Pollution
& climate change
In recent years,
concern about global warming and the harmful effects of energy
emissions has created a new demand for clean and sustainable
energy sources, like wind power.
The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil & gas to
produce electricity contributes to the accumulation of greenhouse
gases in our atmosphere. It is widely recognised that these
greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, (CO2) are changing
our climate and this is likely to have a negative impact on
our environment.
The effects of climate change will not only be restricted
to humans. The possible dangers for plants and animals throughout
the world are a great concern to environmentalists. Birds,
fish, and land based animals are all under threat as their
habitats and climate alter. Plants, trees and shrubs will
also have to adapt in order to survive.
The Kyoto Protocol was drawn up in Japan in 1997 to implement
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC). Its objective is to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide
and other greenhouse gases by establishing reduction targets
and by developing national programmes and policies.
In response to the Kyoto Treaty, the UK government published
a white paper in 2002 called ‘Our energy future – creating
a low carbon economy’ which defines the UK’s long-term strategic
vision for a sustainable energy policy in Britain. The UK
has a target of generating 10% of the nation’s electricity
from renewable sources by 2010 and the East of England has
a target of 14%, the majority being contributed to by wind
energy. Electricity generated from wind is indigenously produced
and provides pollution free energy.
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Employment
Our wind farm off the coast of Sheringham has the potential to provide direct employment
in the East of England. During the development, consultation
and EIA phase, Scira has already placed contracts with local
companies in the north Norfolk region. At the time of construction
and operation of the wind farm, we expect that there will
be good opportunities for regional companies to participate.
If you feel that you have a service that might help us with
our work, please feel free to contact us and let us know more
about your business.
There are 3 essential
phases to the construction period. Firstly there is the procurement
of goods and services. Secondly the onshore construction works
and thirdly the building of the wind farm at sea.
Major components
of an offshore wind farm include:
- Wind turbine - blades, electrical components, hubs, nose
cones, towers
- Wind turbine – foundations, transition pieces, decks and
ladders
- Electrical cables
- Offshore electrical sub-station – foundation, decks, equipment
- Offshore installation & vessels for – foundations,
wind turbines, cables & sub-station
- Onshore works - cables, housing unit, electrical equipment
Much of the construction
work onshore will occur during a winter season, as to minimise
disruption to tourism and visitors. Offshore works usually
occurs during a summer season, as this is when there is usually
less disruptive weather and calmer conditions, providing greater
safety for people working in the sea environment.
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Tourism
We are very keen
to understand how tourism and leisure initiatives can be incorporated
with our proposed development. Wind farms have been proven
to be a tourist attraction both onshore and offshore. In Denmark,
many tour agencies run boat trips to take visitors to see
the offshore wind farm at Middelgrunden, near Copenhagen.
Various independent polls have demonstrated that the majority
of people are not deterred from visiting an area due to the
presence of a wind farm, both locals and visitors to an area often and majority support the idea of wind farm.
Scira will commission a socio-economic study to assess how
these benefits can be directed as much as possible to the
East of England and to North Norfolk in particular.
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Energy
security
The burgeoning global
demand for energy is high and sources of renewable electricity
like wind offer a solution not only because they can reduce
pollution, but they also provide an economically stable source
of energy to the mix of technologies currently available in
the UK.
In 2005 / 2006 the UK is expected to become a net importer
of gas from other countries. Our reliance on nuclear power
from France and increasingly gas and oil supplies from countries
such as Russia, Iran, Iraq, Algeria and Norway will diminish
our direct control over these sources of energy, unlike that which
we can have with our own indigenous sources.
Since most forms of renewable energy do not depend on fuel
markets, they are not subject to price fluctuations resulting
from increased demand, decreased supply, or manipulation of
the market. And since fuel supplies are local, renewable resources
are not subject to control or supply interruptions from outside.
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