Politics

Vestas – the workers speak

Submitted by JMB on Fri 31/Jul/2009

Following on from yesterday’s post, here’s an interview with Vestas workers/protestors Sean and Matt by Kirstie Paton.

In the video they explain their business plan, demand the creation of a workers cooperative. They also helpfully explain that the machinery in the occupied factory is pretty run down, and there is only one carbon-fibre mould (Mould No.8) that’s much use, whereas the other Vestas IoW factory does the assembly (but not manufacture) of some of the mechanical components in the main turbine nacelle.

Before further discussion of the occupation of the Vestas Wind Turbine Blade factory on the Isle of Wight, it’s worth clarifying something important.

This is not a dispute between capitalism and socialism or between capital and workers; the factory in question has only ever produced significant quantities of goods in response to political patronage.

The main product of Vestas IoW factory is the 40 metre carbon-fibre blade for the V82 1.65 MW Turbine. (see below)

The V82 is quite advanced. It gets about as close to the Betz limit for turbine efficiency as is currently possible, and has some clever innards to improve Low Voltage Ride Through (LVRT) and offer Grid Code Compliance.

Vestas V82 1.65MW Wind Turbine product brochure v821_65_uk

But it is still a wind turbine, and if they wind ain’t blowing you need a base load electricity generating capacity otherwise the lights will go out. And if you already have a base load, then frankly you don’t need wind turbine generation (WTG). Potentially  WTG is useful for ad-hoc generation in support of non-grid-connected industrial processes (water desalinisation for example) but for national electricity supply the technology is worse than useless.

So why do energy companies buy and install them? For three reasons:

  1. Energy companies are offered subsidies through schemes such as Renewal Obligation Certificates.
  2. Energy companies may be required by statute to supply a portion of their output from accredited renewable sources, or pay a penalty.
  3. National Distribution Grids are genereally expected to absorb the external costs of balancing unreliable renewable power inputs.

I suppose it is a bit ironic that this factory closure was announced a few months after the UK government commissioned a report on “Cost of and financial support for offshore wind” which contains lots of recommendations of how to support (i.e. subsidise) Wind Turbine Generation (WTG), but frankly it is ridiculous to be considering further shovelling of taxpayers’ money into a pit when the UK already has an unprecedented budget deficit for a period of nominal peace in Europe.

(Counterpoint) Vestas – the boss speaks

An interview with Vestas Wind boss Ditlev Engel from 12 months ago, for Bloomberg TV.

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Industrial Appeasement

Submitted by JMB on Thu 30/Jul/2009

Vestas is one of the world leaders in the production of Wind Turbines. Now even if you regard the economic rationale for installing Wind Turbines as absurd (which I do) it has to be said that Vestas are very good at making them.

Vestas

But, given that no sane person would install wind turbines for national energy generation purposes, the big megawatt generating devices are only marketable due to politically motivated procurement. So Vestas are cutting down on their European production facilities, which includes staff reductions at, and ultimate closure of, their Isle of Wight factory. According to the company’s press release:

The announcement was made in response to conditions in the Northern European markets not having met the company’s expectations. The current market conditions are caused by the credit crunch, weak currencies and a lack of local political action in certain markets. At the same time, Vestas is investing in a significant production base in the US. The expansion in the US has created substantial excess production capacity in Northern Europe, which has so far also manufactured turbines for the US market. Unfortunately, demand on the Northern European market cannot absorb the excess capacity.

In essence, President Obama has more of other people’s money than Gordon Brown or any of the European leaders, so he looks like a better patron for the brotherhood of renewable energy.

And in a heartbeat, Vestas stop being number-one good-think friends of the planet and become horrid, evil capitalist running dogs.

This is a useful reminder for any other companies that think they can keep the left on-side. It doesn’t matter how much you spend on corporate social responsibility, sooner or later you will be expected to provide both the cake and the afternoon tea.

[Wikinews says] Since the occupation began, the Vestas workers have received declarations of support and solidarity from a wide swathe of the British left, including but not limited to: political partiesGreen Party, Respect, the Socialist Party, the Socialist Workers Party, the Alliance for Workers Liberty, and the Communist Party of Britain; the TUCG group, which brings together the BFAWU, FBU, NAPO, NUJ, PCS, POA, RMT, and URTU; and environmental groups Greenpeace, the Campaign against Climate Change, Climate Camp, and Workers' Climate Action, who claims credit for initiating the campaign to occupy the factory. Attendees of the Big Green Gathering, a large annual environmentalist rally which was due to take place starting today but was suddenly canceled on Sunday, are being encouraged to go to the Isle of Wight and take part in support rallies for Vestas instead.

Given that the Big Green Gathering has now been cancelled, many disappointed festival goers are said to be making the detour to the Isle of Wight. According to Hampshire’s press archive for 30.Jul.09:

Police are continuing their investigation after a man was arrested in Portsmouth using powers under the Terrorism Act.

The 38-year-old was detained by officers near the Whale Island naval establishment yesterday and remains in police custody.

A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said:  “Police were called at around 2.15pm to reports of suspicious behaviour at the site.

“The man, who’s believed to be from the South West of England, was detained in a white panel van parked outside the establishment.

"As part of our investigation, officers seized filming equipment from the van and detectives are in the process of questioning the man at a police station in Hampshire.

“From our initial enquiries, there is there is nothing to suggest there was any immediate risk to the public.”

Avon & Somerset Constabulary will owe Hampshire Constabulary a few drinks for this one, I reckon.

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European Election Results 2009 – South West Region

Submitted by JMB on Mon 08/Jun/2009

The results of the local elections held on June 4th 2009 can be found here. (click to open in new window)

The results of the European Parliamentary elections for the UK South West region, held on June 4th 2009 are now available from the Regional Returning Officer. Interpretation is fiddly. First thing – the results for the South West region, of which Bristol is part:

2009 South West Turnout: 38.87% (compare to 37.8% in 2004)

Under the Proportional Representation (Party List) system, this translates into the following candidates being elected to the six parliamentary seats for the South West:

And the overall makeup of the European Parliament now looks like this:

EuroParliament2009

Other than that, notwithstanding my congratulations to the winning candidates, it’s business as usual in Strasbourg. The party-of-parties, the European Peoples Party, of which the UK Conservatives used to be a constituent member report their success as follows (“EPP WINS THE EUROPEAN ELECTION”):

This new parliamentary term will be decisive for the European Parliament. With new, improved working methods, and the statute of co-legislator strengthened by - and we hope as quickly as possible - the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the EP will be in a strategic position at the heart of European decision-making.

The EPP parliamentary Group will have a particular responsibility in Parliament in view of its position in this Institution and the weight of the challenges we face both internally and internationally.

The commitments made by the European People' s Party will be upheld. We can count not only on the biggest Group in the European Parliament, but also on the Heads of State and Government and Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, who is our candidate for a new 5-year term at the helm of the Commission, and on the other Commissioners from our political family.

Political will and ambition will continue to guide our actions.

Make of that what you will. One could argue that, in the debate between the people who like the European Union, the people who really like the EU, the people who love the EU and the people who like what the EU could be, a winner has emerged. As to which one of these descriptors to apply to which party, I’m damned if I can tell you.

Thankfully, the Conservatives have opted not to take part in the charade, and over the next few months, I hope the local team (including Bristolian Ashley Fox) will be working to build a political group in Parliament that is rather more sceptical of the promises of pan-European technocracy.

Note – traditionally in the UK we do not operate a continental style system of “Cumul des mandats”, so I presume there will be a by-election for Ashley Fox’s Westbury-on-Trym council seat.

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