – certainly better than sending billions of £££s across the Channel to French nuke corporations.
  - Anonymous
    
    Haha, thanks! Updated that line.
    
    &, yeah, Scotland certainly is an inspiration… even if it’s only part of an island
    - BlueRock
      
      I suspect we’ll be seeing more of the anti-renewable gang trying to convince us that Scotland is heading back to the Stone Age with their “crazy” energy policy.
      - Anonymous
        
        For sure