Offshore Wind Farm - Angus Coast

ChrisR777
ChrisR777 Community Member Posts: 2,167 Championing
edited October 23 in Everyday life

This is the monstrous semi submersible crane vessel, Saipem 7000, the third largest in the world, and it has been working a short distance off the coast where I live. The Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm can power 1.6 million homes!

Comments

  • Rosie_Scope
    Rosie_Scope Posts: 9,819 Scope online community team

    Sounds interesting @ChrisR777. Can you see the turbines themselves from where you are? 1.6m homes must power a pretty big part of Scotland!

  • Rag_793
    Rag_793 Community Member Posts: 841 Empowering

    Makes me mad!! Montrose is already at risk of disappearing due to damage from the sea alongside damage from up river on the Esk.

  • Rosie_Scope
    Rosie_Scope Posts: 9,819 Scope online community team

    I don't know much about that side of things @Rag_793, we don't hear about much of it down here! But that doesn't sound good!

    Is there quite a lot of environmental impact from these wind farms? I'm sure it's probably a very fine balance between helping the country stay powered up and looking after the coast line.

  • ChrisR777
    ChrisR777 Community Member Posts: 2,167 Championing
    edited October 23

    The online documents said that would be half the homes in Scotland, but I would think that in reality, the power will be sold to the National Grid, not staying in Scotland.

    It has been operational since October 2023, with 114 turbines. I'm not sure if they are constructing tthe other 36, as they have permission for 150 turbines.

    They say it is 27km from the coast, but we can see them on the horizon. I'm thinking they mean 27km from Montrose, where the operational base is. I am in Carnoustie and can see them. They blend in quite well actually, it doesn't take much for them to be near invisible, unless you look for them.

    "Situated 27km off the Angus coastline in the North Sea and 66km off the East Lothian coastline, Seagreen has 114 turbines with a total generating capacity of 1,075MW.  The existing site can provide enough green energy to power more than 1.6million homes and will also displace over 2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from electricity generated by fossil fuels every year."

  • ChrisR777
    ChrisR777 Community Member Posts: 2,167 Championing
    edited October 23

    This is providing high skilled green energy jobs. Can you explain what's making you angry?

  • ChrisR777
    ChrisR777 Community Member Posts: 2,167 Championing
    edited October 23

    Those yellow jacket foundations are what each turbine stands on.

    Zhen_Hua_33_(52174181098).jpg
  • ChrisR777
    ChrisR777 Community Member Posts: 2,167 Championing
    edited October 23

    Just read that this windfarm has the deepest fixed bottom foundations of any operational windfarm in the world. And is a £3bn joint venture between SSE Renewables 49%/ TotalEnergies 25.5%/ PTTEP 25.5%.

  • egiste2r
    egiste2r Posts: 287 Connected

    It's definitely better than wind turbines next to people's homes

  • Rachel_Scope
    Rachel_Scope Posts: 5,417 Scope online community team

    Is it the sight of wind turbines that you're not keen on @egiste2r? I live in the countryside and we have quite a few wind farms. I quite like seeing them and I definitely prefer them over pylons.

  • egiste2r
    egiste2r Posts: 287 Connected

    For those living nearby, they create a very uncomfortable noise.

  • Rachel_Scope
    Rachel_Scope Posts: 5,417 Scope online community team

    I had a look and it seems that over 1 mile away you can't hear them. The ones near me are on the hills and there is maybe 1 or 2 houses within that distance. I wonder if it affects them much?

  • egiste2r
    egiste2r Posts: 287 Connected

    Noise from wind turbines affects people individually. Plus, noise depends on many environmental factors. In any case, I believe that it is better to stay away from wind turbines.

  • ChrisR777
    ChrisR777 Community Member Posts: 2,167 Championing

    @egiste2r And what's the alternative, re-open the coal fired power stations? I sometimes thing you contrarians get a cheap thrill out of this.

  • egiste2r
    egiste2r Posts: 287 Connected

    Wind and solar electricity are unstable. The need to smooth out consumption peaks through nuclear power plants, hydroelectric power plants and thermal power plants will not disappear.