Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm

**Topper** · 15-10-2006

Work is now underway on the installation of the Offshore Burbo Bank wind farm. 25 wind turbines will be installed and fully operational by the end of Summer 2007. Each turbine can generate up to 3.6MW of electricity, with the farm producing up to 90MW under optimum conditions. This will produce enough energy to supply 80,000 homes.
The installation will take place in four phases. During the first phase, over spring and summer 2006, the 4.5m diameter mono piles that each turbine sits on are driven 40m into the sea bed. During this period you may here a dull thud as the piles are hammered into the sea bed. Following this the wind farm will be connected to the main power grid through three submarine cables. The cables will be buried under the sea bed by a specialised cable laying vessel. Thirdly the internal submarine cables running between the turbines will be connected and finally during spring and summer 2007 the tubines will be added on top of the piles.
I took a few pictures when I was at Crosby beach a couple of weeks ago and also note that the people are actually statues the work of Antony Gormley. Information and more pictures can be seen here also note the existing turbines in the background

**Channel Hopper** · 15-10-2006

Was this the same site that was on Countryfile this morning?
I missed the article, but in essence the local neighbourhood rejected the build saying the island history was in jeopardy.
If anything this puts the place firmly on the map for all the right reasons, and it should keep the area free from a development explosion for years.

**Topper** · 16-10-2006

Don't know if it was on country file I did not see the program, the point being whilst the initial installation is on land, the next phase is out as sea indeed the two sunset photos show the pylons sunk into the sea. How anyone can object to that I do not know I think this will pave the way for many more installations after all there is enough coastline available

spiney · 17-10-2006

Well, "alternative energy generation" CAN be misleading, if it costs more to produce the equipment than is ever saved in energy (!), however stuff like this seems to be going in the right direction!

The problem with wind is, it doesn't always blow when you want, but I'd have thought such schemes could be combined with pumped water storage for hydroelectricity, and since we need more resevoirs anyway ........

**Analoguesat** · 17-10-2006

Originally Posted by spiney

The problem with wind is, it doesn't always blow when you want, but I'd have thought such schemes could be combined with pumped water storage for hydroelectricity, and since we need more resevoirs anyway ........

Ah but the classic problem with that is the area that need the water are down in the south east, and for some reason folks down in the south east dont like the idea of flooding large areas of Kent just to provide water supplies to London

When I was at shool 25 years ago we were taught the idea of a great water transfer system to move the excess water from the north to the parched south. Lack of investment and penny pinching in the drive for ever increasing profitsby the utility companiesover 2 and a half decades has scuppered this idea.

The hilly areas in the north and west where its ideal to build reservoirs have plenty of water thank you very much

spiney · 17-10-2006

Er, what I meant was, you use the wind power to pump water uphill, that's then "energy stored", and you let the water flow downhill again - through turbine generators - when power is wanted.

http://www.biocrawler.com/encycloped...droelectricity .

As for not enough water in SE England, you'd build any new resevoirs in North, where there's greater rainfall, it'd be daft in South where rainfall is lower!

**Topper** · 17-10-2006

Originally Posted by spiney

As for not enough water in SE England, you'd build any new resevoirs in North, where there's greater rainfall, it'd be daft in South where rainfall is lower!

Aye lad but where wudtsheep go then? they're not reight gud swimmers thannus

**Analoguesat** · 17-10-2006

Originally Posted by spiney

Er, what I meant was, you use the wind power to pump water uphill, that's then "energy stored", and you let the water flow downhill again - through turbine generators - when power is wanted.

http://www.biocrawler.com/encycloped...droelectricity .

As for not enough water in SE England, you'd build any new resevoirs in North, where there's greater rainfall, it'd be daft in South where rainfall is lower!

Are you willing to pay double your current water bill (hypothetical amount for the sake of arguments) to pay for all the new infrastructure?

I know exactly how pumped storage works - Ive seen the telly programmes about Electric Mountain in wales

Personally I think it would be much more fun to flood half of Hertfordshire for new reservoirs

***Marts*** · 17-10-2006

Originally Posted by Topper

Aye lad but where wudtsheep go then?

Wales !!!

ELECTRIC MOUNTAIN the way to go laddie

plenty of ills in Kent int theh

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