Facts & Figures

Unless people realise just what windfarms will look like and how they will affect the scenery, their health (particularly because of infrasound) and reduce the value of their property, there will be a lot more views like this one!

Hopefully, the following Facts & Figures will help people to realise that there are alternatives!

In Germany, there are over 1,000 wind turbines already in operation. This has not resulted in the shutdown of any fossil-fuelled power stations. Because the wind is fickle, there will always be the need for "spinning reserve" fossil-fuelled power for use when the wind drops.

Nuclear power stations like to run continuously (base load) at their optimum loading. They don't like being throttled, so can't really be used for wind farm standby. Besides, in spite of the UK government's plans to build many more nuclear power stations, it still hasn't solved the political problem of nuclear waste!

On-shore windfarms struggle to exceed 20% Loading Factor. So for about 80% of of the time they are useless. Off-shore windfarms do a bit better, seldom result in reducing the value of property or cause accoustic noise and health problems. There is also very little significant damage to the appearance of the countryside.

Wave Power generation is much more reliable, especially off the North-West coast of Scotland. But it's expensive to develop.

Tidal power, especially a development such as the Severn Barrage, is quite reliable and can be easily forecast into the Demand Curve for the day by National Grid. Because it can be reliably forecast, it is much more acceptable as a renewable source of generation. Besides, it could provide another very useful Severn crossing.

Wales is already a nett exporter of electrical power to England. It's nice to think of all those wind turbines generating green energy for thousands of local homes (or so we are told), but this is a myth! Electrical power will go where the demand is greatest - England!

There are a number of sites in England that are very suitable for wind farms, the Pennines, South Downs, Chiltern Hills, the Malvern Hills...... But can you seriously see planning permission given to a developmen, say, on the Malverns?! (And we wonder why it will be refused). But of course it's quite alright to desecrate Welsh hills, they just don't care (or can be ignored).

"Wind energy is not cheap, let alone free, but costs from 116% to 440% of the price of conventionally generated electricity" - Country Guardian.

Two developments (so far) intend to use the A4061 route from M4 Junction 36, through Bryncethin and Blackmill and then the A4093 up to or through Glynogwr for all their HGVs. Tegni intend 922 HGV movements, Npower 6,356 in 12 months, all during dayime hours! These are already quite busy roads. Clearly there will be a considerable effect on the lives of all those living off the affected roads or using them.