Should windfarms be built offshore, in the countryside or not at all?!?

Question

Your opinions please :)

Answer 1

Offshore...we're an island for heavens sake, let's use the space we have around us!

Has anyone ever been to the seaside when it's NOT windy???

I rest my case :)

Answer 2

for starters, unoccupied land in the central us should be used. there is a ton of wind power available there and its not heavily inhabited in some areas.

Answer 3

My opinion is that windfarms should be built as part of an all-inclusive proven green strategy and in designated areas away from human habitation.

Answer 4

I think with tornadoes and all, we have plenty of wind.  We dont need to be making more

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Seriously, though, I see no reason why we each cant place our own natural generators on our own houses.  We should generate our own power.  That way the electric companies wont rape us.

Answer 5

Both, as part of an integrated electricity generating strategy.

Offshore oftenn have good wind quality, but build cost is higher than a land based system, maintainance is more costly and problematic if you have to go by boat, instead of just drive or walk up to the site.  Network connection to onshore sites is easier and cheaper to set up and maintain too.

Dear Dear Dear, poor Alan, - no problem in windturbines generating AC instead of DC. Yes there are problems in balancing and synchronising output from what is by nature a variable and fluctuating generation source, but hey, in the UK we have this fantastic thing called the National Grid, which is designed to do just this and the technical challenge of intigrating wind power is no greater than the technical challenge of balancing the load when everyone puts the kettle on in the ad break in a soap!

As well as the environmental benifits of wind farms (and hopefully, soon other renewable sources  such as wave and tidal which are mostly still under development, unlike wind power which is a pretty mature technology we have some other MAJOR benifits.

1- Wind power costs are mostly the initial build cost and fighting the NIMBY protesters poorly informed and often downright incorrect arguments at planning enquiries.

The "fuel" for a wind farm is, and will remain free, unlike oil, which has just gone up *again* today, and is certain to go up more in the future.

2- Wind cannot be stopped at the whim of Russian gangsters, wind cannot be stopped because someone decides to have a war in the place wind comes from - Energy security is a big, but little discussed issue.

3- Wind is homegrown, we do not need to import wind, as we do oil, coal and gas. Windpower is great for the balance of payment.

so go on NIMBYs, click on the thumbs down for this post.

It will still be right!

Answer 6

Everywhere where it makes good money sense to build them, really, as long as they are not blocking out any of the top ten scenic spot views in the region

Answer 7

Travel across Germany and they are all over the place.

You can't tell me the Germans are going to get this wrong.....!