Tallest Wind Turbines in the country - now in Devon

[devondumpling]

I did put this comment on the end of another one, but I think it should a thread all of it's own.

The tallest wind turbines in the country have are now being build here in the North Devon countryside - they are taller than Big Ben, they are 365 feet high, or as the developers like to say, 110 meters, which of course makes them seem smaller, so far 6 have been built, the 7th was being hoisted skywards on Friday, in all this wind farm will have 22 when it's finished in June.

The wind farm is called Fullabrook Down, in North Devon, and not on some far flung hill top,but right slap in the middle of some beautiful countryside villages. The entrance to this wind farm is amongst our countryside lanes, parts of which have had to be 'widened' to get the massive transporter lorries through, carrying the 45 meter blades & the 65 meter turbines into the fields to build these monsters.

I will probably put some photos up, just waiting for the moment, a before and after will be a good one I am sure.

[wanlock dod]

Don't worry, I very much doubt that they will remain the tallest for very long. I have heard that the Clyde windfarm which is currently under construction will have 152 turbines with a hub height of 80m and the same blade diameter. If this is true the development in Devon sounds pretty small scale.

[devondumpling]

Yes it does seem small scale my comparison, but sadly not much of a consolation to those people who's homes are right slap bang next to them, and there some villages/hamlets very close to the farm, it seems as though the whole countryside, bar the cities, will be decorated with these.

[faz]

i have been caught in holdups on A361 north devon link road due to them monster things

[Lancashire Lad]

Not much consolation I know, but actually, the tallest (onshore) wind turbine in the UK is at Ness Point, Lowestoft. Constructed in 2004, and operational from 2005. - It stands at 263ft to hub (80m) and 413ft. (126m) to top of blades.

And, we are already signed up to utilise Clipper Windpower PLC's 7.5MW turbines (nicknamed "Brittania") in the Round 3 Offshore developments. They stand at 100m to Hub, and a further 75m to tip of blades. (About 575 feet in old money).

Regards,
Mike.

[tom00_uk]

big bens only just over 2m tall, the tower of west minster in which the great bell aka big ben sites is a lot taller though

This is close to the farm i lived on as a student and I was happy at the time, the wider lanes allow the caravans and other slow moving cars etc to pass through quicker and the spinning blades are i find attractive on the sky line, much more so then looking out over a city scape or a industrial complex

[chazzpott]

Originally Posted by tom00_uk

big bens only just over 2m tall, the tower of west minster in which the great bell aka big ben sites is a lot taller though

St Stephens is the name, I believe, of the tower which houses the bell, Big Ben.

[Paul mabbott]

Isn't taller better - less noise and better energy capture?

[fairplay]

In addition to Britain's tallest at Lowestoft, 2 more of identical proportions have just been erected about 5 miles to the south at Kessingland.

These are due to become operational any day soon.
My personal view as I head north into Lowestoft along the A12 - they look absolutely stunning, and genuinely do complement the landscape. Already many cars, and not just tourists, are pulling over at the best photogenic points.

Neil.

PS. At Lowestoft, you are able to get within about 30-40 metres of the structure, and I challenge anybody to say they are put off by any 'unbearable' sound - all you can hear is a gentle swish, swish, and more often than not drowned out by the waves from the nearby beach.