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Wind farms 'not in windy places' Wind farms 'not in windy places'
(about 9 hours later)
The government is paying hundreds of millions of pounds to fund wind farms that are not viable, experts have told BBC Radio 4. The government is paying hundreds of millions of pounds to subsidise wind farms that are not economically viable, it has been claimed.
They say many farms in England, Wales and Scotland are underperforming because they are located in areas without enough wind. Michael Jefferson, from the World Renewable Energy Network, says farms are being built in areas of England, Wales and Scotland without enough wind.
Others are ready, but not connected to the National Grid so their electricity is not reaching homes, experts add. But the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) says the claims are "nonsense".
But ministers insist wind energy is key to Britain's future supply. It says subsidies are not paid for the building of plants, only per unit of electricity to the National Grid.
Experts told the Costing the Earth programme that government incentives are encouraging firms to site wind farms badly. class="bodl" href="#graphic">See how a wind farm works
And in remote areas like northern Scotland, they say access to the National Grid is extremely limited and there is a backlog of farms waiting for connection. Chief executive of the BWEA Maria McCaffery said: "Nobody in their right mind, not a developer and not the government, would support the building of a wind farm where the wind speeds are not high enough to generate a viable amount of electricity.
"It's absolute nonsense."
'Development pressure''Development pressure'
The government is trying to reach an EU target of 20% of all electricity from renewable sources by 2020. The government is trying to reach an EU target of 20% of all energy from renewable sources by 2020.
And under the Renewables Obligation Certificate Scheme it is offering financial incentives to companies to establish onshore or offshore wind farms in the UK. But Mr Jefferson told BBC Radio 4's Costing the Earth programme that financial incentives - part of the Renewables Obligation Certificate Scheme - were encouraging firms to site wind farms badly.
You are only subsidised for what you produce Maria McCafferyBritish Wind Energy Association
He said some companies were exaggerating the amount of wind energy a development would supply, particularly in areas of England with relatively little wind like the Midlands and Home Counties.
He claimed that in these areas the load factor - the average amount of wind a particular spot gets in a year - was not high enough to be viable.
"We should be putting our money where the wind is and that is quite often not where the development pressure is," Mr Jefferson added.
But Ms McCaffery refuted the idea, saying subsidies were not paid just for building a plant and load factor was "irrelevant".
"The only pertinent figure is the amount of electricity actually supplied and there is a fixed amount of subsidy per unit of energy. You are only subsidised for what you produce."
Volatility
Engineering consultant Jim Oswald told BBC Radio 4 that many turbines were underperforming because wind speeds in Britain were too variable.
"The volatility thing is a bit like driving your car and I say to you, 'OK, here's a green car, it uses absolutely no fossil fuel but you can only use it when it's windy," Mr Oswald said.
But Ms McCaffery said Britain was windier than any other country in Western Europe and most farms would be generating some electricity for 85% of the time.
She admitted that not every wind farm could be located in areas of highest wind speed, but instead the industry had to identify areas where wind speeds were "good enough" to be economically viable.
We should be putting our money where the wind is and that is quite often not where the development pressure is Michael JeffersonWorld Renewable Energy NetworkWe should be putting our money where the wind is and that is quite often not where the development pressure is Michael JeffersonWorld Renewable Energy Network
But Michael Jefferson, chairman of the policies committee of the World Renewable Energy Network, said firms eager for the money often exaggerate the amount of wind energy a development will supply. Both Mr Jefferson and Mr Oswald criticised the fact that some wind farms in remote areas like northern Scotland were sitting idle because they were not connected to the National Grid.
He also believes many wind farms are being badly sited in parts of England with relatively little wind like the Midlands and Home Counties. But Ms McCaffery said the connection backlog was being tackled and in the meantime these plants were not receiving subsidy.
"We should be putting our money where the wind is and that is quite often not where the development pressure is," Mr Jefferson said. 'Power swings'
Offshore sites receive most wind, but these are more expensive and difficult to develop, so onshore locations are preferred. Mr Oswald said variability in wind speed could lead to major power failures in future if the system was not redesigned.
But Mr Jefferson said suitable onshore sites with a high enough load factor - the average amount of wind a particular spot gets in a year - were running out.
Experts recommend an average wind load factor of 30% for a turbine to operate efficiently.
In the windiest parts of the UK, it can be as high as 45%, but many developments in England achieve under 20%.
The lowest recorded by electricity watchdog Ofgem in 2006 were 3.3% and 7.6%
'Volatility'
Engineering consultant Jim Oswald said many turbines were underperforming because wind speeds are too variable and unreliable.
"The volatility thing is a bit like driving your car and I say to you 'OK here's a green car it uses absolutely no fossil fuel but you can only use it when it's windy," Mr Oswald said.
Over a 20-hour period you can go from almost 100% wind output to 20% Jim OswaldEngineering consultant
"And if it's medium wind you can drive it at a sensible speed, but if it's very windy you're going to be driving at 90mph through the town centre. Or some days you'll have no wind at all and no car."
Mr Oswald said this volatility could lead to major power failures in future if the system was not redesigned.
"It's the power swings that worry us. Over a 20-hour period you can go from almost 100% wind output to 20%.""It's the power swings that worry us. Over a 20-hour period you can go from almost 100% wind output to 20%."
Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks insisted that wind energy was an important part of Britain's energy mix for the future.Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks insisted that wind energy was an important part of Britain's energy mix for the future.
He said the government was encouraging more offshore wind farms combined with tidal and marine power plants.He said the government was encouraging more offshore wind farms combined with tidal and marine power plants.
Wind power is Britain's fastest growing source of renewable energy, but still meets less than 0.5% of our electricity needs.Wind power is Britain's fastest growing source of renewable energy, but still meets less than 0.5% of our electricity needs.
Costing the Earth is broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Thursday 30 August at 2100BST. Costing the Earth is broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Thursday 30 August at 2100BST. name="graphic">
HOW WIND FARMS WORK 1. Blades turn shaft inside nacelle - a box at top of turbine. Generator inside nacelle uses magnetic fields to convert rotational energy into electric energy2. Transformer (in this case, offshore) converts the 700V generated into about 33,000V for distribution and sends it to substation3. National grid distributes power around the country Return to top