Windfarms !

rancher

Any windmills planned for your farms, hundreds planned for farms in the midlands, change the face of our ''lake county'' forever, 18000 euro+/yr for every windmill, some farmers will have three, anyone thinking of signing up.

Username John

rancher wrote: »

Any windmills planned for your farms, hundreds planned for farms in the midlands, change the face of our ''lake county'' forever, 18000 euro+/yr for every windmill, some farmers will have three, anyone thinking of signing up.

Hi rancher,

Where did you get this info?

18k / year is something not be passed up easily.
I know it would depend where they are relative to your house, but if they are in your area anyways, you might as well get 18k for one, as opposed to looking at one in the neighbours field...

bbam

There are a small group of ten just down the valley from us.
I'll have to say that there was a bit of bad feeling over the allocation of them. Some turned them down but when construction started they changed their mind.

My advice is consider it strongly, it's a one off chance and if their going to be nearbye you may as well get paid.

rancher

Username John wrote: »

Hi rancher,

Where did you get this info?

18k / year is something not be passed up easily.
I know it would depend where they are relative to your house, but if they are in your area anyways, you might as well get 18k for one, as opposed to looking at one in the neighbours field...

Ongoing IFA meetings in Tullamore over the last few weeks, 250 farmers attended the last meeting, IFA have achieved a much improved deal from mainstream, its all in this weeks journal, its gonna be huge here in the midlands, no point in discussing whether they should or should not be built or the mods will throw it out of F+F

reilig

rancher wrote: »

, no point in discussing whether they should or should not be built or the mods will throw it out of F+F

No we won't.

Discussion and debate is the best way of informing others. We only throw out discussions on illegal topics and repremand people who break the forum charter. Discussing the merits of wind farms does neither and I feel that it would be a great discussion topic!!

dlofnep

I see these wind turbines quite a bit, and to be honest - I actually think they add a bit of character to the area. They are aesthetic to the area in my view.

reilig

dlofnep wrote: »

I see these wind turbines quite a bit, and to be honest - I actually think they add a bit of character to the area. They are aesthetic to the area in my view.

+1

Renewable, clean and long term energy which can benefit farmers. Once they are installed, the land can be reinstated to its original state and surrounding land can be taken back into the farm.

In this part of the country, there are debates about fracking on one side and peat burning power stations on the other. A number of the objectors to fracking were previous objectors to wind farms. In their case, it seems that they get fulfillment from objecting to everything whether it be something with major environmental risks such as fracking or something with proven minimal environmental risks and proven environmental benefits such as wind farms.

We need energy for everything that we do. People need to realise that they can't have things every which way they like!!

Birdnuts

rancher wrote: »

Ongoing IFA meetings in Tullamore over the last few weeks, 250 farmers attended the last meeting, IFA have achieved a much improved deal from mainstream, its all in this weeks journal, its gonna be huge here in the midlands, no point in discussing whether they should or should not be built or the mods will throw it out of F+F

Isn't that project dependent on securing a contract to supply the UK grid at a certain price?? I read recently that the current UK goverment is getting cold feet on wind power due to its cost,unreliablity and other issues.

Tipp Man

So your typical windmill would earn 18k per annum?

How much of this is government subsidy?
I thought there were big delays with windmills hooking up to the grid - is that still the case?

Birdnuts

Tipp Man wrote: »

So your typical windmill would earn 18k per annum?

How much of this is government subsidy?
I thought there were big delays with windmills hooking up to the grid - is that still the case?

There has been big promises made in this area all right - Last I heard the giant Mount Callan project in Clare still hasn't secured grid connection, despite getting planning over a year ago. Wind power was cited as a significant element behind the recent 8% rise in electricty prices. If farmers can make big money off them then best of luck to them but I wouldn't bet my shirt on it. Theres also a bill that has come out of the seanad recent calling for a 500m set-back from housing etc. which is another element to consider when reading the small print.

countryjimbo

Birdnuts wrote: »

Theres also a bill that has come out of the seanad recent calling for a 500m set-back from housing etc.

I think this must is coming from the fact that any noise from a windmill only impacts those within 500m. Its seems a sensible condition.

I'd be more concerned with the construction phase, these windmills have to have a solid stand and building this could cause a lot of disruption. I'd imagine its especially difficult if the site is bog as their may be a need to remove bog for access roads and building the stands.

nashmach

Birdnuts wrote: »

Theres also a bill that has come out of the seanad recent calling for a 500m set-back from housing etc. which is another element to consider when reading the small print.

That will significantly reduce the number of potential sites then to very rural areas.

JohnBoy

countryjimbo wrote: »

I'd imagine its especially difficult if the site is bog as their may be a need to remove bog for access roads and building the stands.

They're nearly all built in bogs of some degree or other, including the big ones in tipp, that are in the quite literal bog.

Birdnuts

countryjimbo wrote: »

I think this must is coming from the fact that any noise from a windmill only impacts those within 500m. Its seems a sensible condition.

.

Thats the minimum set-back. It could be up to 2k depending on the seize of the wind farm/number of turbines. Below is a link to the bill

http://debates.oireachtas.ie/seanad/2012/02/22/00009.asp

who_me

dlofnep wrote: »

I see these wind turbines quite a bit, and to be honest - I actually think they add a bit of character to the area. They are aesthetic to the area in my view.

I agree. There are quite a few around my hometown (in West Cork) and I think they add something to the view. Admittedly, from a purely aesthetic viewpoint, it would be cool if there was some variety. Different sizes, styles.. maybe we should paint them all different colours?

I'd love to think some larger towns might band in together and set up their own windfarms; not just to generate income but to have free electricity. Not having to pay electricity bills again (just minimal maintenance costs, I assume) would be great. I don't know the numbers involved, so I don't know how fanciful it is.

reilig

who_me wrote: »

I'd love to think some larger towns might band in together and set up their own windfarms; not just to generate income but to have free electricity. Not having to pay electricity bills again (just minimal maintenance costs, I assume) would be great. I don't know the numbers involved, so I don't know how fanciful it is.

Producing electricity is the cheap part of it. Its the transport and distribution network that costs the big money. Large towns don't own land, farmers do. If their land is to be used to generate electricity, then they will need paying for it.

Very fancyful IMO
Some people would go as far as to call it dillusional
Electricity will never be free for for urban dwellers!

Black Smoke

Slight digression here. Does anybody know of anywhere there is s micro hydro generator working from a stream. Enough to power a farm, shall we say.
I have a stream running the length of the farm and practically right by the yard. Nice steady flow, even in dryish weather. Enough flow this summer, to get rid of Moneypoint coal station:rolleyes:
I'm just starting to research what is out there, which might enable me to tap this resource.

reilig

Black Smoke wrote: »

Slight digression here. Does anybody know of anywhere there is s micro hydro generator working from a stream. Enough to power a farm, shall we say.
I have a stream running the length of the farm and practically right by the yard. Nice steady flow, even in dryish weather. Enough flow this summer, to get rid of Moneypoint coal station:rolleyes:
I'm just starting to research what is out there, which might enable me to tap this resource.

Northern ireland if its any use to you?

http://ecoevolution.ie/blog/2012/01/20/farmers-show-interest-in-micro-hydro-power/

Username John

Black Smoke wrote: »

Slight digression here. Does anybody know of anywhere there is s micro hydro generator working from a stream. Enough to power a farm, shall we say.
I have a stream running the length of the farm and practically right by the yard. Nice steady flow, even in dryish weather. Enough flow this summer, to get rid of Moneypoint coal station:rolleyes:
I'm just starting to research what is out there, which might enable me to tap this resource.

http://www.teagasc.ie/ruraldev/docs/factsheets/50_SMALLSCALEHEP.pdf

For it to be any use, I think you would need a very good flow or a smaller flow with a high vertical drop to get any decent power out of it
A small stream wouldn't give much power I'd say

rancher

Tipp Man wrote: »

So your typical windmill would earn 18k per annum?

How much of this is government subsidy?
I thought there were big delays with windmills hooking up to the grid - is that still the case?

These companies are not going into the Irish grid.
Two companies involved, Mainstream and Element power, They're going to export to the uk, Element power has signed up, Mainstream to sign next month, Farmers are getting paid a substantial sum per windmill already while the companies are looking for planning on their farm, seems a win win,
These windmills are going to be bigger than any thing in Ireland up to now, with the blade up they will be 170mtrs, they have to be more than 500 mtrs from a dwelling and they're going to be in Westmeath Offaly+Laois ,

locky76

rancher wrote: »

Ongoing IFA meetings in Tullamore over the last few weeks, 250 farmers attended the last meeting, IFA have achieved a much improved deal from mainstream, its all in this weeks journal, its gonna be huge here in the midlands, no point in discussing whether they should or should not be built or the mods will throw it out of F+F

I was talking to a guy who was at some of these meetings and he said it was like the time the guy came to Springfield selling the monorail, everyone was screaming for it by the end of the meeting (and we all know how the Springfield monorail ended up...(It ended up a complete wreck:())
Anyway I think the whole debate needs a balanced approach, by the country's recent history I am wary of developers promising the sun, moon & stars to landowners, communities etc. I have a few reservations:

• I read recently in a respected engineering journal that Scotland has a far greater wind resource and would be an intrinsic part of the British grid.
• The divvying out of the windfarms (& the €18k per turbine) will cause great resentment if it's not viewed as fair (which it will be impossible to do)
• A swing of the British approach to renewables will leave Ireland majorly oversubscribed to wind, we already have one of the greatest dependancies on wind in the world which is causing major issues for our electricty network
• The people of the midlands are all for it but what's in it for the people along the route getting the power across to the east coast and over to Britain

AntrimGlens

Black Smoke wrote: »

Slight digression here. Does anybody know of anywhere there is s micro hydro generator working from a stream. Enough to power a farm, shall we say.
I have a stream running the length of the farm and practically right by the yard. Nice steady flow, even in dryish weather. Enough flow this summer, to get rid of Moneypoint coal station:rolleyes:
I'm just starting to research what is out there, which might enable me to tap this resource.

Hi Blacksmoke,
I installed a 12kw hydro scheme last year on the farm and in the 14 months its been running its done just over 75,000kwh. This was installed from a stream on the farm from a combination on a spring and the run off from the mountain. The head is 125 metres and the penstock is 800 metres and the water flow is 14litres/sec. I spent quite a few years researching it and managed to get a local company to do the installation, although the turbine is czech. the install was relatively straightfoward and should pay for itself in about 4 years, although there are good incentives for renewables up here. I'm currently in the process of building a house and the hydro scheme will easily provide all the power for the heating and electricity and power the farm also. There is a thread under renewable energy in the C&P Forum.

rancher

locky76 wrote: »

I was talking to a guy who was at some of these meetings and he said it was like the time the guy came to Springfield selling the monorail, everyone was screaming for it by the end of the meeting (and we all know how the Springfield monorail ended up...(It ended up a complete wreck:())
Anyway I think the whole debate needs a balanced approach, by the country's recent history I am wary of developers promising the sun, moon & stars to landowners, communities etc. I have a few reservations:

• I read recently in a respected engineering journal that Scotland has a far greater wind resource and would be an intrinsic part of the British grid.
• The divvying out of the windfarms (& the €18k per turbine) will cause great resentment if it's not viewed as fair (which it will be impossible to do)
• A swing of the British approach to renewables will leave Ireland majorly oversubscribed to wind, we already have one of the greatest dependancies on wind in the world which is causing major issues for our electricty network
• The people of the midlands are all for it but what's in it for the people along the route getting the power across to the east coast and over to Britain

The IFA meetings were not to promote the windfarms, but to ensure that farmers were treated fairly, the contracts were heavily weighted in favour of the windfarm operators and through the meetings IFA got a mandate to try to get a better deal for the farmers, Mainstream were prepared to negotiate but Element Power were not. Element Power will get it hard to get farmers to sign up now if they don't step up to the mark.
A lot of the farmers are taking the attitude that they're going to be looking at them whether they sign or not so they might as well take advantage.
As I wrote at the start I dont want to get into whether they should go ahead, as I'm of an age that its not going to make much difference to me and my land isn't suitable for a windturbine
I said it was gonna be big, Journal reports say 1700 turbines.......wow

Dazzler88

Username John wrote: »

18k / year is something not be passed up easily...

I think Wind Farms are great for farming,very little other money in it now.Where did you get the figure of 18k per annum?sounds very sizeable for one turbine.

rancher

Dazzler88 wrote: »

I think Wind Farms are great for farming,very little other money in it now.Where did you get the figure of 18k per annum?sounds very sizeable for one turbine.

The minimum figure offered at the moment is 6000 per mw and most turbine will be 3mw.
About the no. of turbines, its not 1700 but 1700mw or 570 turbines approx

bob charles

I wrote this on the 17th of July on another forum when the news broke and my views havnt changed


"sure I can smell a rat somewhere as such a project will ever move off the ground. 2000 full time jobs looking after turbines, FFs there would want to be 40,000 turbines built to occupy a workforce like that. Presume it would get the UK tariffs?? because it sure won't be feasible with Irish tariffs. The midlands will have everything soon, loads of turbines, huge casino, that big chinese hub in mullingar is it, etc,etc. walk up lads. the old scams are the best ones for catching people"

oh and by the way anyone seem the deputy Chinesse prime minister who was here earlier in the year and everyone was going on about how great his visit was and the business it would bring? he maybe coming back as he is on the missing list

Conmaicne Mara

bob charles wrote: »

he maybe coming back as he is on the missing list

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/14/world/asia/china-vp-appearance/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

It is highly likely that he had some health issue. Communist nations are infamous for paranoid secrecy about their leadership.

bob charles

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/14/world/asia/china-vp-appearance/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

It is highly likely that he had some health issue. Communist nations are infamous for paranoid secrecy about their leadership.

sorry he is back just seen it on the net, turned up again at the weekend, god it would be great to be dealing with such people

Conmaicne Mara

bob charles wrote: »

sorry he is back just seen it on the net, turned up again at the weekend, god it would be great to be dealing with such people

We all deal with them, whether we like it or not, look how many products are made in China. It is the worlds factory. Canada has recently been in negotiations with China in what is believed to be the lead up to a free trade agreement with China to bypass the US view on trade with China.