George Osborne demands massive cuts to windfarm subsidies

[Dave2002]

To the best of my knowledge nuclear fusion has been struggling to get to the point where ENERGY OUT = ENERGY IN.

It has seemed like a good idea, but it may be one which won't take off in my lifetime.

Re msg 80, I should of course clarify that by nuclear fusion I meant terrestrial nuclear fusion.

Nuclear fusion is currently very important to us as it drives stars such as the sun, on which, one way or another, we still rely for virtually all of our energy.

[ahinton]

Re msg 80, I should of course clarify that by nuclear fusion I meant terrestrial nuclear fusion.

Nuclear fusion is currently very important to us as it drives stars such as the sun, on which, one way or another, we still rely for virtually all of our energy.

I thhink that most if not all of us would have understood your meaning there! 35 years was a conservative estimate that I read for terrestrial nuclear fusion to become a practical reality as a means of energy supply and, although that was at least 6 years ago, it's certainly not something that can be taken into consideration as a solution to a problem that needs far more urgent attention.

[Dave2002]

I went to Scotland recently, and noticed several wind farms along the M74/A74(M). Turbines in some farms seemed resolutely inactive, yet others in nearby farms were whirling as expected. Is this because the brakes are kept on if there's not enough demand, or can there really be a big difference in wind from one hill to the next?

Also, a Trivia point, do some turbines rotate in different dirctions? I think most rotate anti-clockwise looked at from the front.

[Resurrection Man]

....
Also, a Trivia point, do some turbines rotate in different dirctions? I think most rotate anti-clockwise looked at from the front.

When they are rotating clockwise, they are consuming electricity to stop the gearboxes seizing in the absence of any wind.

[mangerton]

I went to Scotland recently, and noticed several wind farms along the M74/A74(M). Turbines in some farms seemed resolutely inactive, yet others in nearby farms were whirling as expected. Is this because the brakes are kept on if there's not enough demand, or can there really be a big difference in wind from one hill to the next?

Also, a Trivia point, do some turbines rotate in different dirctions? I think most rotate anti-clockwise looked at from the front.

No brakes, they just hadn't been switched on. I jest, of course, but apparently some people think this.

There's some information about rotation here.

[LeMartinPecheur]

No brakes, they just hadn't been switched on. I jest, of course, but apparently some people think this.

There's some information about rotation here.

Direction of rotation may have got a bit confused by what seems to be a recent change down here in Cornwall - wind turbines where the blades are at the back (downwind end) of the nacelle. When they first appeared I was a bit baffled as the why there seemed to be a 180 degree difference in wind direction within a few miles

Then I twigged...