Crockham Hill June 2023 Newsletter - Flipbook - Page 41
roads well knows the degree of buffeting and wind turbulence caused by
fast moving traffic. Utilizing this untapped energy source would limit
further despoiling of our beautiful landscapes and productive farmland.
The technology already exists: Telford and Wrekin Council have recently
agreed to install small wind turbines on 181 lampposts along the central
reservation of a busy A road to provide power for the 20,000 street lights
in the whole of Telford and Wrekin, and return excess power to the grid.
Each of these small turbines, made by the company Alpha 311 Ltd, is
estimated to equate to 215 sq ft of solar panels when installed on a busy
road. They are ‘retro-fitted’ i.e., they can be installed on existing posts.
There are three fitted on the ‘spikes’ on the top of the O2 Arena to harness
natural wind. Alpha 311’s founder Barry Thompson stated “We can see a
future where our turbines are as commonplace as cats’ eyes, and the
concept of turning roads into wind farms is no longer a novelty”. Sadly,
these turbines are not yet available for the domestic market. Why have we
been so slow to adopt these ground-breaking technologies on a national
scale along our major roads? I have lobbied both our local MP and the
Secretary of State for Transport, but had no response from either.
The reason is, probably, that roads and central reservations are publicly
owned. There are no large landowners with an eye to government
subsidies and huge profits. As I write this article, an example of cynical
profiteering by wind farmers has been reported. A net-zero loophole is
being exploited by two huge wind farm energy companies that made deals
with the Government to generate electricity for a guaranteed market rate
for a fixed term. They have delayed the start of their contracts in order to
capitalize on soaring energy prices, denying the consumer cheap wind
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