Grammar
These are the notes from a lesson about the use of small-scale renewable energy, with examples from the Danish island of Samsø and Scotland. It was originally intended for people working in the energy industry.
Opening discussion
Robert McIlveen, a research fellow in environment and energy, recently argued in the Guardian that small scale renewables (for example those subsidised by feed-in-tariffs) were inefficient and that the government should concentrate on large scale installations. Guardian
1. Is there any small scale generation in your country, and are there any government incentives to individuals or institutions to produce electricity or sell it to the grid?
2. To what extent do you agree with McIlveen?
NB Feed-in-tariffs - In many European countries (the UK since June 2010) individuals and institutions have the right to sell surplus electricity from renewable sources to the grid at favourable prices with a a guaranteed price structure, depending on the source, over a number of years. See Wikipedia
The Island of Samsø, Denmark. (See map)
Do you know anything about it?
Watch the video
Or watch on YouTube
1. Why did they start doing this?
2. What effect has it had on the community?
Read this New YorkTimes article (If you have difficulty opening this, try this CBS article.)
What are your reactions
Scotland is home to the largest onshore wind farm in Europe - Whitelee wind farm (140 turbines 322 MW), and approval has been given for the even bigger Clyde Wind Farm which will be a 152-turbine, 548 MW project, capable of powering 320,000 homes.
But local community projects are also very important. See Wikipedia
The Island of Eigg, Scotland See map
Read this article from Hi-energy.org.uk (first half) - second half (optional) is more technical
Why did the islanders start this scheme?
Watch this video
Or watch on YouTube
What effect has this had on the community?
Island of Gigha, Scotland
Another island scheme, using second hand generators . This is Scotland 's first community owned, grid connected, wind farm. This article is in the form of FAQ, and doesn't need to be read in detail. Gigha.org.uk
General discussion
How can community projects affect public attitudes towards wind farms? NB anti-wind farm action is currently one of the most common types of community action group in the UK.
How would you feel if you heard a wind farm was being built near you by a large company getting lots of subsidy money from the government?
How would you feel if your local community invited you to join a small-scale
renewables system, where your community, or maybe even you, got subsidies from the energy company (in the form of FITs)?
- Nominative Absolute Participle Construction
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- More On Samsø
Some more links for Samsø. Photo by Phil LaCombe at Flickr (some rights reserved) A video from CBS starring a farmer with a very dry sense of humour who likes to be somewhat economical with his words. The accompanying text is here,...
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Grammar
Energy Islands
 |
| Wind turbines at Findhorn, Scotland |
These are the notes from a lesson about the use of small-scale renewable energy, with examples from the Danish island of Samsø and Scotland. It was originally intended for people working in the energy industry.
Opening discussion
Robert McIlveen, a research fellow in environment and energy, recently argued in the Guardian that small scale renewables (for example those subsidised by feed-in-tariffs) were inefficient and that the government should concentrate on large scale installations. Guardian
1. Is there any small scale generation in your country, and are there any government incentives to individuals or institutions to produce electricity or sell it to the grid?
2. To what extent do you agree with McIlveen?
NB Feed-in-tariffs - In many European countries (the UK since June 2010) individuals and institutions have the right to sell surplus electricity from renewable sources to the grid at favourable prices with a a guaranteed price structure, depending on the source, over a number of years. See Wikipedia
The Island of Samsø, Denmark. (See map)
Do you know anything about it?
Watch the video
Or watch on YouTube
1. Why did they start doing this?
2. What effect has it had on the community?
Read this New YorkTimes article (If you have difficulty opening this, try this CBS article.)
What are your reactions
Scotland is home to the largest onshore wind farm in Europe - Whitelee wind farm (140 turbines 322 MW), and approval has been given for the even bigger Clyde Wind Farm which will be a 152-turbine, 548 MW project, capable of powering 320,000 homes.
But local community projects are also very important. See Wikipedia
The Island of Eigg, Scotland See map
Read this article from Hi-energy.org.uk (first half) - second half (optional) is more technical
Why did the islanders start this scheme?
Watch this video
Or watch on YouTube
What effect has this had on the community?
Island of Gigha, Scotland
Another island scheme, using second hand generators . This is Scotland 's first community owned, grid connected, wind farm. This article is in the form of FAQ, and doesn't need to be read in detail. Gigha.org.uk
General discussion
How can community projects affect public attitudes towards wind farms? NB anti-wind farm action is currently one of the most common types of community action group in the UK.
How would you feel if you heard a wind farm was being built near you by a large company getting lots of subsidy money from the government?
How would you feel if your local community invited you to join a small-scale
renewables system, where your community, or maybe even you, got subsidies from the energy company (in the form of FITs)?
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- Nominative Absolute Participle Construction
The Nominative Absolute Construction is a construction in which the participle stands in predicative relation to a noun in the Common Case or a pronoun in the Nominative Case; the noun or pronoun is not the subject of the sentence. Key example: The...
- Q & A Is 'outwith' A Word?
It most certainly is, although you might get funny looks if you use it outwith Scotland. A detailed description of its usage would be outwith the scope of this Quick Answer, and might well be outwith my area of knowledge. And should my employers happen...
- Who You Are Is What You Eat
In Britain people can have different names for certain meals, depending on their social background. It's just another example of our strange eccentricities.Random Idea English investigates, and reminisces ... One of the less savoury aspects of Britain...
- More On Samsø
Some more links for Samsø. Photo by Phil LaCombe at Flickr (some rights reserved) A video from CBS starring a farmer with a very dry sense of humour who likes to be somewhat economical with his words. The accompanying text is here,...
- Solidarnosć Thirtieth Anniversary
Solidarnosć strike at Gdańsk 1980 (Wikipedia) NB This is a discussion lesson for Polish students of English This is the thirtieth anniversary of Solidarnosć (The Polish trade union Solidarity). What are your first comments / reactions?...