Stop These Things’ Weekly Round Up: 9 February 2025

As wind power output across the UK continues to plummet, Matt Ridley smashes the notion that Britain is on the brink of wind and solar Nirvana, noting Britain’s so-called energy policy has turned to a risible farce. Britain’s net zero, green energy madness is set for a head-on collision with reality The Telegraph Matt Ridley … Continue reading Stop These Things’ Weekly Round Up: 9 February 2025

Terminal Decline: China’s Double-Headed Wind Turbine Signals Industry’s Last Gasp

The wind industry started out as absurd, and only became more so over time. The turbines became bigger, the blades longer and capacities went from piddling 1.5 MW machines to 18MW monsters - albeit so large they can barely stand up against stiff breezes, let alone a full-blown hurricane. As the blades grew, their habit … Continue reading Terminal Decline: China’s Double-Headed Wind Turbine Signals Industry’s Last Gasp

Reputation Shredded: Public Perception of Offshore Wind Industry Turns Totally Toxic

There’s a fury burning among America’s Atlantic coastal communities, and it’s all directed at the offshore wind industry. There hasn’t been a subject that has unified and directed anger among these communities like the foreign-owned and government-backed wind power outfits determined to destroy lives and livelihoods of those who depend on the sea. Wiping out … Continue reading Reputation Shredded: Public Perception of Offshore Wind Industry Turns Totally Toxic

Disintegrating Offshore Turbine Blades Littering Coast With Shredded Toxic Fibreglass

These things have a nasty habit of self-destructing without notice - whether it’s shredding and/or throwing their blades for miles, or spontaneously combusting in toxic fireballs, the environmental damage done is immediate and often permanent. In a recent post - Fibreglass From Shredded Wind Turbine Blades Renders Farming Land Useless - we covered the story … Continue reading Disintegrating Offshore Turbine Blades Littering Coast With Shredded Toxic Fibreglass

Mister Floppy: Strong Winds Wiping Out (More) Ageing Wind Turbines

As they get older, wind turbines have a hard time keeping it together. Hit ‘em with strong wind and the fun begins. Blades disintegrate, and chunks thereof relocate over vast distances - an exhilarating experience for anyone living, working or driving in the throw zone. Sometimes the entire hundred-tonne nacelle gets in on the action; … Continue reading Mister Floppy: Strong Winds Wiping Out (More) Ageing Wind Turbines

Tornado Terror: Giant Industrial Wind Turbines No Match For America’s Twisters

Wind power is described as the pinnacle of ‘distributed’ generation systems - watching 250m turbines being distributed far and wide by Cyclones, Typhoons and Hurricanes certainly gives that impression. Although, we’re not sure that wind acolytes really had disintegrating and self-immolating turbines in mind when they began mouthing off these things being spread from horizon … Continue reading Tornado Terror: Giant Industrial Wind Turbines No Match For America’s Twisters

Gravity Strikes Again: GE’s Mega-Turbine Collapse Kills Offshore Wind Industry

When your industry depends on mega-myths and hyped-up hubris, get ready for Armageddon-scale disappointment. GE’s rent-seeking wind power harm, Vernova pumped up its planned 18MW Haliade X offshore turbine with the kind of fanfare once reserved for NASA’s efforts to land men on the Moon. These things have a predilection for plummeting to earth with … Continue reading Gravity Strikes Again: GE’s Mega-Turbine Collapse Kills Offshore Wind Industry

Blown Away: Atlantic Hurricanes Threaten Total Offshore Wind Turbine Wipeout

The purpose of a power generation source is, funnily enough, to generate power as and when it’s needed, not merely to withstand the vagaries of the weather. Wind speeds barely need to reach gale force and these things go into automatic shutdown, as appears on German turbine maker, Siemen’s website – which has this to say … Continue reading Blown Away: Atlantic Hurricanes Threaten Total Offshore Wind Turbine Wipeout

Laughable Lightweights: Wind & Solar Can’t Hold Their Own During ‘Extreme’ Weather

When the wind blows hard enough, the turbines will not only rock, they'll hit the deck with quite a thud - all 250 tonnes or so. And what a gale can do to 280m high turbines, a hail storm can do to seas of solar panels in a matter of minutes (see Charles Rotter's piece … Continue reading Laughable Lightweights: Wind & Solar Can’t Hold Their Own During ‘Extreme’ Weather

Gravity Strikes Again: Ageing Wind Turbines Literally Falling To Pieces

Wind turbines were designed to capture subsidies, but they clearly weren’t designed to last. These things have suffered hundreds of ‘structural failures’ – where either 10-25 tonne blades are shredded or flung in all directions; or their 90-120m towers implode, unceremoniously delivering the 80-140 tonne nacelle to terra firma, with exhilarating effect. And, as these things get … Continue reading Gravity Strikes Again: Ageing Wind Turbines Literally Falling To Pieces