Isle of Wight wind turbine plans on hold

Shorter turbines required?

Isle of Wight radio reported how plans for a 5 wind turbine development have been put on hold whilst the council asks for more information on the impact the turbines will have on the neighbouring residents and countryside.

In particular, English Heritage wants more information on visual impact to nearby heritage sites, Natural England want more info on the likely effects on local bat and bird populations, whilst other parties want to know more about the envisaged access and maintenance roads that will be needed to build and maintain the turbines.

Rambling groups, RSPB and dept's within the council itself are also asking for more information.

Perhaps we need to start exploring smaller, less visible turbines? Although the output may be reduced, by adding more (surely a safe planning bet given the height / visual aspect seems to always crop up), then overall output of a planned site could just about be maintained?

photo credit: tumbleweed

Solar panel theft on Isle of Wight

Last week, the Isle of Wight's news service reported the theft of two solar panels from a solar farm on the outskirts of Newport.

Police were appealing for any horse riders, walkers or cyclists who may have been using the adjacent footpaths, to come forward if they saw anything suspicious.

They believe the theft took place between 8.30pm (sat 30th july) and 10am (sun 31st july).

The panels were part of the farm's first phase which had only just been connected to the grid in the past few days.

It's a stark reminder, especially to those with solar farms to keep an extra eye on their panels.

Solar companies and individual householders should be on the alert for someone offering them 'cheap' panels for sale.

Solar Panel Quoter Blog only just covered the topic of solar panel insurance - check our most recent insurance article out here.

photo credit: r/dv/rs

Isle of Wight could be self sufficient by 2020

The BBC ran a report a few days ago reckoning that the Isle of Wight is aiming to be completely energy self-sufficient by 2020.

The Island currently draws 600GWh of electricity a year from the mainland, but a community group, launched 4 years ago by the Islands's council, reckons not only could the Island generate that much themselves, they could also be passing energy back into the mainland.

The Islanders hope to draw on solar, wind and tidal renewable power sources in their bid.

The island already has several green projects on the go including a bio-diesel that's produced on the island, and electric bikes and cars.

Click here to read the BBC's full report.

I've enjoyed many a holiday on the Isle of Wight and it would be brilliant to see them become energy self-sufficient. Perhaps that's the way forward for us all? Smaller communities working to make their local environment self-sufficient rather than on a UK wide scale where the numbers and infrastructure required becomes too problematic to overcome.

The Isle of Wight is only 23 miles long and 13 miles wide, with a reported population of 142,500.

photo credit: cristian bortes