Foreword & Chapter 1

Introduction | Discussion of Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Conclusion | Appendix

2. COMMENT BY CHAPTER

Foreword

The writer of the book’s foreword, Christopher Booker*, is a known newspaper satirist and sceptic, for instance discrediting dangers from inhaling asbestos fibres and tobacco smoke, attacking Darwinism and criticising the establishment of the European Union.  With such a background, he leaps to the attack of wind farms.  Clearly Etherington has chosen Booker to authenticate the style and stance of this book.

Chapter 1, ‘Wind turbines’ is generally an excellent introduction to the basic mechanics and aerodynamics of modern wind turbines.  Unfortunately, Etherington inserts many comments and footnotes that criticise wind power, so that the unknowing reader may not discern what is accepted fact**, what is erroneous*** and what is speculation****.  Nevertheless, overall, this is a well-written text of didactic value; clearly a hand is behind the text that understands the principles of wind power.  However that hand is out of date for some aspects of the modern technology, e.g. pitch-controlled variable-speed turbines, indirect and double-fed induction  generators.

*Christopher Booker, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Booker

**E.g. the 2003 UK White Paper introducing Obligated renewables proportions  for electricity suppliers; the 2007  EU obligations of 20% of European total energy from renewables by 2020.

***E.g. his statement that a ‘wind turbine generator’ is actually not a turbine because it dos not have many blades nor a shroud (page 163, 3rd paragraph).  Here he muddles shaft power machines (turbines) in open and closed  fluid flow.

****E.g. page 96, 2nd paragraph, where he states that windfarm installations in the landscape are ‘akin to demolishing the great cathedrals for road stone’.