Are windmills beautiful?
October 7, 2008
(3 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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Are windmills beautiful? The answer is easy. Yes, they are. Living in Belgium I have often had the opportunity of admiring the beautiful windmills of the neighbouring Dutch landscape. They have often been a source of inspiration for many painters like Vermeer or Van Gogh. Windmills have also been a source of inspiration for literary work. The epic fight of Don Quixote with the windmills of La Mancha has inspired the imagination of millions of readers theatre players and film directors. They are still one of the main tourist attractions in this Spanish region. Even the Open-Air Ethnographic Museum of Latvia, my homeland, features a number of beautiful wooden windmills that attract the interest of many visitors. The white sail-powered windmills in Greece and in many other parts of the Mediterranean are often in the racks of postcards, or in the tour guides of many tour operators.
I guess nobody doubts the beauty of all these windmills. However, the beauty of modern windmills is far more controversial. The visual impact of windmills has often been used as an argument against this source of renewable energy. It goes without saying that windmills do have a visual impact. It is virtually impossible to hide towers of more that one hundred meters high, with their powerful blades turning at full speed, particularly when they are concentrated in large groups. So I admit they have a visual impact, but I challenge the view that they have a negative visual impact.
During 2007 I visited all the European capitals to present the new European energy policy. In this “road show” I supported my speeches with a power point presentation that included some video images, of different energy sources. Everybody agrees that the most spectacular ones were the images of a huge off shore wind farm in Scotland. The waves beating the towers while the white wind turbines were turning against the deep blue of the North Sea was a breath-taking image. It looked to me like a massive and mobile contemporary work of art.
I don’t expect everybody to share my point of view on this matter. Aesthetics are a question of taste. I would not be surprised that when the Dutch, the Spanish or the Greek classic windmills were built some contemporaries considered that those constructions were also ugly and had a terrible visual impact in the landscape. Who knows if in the future, wind farms will become a tourist destination as well.
So said, I also see the beauty of windmills from a different angle. Wind is a virtually endless source of energy. It is CO2 free and home made. Every kilowatt hour of wind energy means fewer emissions, less foreign dependency, more jobs and growth for Europe. Maybe the visual impact of wind turbines will help us to protect the landscape of our coasts, the rain for our forests or to have the electricity to illuminate our churches and public monuments (including some ancient windmills).
What is beautiful depends on the preferences of each one. I recently received as a present a painting of a northern French landscape with the two cooling towers of nearby nuclear plant. The painting had a lot of merit, no doubt. But if I have to choose, I prefer windmills.
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October 8th, 2008 at 10:00 am
The Consultation on EU Action to promote Windmills
Availability of information in the Implantation of Polices and Measures in the Energy Sector: must to prevent, reduce and control the emissions with electricity produced from renewable energy sources competitive and attractive to Live European citizens.Energy markets of wind power is necessary for the positive impact on regional and local development opportunities, export prospects, social cohesion and employment opportunities,with tradable and exchangeable forms of energy.
Necessary in the absence of natural resources:new concepts for increased market penetration ,assembly, installation, hookup, and commissioning of Largescale Windmills Developments- for economies of scale, thereby reducing costs-improving the efficiency -limit the cost to the consumer;
Necessary for safety, environment and education:reducing the regulatory and non-regulatory barriers to the increase in electricity production - streamlining and expediting procedures at the appropriate administrative level- objective is transparent and nondiscriminatory-coordination between the different administrative bodies as regards deadlines, reception and treatment of applications for authorisations-model Romania;
Necessary for Live:design, floating, improved manufacturing processes and fabrication of structures- reduce the cost to improving the economics of offshore developments-adapted to the hostile environment-marinised, robust and reliable;
Necessary for New and Improved Concepts: improved fabrication technologies with larger turbines in hostile environment;
Necessary Economic and financial support:the create transaction costs for obliged parties are in congruence of final objective-common policy objectives of a Scheme- energy saving, GHG reductions, employment creation, security of supply;
Necessary to increase transparency for the consumer’s choice:
-the achievement of the national indicative targets-compatible with the principles of the internal electricity market;
-to settle EU target and actions for offshore deployment and operation-example 10% electricity demand by 2030 in The European Technology Platform for Wind Energy
-the corresponding purchase of electricity as a contribution to the fulfilment of a national quota obligation.
My position:
Legislation for the use Intelligent Energy through project of Directive- “on the promotion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market ” and the internal legislative Initiative in more energy efficient Appliances- is necessary for the SIMPLIFICATION and UNIQUE:
-the implantation of the law, regulation or administrative action in Member States;
-the improve the energy-efficient and energy saving behaviour of all energy consumers, including by demonstrating the benefits of available energy efficient technology;
-Studies for the public consultation for information, conviction and mutual consulting, cooperation between authorities, producers and customers;
-The commercial brochures and The Programme on implementation of unitary and information System for to be aware and to inform of consumers on energy(For your information on the protection of your rights as consumer an independent and national Authority:e-Energy Efficiency and Clean –adequate in promotion Office of the Energy Observatory-for to pursue energy market in EU,similar/even Managenergy Information Services of DGTREN, public/private Institution, Energy Regulatory or profession Asociation ,put forward elements for and a future European Energy Consumers’ Charter.Example - decisions in choosing suppliers when exercising their rights in electricity and gas markets opened up to competition - as will be the case in most EU Member States by 1 July 2007.Answer for:pay phone, petition and Internet!.);
- the establishment of an independent mechanism for cooperation among national regulators3rd liberalisation Package.
October 8th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
The Guardian (UK) recently ran an article about the Danish island of Samso, where virtually the entire island has signed on to an aggressive energy plan that includes very many wind turbines. The key was involvement and ownership by all the residents.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/sep/21/renewableenergy.alternativeenergy
October 9th, 2008 at 2:20 am
Commissioner,
I agree 100% with your thinking above.
October 13th, 2008 at 11:33 am
You say: “Aesthetics are a question of taste” !
Yes, good or bad taste ?
When comparing the impact of the view of one or another source of electricity with windmills, it would be useful and appropriate just to give a proportion and indicate how many windmills will be required to compensate for the same amount of electricity produced from the alternative (other) source. Than, it would be wise just to add a note to say that, notwithstanding the huge number of windmills required to possibly produce the same amount of electricity (hoping the wind is regularly available when required), that a nearby fossil fuel or nuclear Plant will be required to just intervene and supply the amount of electricity missing due to the lack of wind as necessary.
October 13th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Glad to see you are back and blogging regularly:-)
Now for those that want to maintain some sort of civilisation in the future take a look at this 11 minute video, it’s very simply put:
http://wakeupfreakout.org/film/tipping.html
We don’t have much time to act, either we fix the problem or the world will fix it and throw away pretty much everything - including us. Don’t let the doctrine of prioritising endless growth take priority over the survival of civilisation.
After all, for starters how difficult is it to say no more gas guzzlers, starting now not nn years time?? It requires no scientific or technical breakthroughs, no huge amounts of capital only a little political will.
Think if the whole of civilisation depended on me what would i do how would I be.
October 14th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Commissioner Piebalgs,
true, it is one impressive sight, seeing windmills towering before you. And they are functional as well. How many can say that about their industrial projects?
But a painting or photography of windmills, even with flickering platinum blades in the sun and sea wind, just wont do it for me in the office room.
M.C.Taytelbaum.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Dear Commissioner Piebalgs:
Yes, wind and water turbines and an expanded electrical grid is the right solution to our absurd and incompetent Imported Oil and Gas Energy Dependency,hundreds of billions of euros a year,in the EU as well as in the USA,so it’s time to keep these billions at home in new jobs and for Energy Independence.
The latest Banking “bail-out” is a call to action : these hundreds of billions of euros ( and dollars) must go to make these Banks and Financial Institutions start to invest in new JOBS, in new Energy Independence JOBS .
The leaders in Brussels ( and the USA) as well as in every country in the Euro Zone MUST DEMAND FROM THESE BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS A SOLID INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY,and what the Community needs the most is :
New JOBS in wind and water current turbines, new electrical grids, new trains,upgrade of rails and new Light-Rails,new JOBS in solar power thin-film and cells from the silicons-etc. to installations ,new jobs in hydrogen and fuel-cells as the EU is starting now with your new program , new synthetic jet-fuel plants using all choices: from jatropha crops to coal-to-liquid,from gas-to-liquid , and a concerted effort to develop the best deep-water platforms in the world to develop the Arctic Sea with our natural partners Canada,USA,Russia,Norway,Finland and Island, get going on it !
The Banking “Bail-Out” is a huge Warning sign ! we must change direction and start a massive push towards these new jobs, from water desalination plants in the South to vegetable and fruits greenhouses in the North, a change to better Food away from junk foods and medication, a new direction into electric-hybrid plug-in cars , RETOOLING OUR CAR MANUFACTURING IN THE EU AND USA with co-operation since they share factories and stocks ,new composites and new propeller-jet engines with home grown fuels ,new helicopters that fit into cargo turbo-prop planes , etc., a new set of JOBS.
The Banking Bail -Out , because it gives all the Governments preferred shares-securities and secured debt , is the perfect platform to get these Institutions and their bloated and corrupt Boards in the right directions, the taxpayers money to save them has been the first step, now the “key” second step is to get them going into the right direction : new JOBS and ENERGY INDEPENDENCE.
From synthetic jet-fuels for commercial and military aviation to plug-in hybrids and fuel-cells, there must be smart standards in the EU , USA and all around the world, to avoid unnecessary competition and duplicity,to cut costs : a total plug-in ,a plug-and-play worldwide, and here the EU and the USA must take the lead , and by the way….in the USA Senate Hearings the 14 of October 2008 about credit-default-swaps and Banks,Investment Banks, Hedge Funds,Brokers, Traders, etc., there was unanimous agreement : 40 % of these derivatives, swaps and other financial products is clearly fraud,so lets make sure all the banks in the EU and the USA,etc., get the message: time for new jobs, time for investing in the Community, time to lift all, time for Energy Independence and Growth.
October 14th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Dear Mr Pielbags,
For many friends of natural energy, the wind and sun are very inspiring. It gives consumers a better bond with ‘the elements of nature’. The energy transformed from these sources with wind turbines and solar PV systems are - when feeded into the grid - very well booked with Guarantees of Origin. In all European countries consumers now have a free choice of supplier. New Smart Meters are rolled out to enhance better communication for consumers. They are able to monitor their consumption. In the perception of state-of-the-art ICT (games, MP3, mobile phones) consumers are quite aware of possibilities of the digital transfer of specific small clusters of information. This could also be realized with small clusters of information regarding the Origin of supplied electricity. The Smart Meter could very well be used for this purpose. Such a concept would strengthen the bond between the impressive sources of the sun and wind (via wind turbines, solar PV) and could - when applied in dynamic interactive systems - assure the consumer of a trusted connection with the source of choice. We are working with many partners to establish such a concept and we at GPX would be happy to present you the first of a kind connected system between the wind-tubine(s) of your choice and your building in Brussels. It will display the E-consumption of your building and the E-production of the turbines of your choice. The display could be mounted at the entrance of your building and show employees and visitors the balance of the last 7 days production with consumption, based on Guarantees of Origin and a digital connection.
Kind regards,
Egbert Bouwhuis
October 15th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Dear Commissioner
Surely the most attractive form of energy will always be that which you do not need to create in the first place. And of course, if we could but ensure that energy efficiency is for everbody the Number One energy priority - as it is for you - we can greatly reduce the number of concerns about visual or any other intrusion upon the earth.
Andrew Warren
November 20th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Dear Commissioner
Are wind mills beautiful ? Those who seek to make money out them would certainly wish to have us think so. The wind industry frequently make the misleading comparison you are making between the small wind mills of old and the giant steel turbines of today.
However the issue is not in the aesthetics of individual wind mills. The issue lies in the impact of today’s massive industrial turbines on unspoiled landscapes and seascapes which have been democratically designated for protection because of their valuable scenic qualities. It is for this reason that county councils, professional planners and local people throughout EU are increasingly saying NO to industrial scale wind complexes in inappropriate locations.
Also they have done their research and realise that these huge wind farms which will degrade their local environment:
. Are not lowering CO2 emmissions in any significant manner
. Cannot replace conventional power stations
The Commission is being discredited by its uncritical back up of wind industry interests
December 1st, 2008 at 10:18 am
Dear Commmissioner..
Promotion on RES is more than required nowadays, but please let’s consider things on a multicriteria basis…
I mean windmills of Mykonos are just great, but can you really imagine Mykonos full of wind-generators of “more than 100 meters high”??
What I try to point out here is that what we miss -I think- in our European promotion policy for RES is a systemic approach based on national and local characteristics. This might be an easier way to convince local populations for the adoption of the RES projects.
Thank you for this opportunity
and congratulations for your excellent job.
eva michalena
December 11th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Windmills beautiful? A single windmill, far from any others, might be. A forest of flapping concrete, steel and plastic monsters is not. A blackout caused by totally undependable, random, impossible to control “source” is neither.
A windmill powering a water well or a single house in the middle of nowhere makes sense. But there are very very few nowheres in Europe. There’s a lot of places inhabited by people though. By people loving their country. And, unluckily, also by people ready to destroy the world to advance their agenda or to tap the subsidies. Promotion of pinwheels is a crime.
May 11th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Dear Andreis Piebalgs,
Greetings!
I work for an environment magazine (Society & Environment) by the Zayed International Prize for the Environment. It’s published from the UAE. May issue of our magazine is on “Green Energy”. I have been reading about alternate energy sources and some how reached your blog.
I really liked your post on: Are windmills beautiful? And I do agree with your point of view on wind mills. I have lived most of my life in India and was first exposed to a windmill on my way to London via Vienna. I can still not get over the site of windmills I saw from the top. The image was so empowering that to me- Vienna is about windmills more than what it is famous for. I would just add to what ever you have already mentioned that windmills are beautiful because they show us that so much can be achieved even in the stormy weather and every grim situation can be turned back to happy times.
Looking forward to more posts from your end.
Seema Sangra