More and more of these are springing up across the landscapes of Spain… I think they are rather beautiful when found in small numbers like this (these are near the vilage of Lanjaron, in the Alpujarras). Marina pointed out that they might be seen as being even more beautiful still, if you consider that they are doing a lot to safeguard the environment as they spin slowly round…
Pepino (Dave Hall)
6 Nov 07 at 10:22 am
I agree that wind turbines can look stunning. I haven’t seen many in Spain yet (although I know they’re there!) but those I’ve seen in the UK (in the Lake District) are pretty amazing, especially when driving through the hills and you suddenly see them looming up around you.
That said, I wouldn’t like to see them spread everywhere. After a day out on sunday in a beautiful Catalan village called Rupit, where the hills stretched as far as the eye could see, with barely a single man-made object in the way, I do think we need to keep some countryside as underdeveloped as possible (within reason). It’s a bit of a paradox I guess.
I think, with a bit more development of the technology to improve the efficiency, then the mini turbines that cane be fitted on the roofs of houses are probably the best step forward with regards to cutting the source of the problem, ie consumption levels. Solar power is already pretty efficient (so I believe), but I read recently that these mini turbines aren’t yet all they’re cracked up to be.
Offices are some of the worst offenders though. People at least have a financial incentive to save energy at home, but it seems in workplaces, anything goes.
Great foto by the way Ben.
Brandon
6 Nov 07 at 10:54 am
Almodovar seems to agree with you, Ben. There’s a great shot of a field of windmills in “Volver”. (At least, I’m pretty sure it’s “Volver”)
Richardksa
6 Nov 07 at 11:03 am
Travel into the hills beyond Soria. It seems every ridge is sprouting wind turbines. True, in small clusters they look magestic, but when every hillside is covered there is not much environment left to protect. Don Quitote, your hour is now.
Jonk
6 Nov 07 at 12:45 pm
Believe it or not Ben, but here in Victoria, Aus, they’ve had a lot of trouble putting these up because communities protest against having them there. “Eyesores” apparently.
luke
6 Nov 07 at 4:17 pm
Richardksa, I’d prefer every hillside to be covered in wind turbines and not see Bangladesh covered in water.
Jon Hundt
6 Nov 07 at 5:11 pm
Here in Holland they have a million of these things. Back in California the Altamont Pass (famous for the Rolling Stones disastrous free concert) was completely covered with them, too.
It’s interesting, I guess. And I don’t want to disillusion Marina, but I don’t think that a million of these things can make enough energy to power one small city.
I don’t have any data, maybe it’s time for some research…
What I do know is – a nice little rural landscape through which I sometimes drive has been turned into a world of towering, spinning, gigantic propellors…
ValenciaSon
6 Nov 07 at 6:32 pm
I think tolerating their aesthetics is a small price to pay when you consider what they are minimizing. I think they are pretty to look at.
Ben
6 Nov 07 at 6:53 pm
I’ve seen them down on the coast near Tarifa where they number in the hundreds at times, and then they are a bit of an eyesore, but the few dotted around up here are pretty amazing…
tom
6 Nov 07 at 11:32 pm
I’ve seen huge windfarms on the way to Castellón, and I think they look magnificent. I often drive past a small windfarm in Pennsylvania and I enjoy it much more than the view of the nuclear power plant. Has anyone ever heard of Three mile island? It was a near meltdown here in Pennsylvania.
Jon Hundt
7 Nov 07 at 8:25 am
Three Mile Island – ha ha, I do indeed remember. I was on a tour, passing through Harrisburg PA when that happened. Didn’t have much time to consider the implications at the time, but I remember some people were getting excited…
Andrew
7 Nov 07 at 10:09 am
Taking a natural landcape and turning it into an industrial one makes it beautiful? I find the old Battersea power station quite ‘majestic’ in a way but I wouldn’t want it plonked in the middle of San Sebastian’s La Concha. Genuinely not wishing to offend here but nothing puts me off the environmental debate more than this kind of silliness.
My view is that the Spanish government should not erect any more of these things, which are pretty ineffective anyway imho, and start investing money in a) educating the Spanish people in how to reduce their demand for energy and why it’s important to do so, and b) scientific research and development in the field.
I worry when I see comments like Luke’s – god forbid that environmentalists end up in the same bracket as animal rights extremists, just running roughshod over any intelligent debate and using any method they can to satisfy their lust.
luke
7 Nov 07 at 11:32 am
Andrew, if there were a chance that cutting carbon emissions would help stop countries like Bangladesh being submerged then I believe we should reduce emissions. If the answer is to cut down on consumption, use many wind turbines, solar panels, wave power, geothermal energy and/or nuclear energy then so be it. Wind power has no adverse effects on global warming; in a windy area the only cons are the disruption of migration patterns for birds and a retinal assault on some humans. I’ve lived in London for 38 years and I’ve survived; wind turbines don’t scare me even if they were to be erected near my house in the countryside near Segovia. It all comes down to priorities. Of course many of us are examining our behaviour and trying to balance an enjoyable lifestyle with carbon emissions. I’m nowhere near perfect, I still travel abroad and still have a car. But I choose to take the train to Spain and my rarely used car is as green as I can afford.
My children are two and eight; I don’t want us to let them down. I have a lust for life.
Paul Finch
7 Nov 07 at 9:09 pm
It was very nice to see your photo of the wind turbines at Lanjaron. I feel that they in no way spoil the beauty of the area. Whilst they are large constructions, when viewed from afar they appear quite insignificant. One could say they are almost artistic in appearance. My wife and I are always very pleased to see these on our journey down the motorway from Granada, they mean we are only 15 minutes away from our house in Orgiva.
Andrew
7 Nov 07 at 11:07 pm
Luke…we won’t agree on the wind turbine thing but I hear what you are saying. Btw, take a look at the banner on the Guardian website now. I’m just amazed by what it says and how then the debate must have more or less disappeared for 70 years: http://www.guardian.co.uk/
Frank
8 Nov 07 at 7:02 pm
“I’ve seen them down on the coast near Tarifa where they number in the hundreds at times, and then they are a bit of an eyesore, but the few dotted around up here are pretty amazing…”
Agree, for me that drive along the coast road, between Tarifa and Vejer, has been ruined. And now the proposal is for a huge off shore wind farm, trouble is it’s not very far off shore! Reading in another forum, a person there has had one plonked right outside her country finca, which is a holiday let, and it’s just about killed her business. And probably wiped thousands off it’s value. When you stand right underneath one, it’s surprising how noisy they are, there’s no way I’d want to rent her place.
Anwar
30 Nov 07 at 10:35 pm
There’s a Spanish company in the alternative energy sector called Gamesa whose wind division, Gamesa Eólica, is the second largest manufacturer of wind turbines worldwide. It’s a good bet that Gamesa built the turbines that appear in the photo. Gamesa set up shop here in the U.S. a few years ago and have got wind turbine factories in several states. Their U.S. subsidiary is headquartered in Philadelphia. They even have a contract with the State of Pennsylvania to build wind farms. I thought it might be interesting working for them as there’d be the possibility of getting a few paid trips to Spain, but as far as I know they aren’t operating in the Maryland/D.C. area. Too bad for me. I’ve just taken the advanced DELE exam and everything.
Ben
1 Dec 07 at 4:24 pm
Well done on the exam, and don’t worry, I’m sure there will be other opportunities to get to Spain, probably working in this same field, as it seems to be expanding hugely here.
Gary
1 Dec 07 at 6:47 pm
Its just interesting the way the Labour party have done a u turn on nuclear power in the last few years – windfarms havent a price against a good nuke facility!!
Michelle
23 Jan 08 at 7:56 pm
For those of you interested in working in the Wind Energy industry – please apply online at http://www.gamesa-us.com. As Anwar stated, Gamesa is growing in the US – we are looking for good people!
Thanks!
Louise
12 Mar 08 at 5:45 pm
Well living in Soria, one province in Spain that produces more energy from wind turbines that it uses I can say it is definitely a hot topic.
Yes in parts of Soria there are wind farms, but this tends to be former farm land, not natural spaces that have been set aside for wildlife etc. So i’d disagree with Richardksa as his comment is far from true. I currently have views of 3 fantastic ridges from my house and there are no turbines in sight.
However given that Soria also boosts some of the cleanest air in Spain, I know what i’d rather have.
Edith
12 Mar 08 at 8:52 pm
Like Jon says, in Holland we have a million of these things. I don’t even notice them any more. I don’t understand why some people are so upset about them, and not about other impacts on the landscape like the ever-increasing number of highways and skyscrapers.