Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »
Tue 10 Oct 2008Answer to the energy crisis is blowing in the wind farms
EUROPEAN DIARY:THE WIND farm is barely visible as we sail out of IJmuiden port. It is a cloudy, grey day on the Dutch coast and all that can be seen on the horizon is a cluster of stick-like white objects far off in the distance. It takes an hour before the 60 white turbines come clearly into view, each bearing a huge rotor that circulates slowly as it catches the breeze.
“This is the future,” says Justin Wilkes of the European Wind Energy Association, pointing to the Princess Amelia wind farm, which became operational in the summer. “We won’t be able to combat climate change unless we build offshore wind turbines. Gas prices are unpredictable, nuclear takes 10 years to build and wind offers price stability.”
Choose a Subscription type - required
