Planning permission has been sought to construct the world’s largest windfarm off the Scottish coast. Estimated to cost around 4.5 billion pounds and cover some 300 square km of ocean, if the project receives the green light, it will produce up to 40% of Scotland household power use. When compared to other forms of energy generation, it’s alleged that CO2 emmissions would be cut by between 1.5 and 4.5 million tonnes p/a.
I’m drawn to the idea. And merely wonder whether the design plans include mechanisms for capturing wave power in conjunction with wind power. (I’m no engineer, but it seems to me a fairly simple proposition to capture the energy of wave hydrolics within the vertical column of a windmill’s shaft.)
Given that NZ has a similar population to Scotland and, at least for the time being, still has engineers. And given that NZ has much more coastline or ocean to utlilise than Scotland has, would it be crazy to suggest that the billions being spent on roads and other infrastucture projects be (at least in some instances) re-allocated to something that would be of use in the future?
I’m not holding my breath.
As George Monbiot points out in the same newspaper, even given unprecedented levels of melting arctic ice and other climate indicators ‘going to pot’, it appears that those nice people we give decision making powers to just don’t ‘get it’.
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