Thursday 25 September 2008

maybe not well, but it's alive....

Through the letter box with a clunk...... as if to say: "I'm here, read me". Dropped a copy of the Thanet Extra. Delivered on time....

It answered a question that a friend of mine from the Midlands asked me a few weeks ago as we motored back from Dover along the A256. 'What's going on in the Richborough Power Station?" As we turned the roundabout and carried on toward Ramsgate. I said "nothing, it's all derelict with the generating gubbins sold to India". I remember the malarky with the transportation of the equipment to the port for loading onto a freight ship bound for distant lands. The cooling towers were to be 'blown up' and that was to be the end of the power station, hmmmm...... well, the towers are still there and it would appear the wind farm people are building something technical there. But, the last thing I heard there was a problem financing the building of the turbines and Shell had pulled out, leaving a shortage of cash. Now the article tells us the port will still be providing support for the project and this technical equipment is needed for ongoing connection!!

Anybody know what's going on ? Will we have lots of windmills to look at generating loads of power, providing loads of Ramsgate Port jobs. If so did anybody tell EDF who are taking over our nuclear power industry to build 4 new generating stations. Instead of importing French power maybe we'll be able to export it!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Shell pulled out of the London Array Windfarm, and I believe EON took over their shares. The Thanet Offshore Windfarm is the one that is connected to Richborough.

Richard Eastcliff said...

The work at Richborough is apparently to connect one of the wind farms to the National Grid. There are actually two projects proposed. The smaller wind farm (Thanet Array) is almost certainly going ahead, last week they announced they were leasing a building and land in the port here at Ramsgate for 40 years.

The much bigger wind farm (London Array), which Shell owned 50% of, is also apparently back on track as E.ON have since found another partner. I was under the impression they were trying to connect to the grid up Whitstable way if they can get planning permission.

As for job creation in Ramsgate, I guess only time will tell!

Mitch said...

Thanks to you both... I'm under no illusions now. I'll see my friend at the weekend so I'll make him aware that he did see something and exactly what it was.
Looks as though some jobs are appearing in the viscinity!