Wind Turbines & Mil Ac Issues
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: The Whyte House
Age: 95
Posts: 1,966
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not if thorium reactors become the norm, and coal/oil/gas isn't going to get any cheaper. Besides, your contention that nuclear is the most expensive - you used somewhat more exagerated terms than that - is seemingly false if one takes the time to indulge in a small amount of research and look at a few facts and figures.
http://www.pbworld.com/pdfs/regional...ange_costs.pdf
Oil especially seems to be largely in the hands of nations who would quite happily take actions to bump up the price when they feel like it, they have done in the past. There may be untapped sources of black gold but they're going to have to be in quantities as yet undreamt of to keep the world in the lifestyle to which it has become acostomed to for any length of time. And of course the majority of places in the world best placed to collect solar energy are controlled by 'those of a certain disposition'. USA may be ok re. solar if they build a swathe of them across the S. Western States, but Northern Europe won't be.
http://www.pbworld.com/pdfs/regional...ange_costs.pdf
Oil especially seems to be largely in the hands of nations who would quite happily take actions to bump up the price when they feel like it, they have done in the past. There may be untapped sources of black gold but they're going to have to be in quantities as yet undreamt of to keep the world in the lifestyle to which it has become acostomed to for any length of time. And of course the majority of places in the world best placed to collect solar energy are controlled by 'those of a certain disposition'. USA may be ok re. solar if they build a swathe of them across the S. Western States, but Northern Europe won't be.
Last edited by Willard Whyte; 22nd Jun 2014 at 16:52.
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Richmond Texas
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Notes to some posters:
There is a difference between fissile and fissionable. No sane person proposes that much fissile material be placed in private hands (Though I could think of a good use for some).
Present wind turbine technology cannot provide much more than 20% of the electricity supplied to a grid.
After an excellent landing etc...
There is a difference between fissile and fissionable. No sane person proposes that much fissile material be placed in private hands (Though I could think of a good use for some).
Present wind turbine technology cannot provide much more than 20% of the electricity supplied to a grid.
After an excellent landing etc...
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Leicester
Age: 67
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Crying wolf?
Going back to Jamesman's original question. He is looking for reasons to block a wind turbine he doesn't like. Whether that dislike is justified or not I don't know, not being familliar with the case. However I'm a bit twitchy about what seems to be the principle of just looking for any objection. This is dangerously like 'crying wolf'. If objectors to just play the aviation card as routine eventually it becomes harder to identify the genuine concerns.
For what it is worth I have been on the other side, getting planning permission for wind energy. I have found the CAA and MOD both very professional, impartial and fully up to speed on all defence and civil radar and ATC issues - unlike some in the gliding and GA communities but that is another story!
For what it is worth I have been on the other side, getting planning permission for wind energy. I have found the CAA and MOD both very professional, impartial and fully up to speed on all defence and civil radar and ATC issues - unlike some in the gliding and GA communities but that is another story!
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Sometimes north, sometimes south
Posts: 1,809
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
1 Post
Barbel:
In that case you must be living somewhere other than the UK. MOD has a sorry history of making up policy on the hoof, changing policy every time there's a personnel change, putting personnel that know nothing about the issues into post without giving them training or proper handover, and issuing objections with no foundation that are then withdrawn after multiple attempts to get any response whatsoever. Meanwhile the people that really know about the effect of wind turbines on radar - MOD's own controllers - are probably the most experienced and capable in the world at dealing safely and successfully with clutter from any and all sources, and the Watchman routinely sees lots of clutter and always did, long before wind turbines came along.
MOD's real problem is that very soon they will have to decide whether to embrace plot-extracted radar. This will give them a much cleaner picture, but almost certainly at the expense of not seeing some things that they want to see, and currently do see.
My prediction is that they will install plot-extracted radars, but will then spend squillions trying to make those radars behave more like the analogue radars they replaced.
NS
I have found the CAA and MOD both very professional, impartial and fully up to speed on all defence and civil radar and ATC issues
MOD's real problem is that very soon they will have to decide whether to embrace plot-extracted radar. This will give them a much cleaner picture, but almost certainly at the expense of not seeing some things that they want to see, and currently do see.
My prediction is that they will install plot-extracted radars, but will then spend squillions trying to make those radars behave more like the analogue radars they replaced.
NS
I do some work on the impact of turbines on aviation assets. MOD are very switched on when it comes to the impact on low level flying. They are also very pragmatic and recognise that such flying is extremely dynamic and flexible. routing around a wind farm isn't really an issue. Radar on the other hand remains a real problem. I would say that the civil world have a much greater understanding than MOD.
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Leicester
Age: 67
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The MOD often require infra red warning lights, preferable to visible for the neighbours (However I know of a GA airfield, grass strip, no naiads, requesting a visible light which was refused).
As regards radar, I believe there is a project underway at Marshalls, Cambridge to investigate ways round this problem.
As regards radar, I believe there is a project underway at Marshalls, Cambridge to investigate ways round this problem.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Just south of the Keevil gap.
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jamesman,
The proposed Thoulstone wind turbine is less likely to be a problem than the proposed turbines to be sited on the ridge at West Ashton, very close to the Keevil approach. I am not aware of MOD objections to that one, although like Chapmanslade, the locals are very definitely opposed.
I think there was a project on the east coast for which the MOD withdrew its objection after reaching agreement with the developer to provide a 'gap-filler' radar to resolve ambiguities in returns.
The proposed Thoulstone wind turbine is less likely to be a problem than the proposed turbines to be sited on the ridge at West Ashton, very close to the Keevil approach. I am not aware of MOD objections to that one, although like Chapmanslade, the locals are very definitely opposed.
I think there was a project on the east coast for which the MOD withdrew its objection after reaching agreement with the developer to provide a 'gap-filler' radar to resolve ambiguities in returns.
