A Rusty Windfarm?

[@JauneMacReady]

Grotty and industrial. I like them! Some nice shots 👍

[@timothystravels8492]

Grotty they most certainly are 🤪

[@JauneMacReady]

@timothystravels8492 🤣

[@Catkinscat]

Yep a bit of corrosion going on there for sure, but I suppose that being located so close to salty water you’d expect a certain amount of that … great zoom in by the way 😊👍

[@timothystravels8492]

If it is just from salt water, I wonder if they all look like that out to sea? These are the first I've seen in this state 😳

[@sneakysweeno]

Nice flying my friend 😊 looks like a fun location for it 👍👍

[@timothystravels8492]

It does creep me out getting close to these things....I think it's the sound which unnerves me...

[@danlowe8684]

That looks like oil to me. They get oil changes and maintenance just like our cars. I would say these are at the end of their useful life (20 years) and major repairs (such as worn seals) are not worth it. Great stuff!!

[@timothystravels8492]

Yes, I did wonder if it was oil, the splatters up close would suggest that. And they are nearly 25 years old...I wonder when they are deemed doomed? 🤔

[@danlowe8684]

@@timothystravels8492 They will likely be de-commissioned fairly soon. This can be an expensive process, too. Nothing can really be reused because so much has changed in 25 years. The concrete foundations will be undersized for the larger units used today. From what I have seen, the newer blades are larger and turn at a slower pace, with more of the work to spin the turbine at a consistent rate being done with the internal gearing.

[@scammell23]

It’s not rust, it’s just yaw grease that’s gone past the seal and dripped down the tower. Common thing on older turbines.

[@timothystravels8492]

Yes, I'm gathering that beyond 20 years old they are getting a bit old in the tooth.. I wonder when the cut off point will be? Do they replace the whole lot after a certain amount of time? 🤔

[@Tony-tt3sc]

I was walking there in the summer. The 1st time I’ve been near a wind farm the noise was unbelievable but I liked it

[@timothystravels8492]

I found the sound really soothing and creepy at the same time. 😅😬

[@ladyintheskyuk]

Nicely captured 👌 love a turbine flight❤

[@timothystravels8492]

Thank you, always a joy flying around them...especially when it's windy 🤣

[@sheilabutton]

I recall reading the planning application documents when I worked in planning and they were meant to be decommissioned after 25 years and removal procedures were included in the application. We got lots applications for turbines in the previous labour government. Many were refused planning by the council but approved on appeal. Lots of government grants were given but when the conservative government got in the applications for onshore turbines suddenly stopped with the different policies. Amazing film so much detail.

[@timothystravels8492]

Great knowledge, thank you Sheila. I wonder if that's it for them now? Since they were installed in 2000?

[@sheilabutton]

@ maybe they will extend their life for a while longer

[@timothystravels8492]

@@sheilabutton we shall see 🤔

[@mickeytheviewmoo]

Just a bit of surface rust. Some wet and dry, a lick of primer and a tin of hammarite should sort it out. Nice shots mate.

[@timothystravels8492]

I've been told it might be oil and grease from maintenance due to them being over 20 years old...🤔

[@RichieWilliams]

Not rust, it grease from the bearing :)

[@timothystravels8492]

Looks like they must be at the end of the road...? 🤔

[@Genic1981]

Its grease from the Blade bearing seal , you get oil leaks in the hub , and that effects the rubber seal and lets the grease past it.. I was there in 2009 when i worked for siemens , we used a cherry picker to clean the grease of the tower of one of the worst effected turbines... may have some pictures somewhere...

[@timothystravels8492]

Nice one...thank you 😊

[@timothystravels8492]

Do they give up on them after so long? Do they become too expensive to keep maintaining?

[@josepires8525]

I Davey, I personally think it’s some grease or other kind of lubricant. Don’t know why but I am not a big fan of this turbines, the impact on nature and carbon footprint du to making them, transporting them by creating access routes in natural habitats, and maintenance ..., don’t seems to be worth the bother, if he wasn’t for the gouvernement grants they wouldn’t be viable 🤨

[@timothystravels8492]

Yes, I have my own opinions on the viability of these things...I find them quite an eyesore too. 😶

[@compostjohn]

Looking good - been making carbon-free leccy for a while, I think.

[@timothystravels8492]

Let's hope they are doing something..😅

[@compostjohn]

@@timothystravels8492 They are doing 'something' but as a species we're not doing nearly enough.

[@timothystravels8492]

@@compostjohn I get that 😑