It's interesting to watch the news and see the to-ing and fro-ing of the wind power business and companies in Scotland.
One minute it's a boom industry, with grants and factories being thrown around, then it's a dead dog, and a story of betrayal as others claim grants have been collected, and factories shut, throwing workers out of their jobs and decimating an area as a result. The the next time you look, the factory has been saved, is full of orders, and everyone is smiling - and there are even more sites being sought for more factories.
It's all very confusing
However, there is to be a new wind turbine factory set up near Glasgow - a global hub no less!
Quoted Text
A company which makes small wind turbines has announced it is to set up a production hub in Glasgow, creating 50 jobs.
Gaia-Wind develops and supplies small wind turbines, typically for farms and small businesses.
The firm said the £5m investment would help it expand and export more.
Managing director Johnnie Andringa said: "This will be more than a simple assembly line, it will be the global hub for a rapidly growing business."
The 50 jobs being created will include highly-skilled positions in research & development and quality assurance.
The company said its new facility would handle the assembly, test and distribution of more than 250 small wind turbines in 2011, which is expected to rise to 2,000 units per year over the next few years.
Gaia said it had recently established itself within the US and that it expected to export 40% of its turbines by 2012.
Scottish Enterprise chief executive Lena Wilson said: "Gaia-Wind is exactly the kind of ambitious company we are looking to invest in Scotland's fast-growing renewables sector.
"The company's decision to locate its production and worldwide distribution centre in Glasgow, confirms Scotland's reputation as a globally competitive location for companies in this sector."
Well, at least this one is starting from fresh, and we can keep an eye on the news and see if does indeed become a 'global hub' - or turns into another up-down-up-down story over the coming years.
As noted, I find wind turbine factories to be something of an unusual breed, and they don't seem to follow any sort of conventional business models or sense.
A case in point seems to arise in a wind turbine service facility belonging to Siemens, and situated in Powys, North Wales, which means 40 jobs lost there, with jobs relocating to Newcastle -upon-Tyne, and to Wishaw in Lanarkshire. However, the reason for closing the Powys factory is lost in gibberish:
Quoted Text
A company spokeswoman said: "The proposed relocation of the Newtown operation is part of the energy service division's integration programme, designed to create a truly integrated, best practice, zero-harm business.
Also:
Quoted Text
Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies said he had a "huge amount of sympathy" for the 40 workers, some of whom would be unable to relocate.
"I'm sad for the loss of 40 jobs from Newtown and the local economy can't afford it.
"But it's clear there's been a huge shift in sympathy from onshore wind energy to offshore wind power and I think this is reflected in Siemens' decision."
I'm not really much wiser
Try reading the whole story (as much as there is) here:
Too early to say yet, as the various announcements made over the past few days are just that, announcements of forthcoming work which has yet to prove itself, but I may be proven correct in my past years of pleading for an abandonment (well, let's say reduction in blind adoration) of the holy god of onshore wind power, and a move to the real meat of power from the sea, be it wave, tidal, or offshore wind. We'll have to wait and see.
This time, Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi has announced it is to invest £100 million in a research and development centre in the Edinburgh area. The project could create up to 200 jobs by 2015. Through Mitsubishi Heavy Industries the company will also acquiring an Edinburgh University spin-off, Artemis Power, safeguarding 25 jobs.
The company aims to deliver the hydraulic technology in a large offshore wind turbine, which it expects will be a "game changer" in offshore power.
The company said the development builds on an agreement with the UK government earlier this year to provide £30m to support the overall investment.
First Minister Alex Salmond has pounced as usual, and welcomed the announcement, saying it confirmed Scotland's position at the forefront of research energy renewables. (He really should get a new record, and at least try and sound sincere).
The only benefit of off shore wind power that I can see is that keeps the nimbys quiet or at least quieter. The turbines are harder to build (more expensive), harder to maintain (more expensive) require longer grid connections (more expensive) and suffer greater power losses (more expensive) through the under water cables than the land based versions. It is a myth that the wind is more constant at sea, ask any sailor. Hilltops should be the best as there must be some kind of venturi effect when the wind is forced over hills as it is often much windier up on the tops -ask any climber.
Lets not forget that prior to the invention of the steam engine wind largely powered the world and still can do today.
All I can say is that if all that were actually true - and I'd suggest it is not - then there would be no interest in offshore wind power.
Hills are far from ideal, as the turbines have to be almost 10 diameters apart in order to stop them interfering with one another.
The airflow is also slowed as the wind slows towards the ground. That's why they are so tall, but even so, would work better if mounted even higher, but it's not really practical.
Nobody ever claimed wind at sea was more constant, but it is 'better' - just look at the giant waves that can be seen in a good storm
If they were so much more expensive to build and maintain, then again, no-one would be interested.
Higher winds mean smaller turbines - onshore turbines are made bigger and bigger (and more expensive) to extract more of the limited wind available on land at ground level - more robust and smaller turbines at sea means less problems from giant blades.
Length of connection? Trivial. More important is the waterproofing aspect in the marine environment, but this is something that is done routinely for offshore work (remember the oil and gas industry where lots of expertise was developed, and is now looking for an employer), and EVERY offshore producer has a part in, especially those in the wave and tidal world.
Unfortunately, most of the available data for amateurs - ie muggins here - is written around land based turbines, and designs for home builders. As the developers are still largely locked into land-based systems, there's little reliable offshore data to go with, although I hope reliable numbers will start to appear in the next few years, so you'll just have to put up with my own engineering knowledge and training for the moment.
(Did I head the words 'Abandon hopoe ).
With the size of the world's population, and the speed it operates at, wind could not power the world today - at least not in the form it did in the past.
Just as a thought, what would the climate change effect be, if the human race ditched all its current power generation systems, and went over to 100% powering of everything by whatever combination of wind power technologies was required?
For this thought experiment, you are not allowed to change anything else - we need the same volume of road and sea transport, imports and exports, manufacturing and production, food production, power, the internet, yada, yada, yada.
Don't know how to deal with air transport though - that could snooker the idea.
Oh, it was only a fun suggestion anyway, not to be taken seriously... unless
Looks as if the offshore wind farm folk took notice of the comments above, and decided not to go too far out to see with their latest project - described as being in Aberdeen Bay
Quoted Text
Plans for a wind farm in the sea off Aberdeen have had a European grant of 40 million euros confirmed.
The funding from the European Economic Recovery Plan would help pay development and capital costs for turbines in Aberdeen Bay.
Final plans for the scheme are due to be submitted in the New Year by developers Vattenfall, Technip and the Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group.
The first turbines could be up and running within two years.
The wind farm is most unlikely to happen as it was reported recently that Donald Trump does not want it ruining the view for his wealthy golfers. What Donld wants he usually gets.
No guarantee of success for - Trump has put many noses out of joint in the past, and this eventually catches up with those concerned.
He might be able to get his own project influenced, but if he strays beyond his own boundaries, life may be quite different and surprisingly hostile.
Makes this one worth watching.
Even if he managed to baulk it, the Scottish Government has recently upped its renewable target to a fantastic number than needs every renewable Watt it can muster if it is not to fail to meet its own target, and has also recently given itself the power to ride roughshod over objections and force wind farms onto communities.
If it's a choice between patting a pal on the back, and announcing yet another failure for Scotland, I wouldn't want to be the one counting on a favour these days.
It looks like the immovable object coming up against the irresistable force but I still think it is dead in the water if that is not an inappropriate metaphor.
With a confirmed grant of 40 million euros in its pocket?
I would imagine there will be some stushi if this wind farm does make an appearance.
You are aware that Trump has already played his cards regarding this scheme?
The number of turbines has been dropped from 33 to 11!
Quoted Text
Last week, American Donald Trump spoke out against the windfarm proposal because it would be close to where he is creating a £750million golf resort.
The billionaire said the turbines would “in one fell swoop destroy Scotland’s magnificent natural heritage”, and added he would “vehemently” oppose the siting of the windfarm near his development at the Menie Estate, near Balmedie.
Mr Trump has criticised the plans in the past.
The windfarm has been scaled back several times from the original scheme for 33 turbines after he threatened to drop his golf resort plans.
From local press stories, I see the organisations behind the European offshore wind deployment centre (EOWDC) will now turn their attention to preparing an application to Marine Scotland for planning consent, expected to be submitted early next year. They hope the wind farm, which will be sited 3-miles out from the coast at Blackdog, north of Aberdeen, will be operational by 2012.
The EOWDC, which is being taken forward by Vattenfall, Technip and Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG), would generate power for half the homes in Aberdeen and act as a test centre for new technology and training. As is now usual for these projects, they also said the project would create jobs and generate investment in the north-east’s renewable energy industry.
Just a reminder from the recent news that if the Sottish Government wants a wind farm in Aberdeen to make up its renewables' target, it will have it regardless, as seen in the Lammermuir hills:
Quoted Text
The project was the subject of a lengthy opposition campaign with claims the Borders landscape was being used as a "sacrificial lamb" to help meet renewable energy targets.
However, the Scottish government approved the plans saying they could be a "significant boost" to the area and the nation as a whole.
Ever since this factory appeared near Machrihanish, and this was at a time when I was visiting the are with some regularity, it has been in trouble.
When I was there at the start, even the locals couldn't make up their mind if it was good or bad, and the streets and shop windows seemed to be full of posters with a variety of views for and against the place.
Over the years, I seem to to recall it lapses into and out of success, closure, rescue, and funding with grants.
Recently, it hit the news once again, with an announcement of closure followed closely by news of grants, rescue, and new owner.
Now, the news is back around to yet another looming closure:
Although this is a breaking story, there is ambiguity depending where you dig around for more info, so it will be a while before the reality - if not the truth - bubbles to the surface.
However, regardless of this particular chapter, I'm beginning to think that the place is cursed or jinxed, and it's time to let it go.
After all, if it was sooooo good, it would be churning out wind turbines, with customers and jobseekers beating a path to its door, as would all the wind farm builders.
Clearly, none of them are, and something, somewhere is wrong.
Some interesting facts about wind power during the recent cold spell quoted here, mainly from The Scotsman.
Output from wind power stations was 2.5% of their potential generation capacity (the figure always quote by the wind power station fanatics or people wanting to profit from them) and dropped to less than 1% at 10:15h on the 21st December.
Seasonal variation are taken into account of final annual accounts of wind power generation, otherwise there would significant problems in comparing the performance over the period against the anticipated return.
The pro-wind lobby always quotes the 'Installed Capacity' where promoting their contribution to the overall campaign, but as a Rule of Thumb, those who are responsible for this particular resource use a figure of approximately one third of that capacity for the expected actual output over a year. Although, in reality, the actual generation is metered, and the local wind is recorded, as generation is suspended when the wind is too low, and when it is to high, and the turbines have to be deactivated by feathering the blades to avoid them tearing themselves apart.
Sounds like someone at The Scotsman is mischief-making in the quiet spell, as the instantaneous output is all but irrelevant - except to a detractor
Sounds more like someone at The Scotsman just ones to put wind power into perspective. As the article says severe cold weather is often associated with lack of wind so you need sufficient non-wind power stations to be able to supply the peak load.
The wind power investors often like to claim that a particular one will produce enough output to supply a town the size of Anytown, perhaps they should qualify with "but not in cold weather".
I don't think it was the cold that caused the problem, the cold latterly was the product of a huge anticyclone sitting over the country causing still air conditions. I am always surprised to see the Ardrossan wind farm still turning and being able to produce something when to all intents and purposes, at ground level the air was static. I wonder how the off shore windfarms fared in these conditions. Not as well I would expect.
Mr Fox has a point; On Christmas day I passed the Eaglesham Moors and the blades were turning even though it did seem windless prior to the brussel sprouts. Of course blade speed could be attributable to a "no load" condition. As the power generated must I assume be of 50Hz some sort of variable constant speed gearbox must be employed. Perhaps someone could enlighten us. G.T.
The wind characteristics for any given wind farm are determined in advance, and the operators are aware of when there will, and will not, be wind likely to be available.
As I tried to point out above, the performance is measured over an annual period, and a wind farm is not declared to have 'a problem' if it does not generate on a particular day - unless a worn-out hack is looking for some way to get a cheque out of an editor
Just because a turbine is turning does not mean it is generating!
It could be feathered and windmilling to relieve static load on the bearings.
I'm not even a wind power promoter, and I know that those who do have never claimed it was the sole answer, and that a workable storage solution is needed - hence the renewed interest and appearance of a number of schemes already underway to expand pumped storage schemes within Scotland's existing hydro-electric infrastructure, and the larger programme known as 'renewables'.
Offshore is similarly characterised, and the operators will have prediction of when the wind is, and is not, expected, and of how much can be expected over and annual period.
As for the speed of rotation, it is irrelevant in terms of mains, and is a lot higher.
The power from the generators driven by the turbines is passed to converters which take it from them and condition for transmission by the local grid, to which they are synchronised.
After the Lammermuir Hills case mentioned a few posts back, where the Scottish Government exercised its self-granted power to approve the installation of a wind farm for the greater good, even if the locals object and refuse, it looks as if another disputed wind farm has been pushed through onto an opposing community.
Quoted Text
A wind farm opposed by conservationists has been given the go-ahead by the Scottish government.
Developer RES will construct 33 turbines, which reach to 393ft (120m) in height, at Dunmaglass, about 20 miles (32km) south of Inverness.
The government said the site could power up to 46,000 homes.
Ornithologist Roy Dennis and biologist Dr David Bellamy joined campaigns opposed to the project on a site in the Monadhliath hills.
RES had been investigating the potential of the location since 2000 and had planned for 36 turbines.
In 2005, Dr Bellamy said the project on the Dunmaglass Estate would "sell Scotland's heritage for a mess of wattage".
Mr Dennis, who has been involved in birds of prey reintroduction efforts, warned there was a risk of golden eagles colliding with the turbine towers.
The Cairngorms National Park Authority and John Muir Trust had also opposed the scheme in 2005.
Could it be that they need to grab every renewable watt they can find in order to meet their own moving goalposts, and this is one way,regardless of who they might upset (after all, who would be so shameless and uncaring as to criticise anything that helped combat climate change? ), combined with the sudden keen interest in various form of offshore wind, wave, and tidal that I have noted elsewhere?
In 2007:
Quoted Text
A new target to generate 50 per cent of Scotland's electricity from renewables by 2020, with an interim target of 31 per cent by 2011, has been set.
The Scottish Government's previous renewable target was 40 per cent by 2020.
In 2010:
Quoted Text
The Scottish government has raised its target for sourcing electricity from renewable energy by 30 percentage points.
Three years ago, it set out to achieve 50% from green power within 10 years.
But new industry research suggested that the country's renewable energy potential was bigger than thought.
First Minister Alex Salmond has now announced that the government is setting a new target of 80% of electricity from renewables by 2020.
I wonder who is ultimately responsible for the naming of wind farms?
In this case, the story relates to three new offshore wind farms which will appear off Caithness.
The projects will see a total of 200 turbines being installed in three clusters, and claimed to be able to provide power for 750,000 homes (with the opportunity being taken to state that this is more than a conventional coal-fired power station - but not mentioning that the wind farm will only generate when the wind actually blows, while a coal-fired station generates 24/7/365 for decades).
The naming of these schemes will commemorate Glasgow-born lighthouse builder Robert Stevenson, Thomas Telford, from Westerkirk, near Langholm, and finally Dumbarton-born Sir Edward MacColl, a pioneer of hydro power in Scotland.
I mentioned the case of Skykon which is the latest resident in a wind turbine factory at Machrihanish, none of which ever seems to be able to benefit from any of the supposed wind power booms.
It has just been announced that the Skykon factory has gone into administration, which means it is one step closer to breathing its last.
Although it does not arise from the wind farm mentioned a few posts back, Trump is still not out of the mire with regard to the smooth progress of his golf resort.
Quoted Text
Families worried they could lose their homes to the Donald Trump golf development have lodged a petition calling for tightened planning laws.
Five homeowners fear they could eventually be evicted as the billionaire looks to secure more land on the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire.
The petition has been lodged at the Scottish Parliament.
Work on Mr Trump's golf course development got under way in July last year.
Some residents object to the project, and have refused to sell their land.
One of these affected, David Milne, said: "We are urging MSPs of all parties at Holyrood to do what they can to tighten up the planning system."
Many opponents of the development have bought a stake in a one-acre stretch of land at the heart of the resort site in a bid to disrupt it.
Trump, or his company, have done nothing to endear the community to the £750 million resort development, and a case involving an 86-year old pensioner's challenge to it has landed her with all costs, with the ultimate costs to be ruled on in the next few days:
Quoted Text
A pensioner who has dropped a legal challenge to the Donald Trump golf plan has been found liable for court expenses.
US tycoon Mr Trump hopes to build the "world's greatest golf resort" at Menie, north of Aberdeen.
Molly Forbes, 86, raised judicial review proceedings at the Court of Session but has dropped her case.
A judge has ruled Trump International Golf Links and Aberdeenshire Council were entitled to expenses.
Lord Kinclaven said: "On the information before me the appropriate course is to find the petitioner (Mrs Forbes) liable in expenses to date.
"There is no good reason for withholding that finding."
The judge said that the motions for an award by the local authority and golf developer were "irresistible".
But he said the court did not have to pass decree for immediate payment and he was prepared to allow Mrs Forbes an opportunity to make further submissions on modification of her liability for expenses.
Andrew Smith QC, for Mrs Forbes, earlier told the court: "Mrs Forbes couldn't afford to meet any award of expenses." 'Baseless claim'
Trump International Scotland said in a statement: "It is regrettable that an elderly woman has been used to front this frivolous court action.
"There are consequences for filing a baseless claim and her son and lawyers should pay the expenses."
A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council said: "The court has fixed a further hearing for 11 January at which Mrs Forbes will be allowed to seek to have these expenses modified if her Legal Aid position has been resolved.
"The court has wide discretion regarding expenses and may modify her liability to nil, or otherwise limit the amount recoverable.
"Any decision on action to be taken by the council to enforce the award against Mrs Forbes before that hearing would therefore be premature."
I have always thought that Trump just considers Scotland to be another Third World country that he wants to invest in control, butter up a few local politicians and you can have whatever you want. I am amazed that he is being allowed to get away with it.
I am amazed that the Compulsory Purchase legislation is so lax. Personally, I have no problem with the compulsory purchase of land/property where necessary for the construction of council or government projects on behalf of the community but it should not be possible for the construction of the likes of a golf resort by a third party. I hope the locals force a change in the legislation.
I'm slightly mystified by the following article and it's reference to Skykon in relation to national offshore renewable planning.
The reason for my puzzlement, and the suggestion by the following article that the impact on the plan is 'not clear', might lie in my less than perfect memory.
Purely because the original Vestas wind turbine factory at Machrihansh was an issue at the time I was a regular visitor to the area, I have always looked at news relating to it, and its repeated failure and revival.
I've also not looked closely, and the reason for that is because the sort of wind turbine it was described as being designed to produce was intended for offshore use - and export. You may recall that the UK has, until recently, had an unholy blind worship of land based wind farms. That meant that it had no interest in Vestas, or Skykon.
In my opinion, and my terrible memory (this is stuff from up to ten years ago you know)
Now that it has seen the error of its ways, it looks as if there has been some back-pedalling, and the offshore wind turbine manufacturer suddenly appears to be part of a national plan, something I certainly cannot recall ever have seen mentioned prior to this current collapse of the Skykon operation.
They really don't seem to be able to put a decent management team, or finance plan in place there, because I read elsewhere that despite having just been placed in administration, Skykon has a full order book - and those in business know what that means.
More on the Skykon oddness here:
Quoted Text
The impact which turbine manufacturer Skykon's troubles will have on a national offshore renewable planning strategy are being examined.
The company, which produced towers for wind farms at a base in Argyll, has gone into administration.
The site it uses is among 11 key locations identified in planning document N-RIP Stage 2.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) said potential effects on Stage 3 were not known at this stage.
N-RIP - the National Renewables Infrastructure Plan - is written by HIE and Scottish Enterprise.
Published in July last year, the stage 2 document identified the site at Machrihanish used by Skykon as a key location for the renewables industry.
The size of the former military air base - 1,025 acres (409 hectares) - and its close proximity to Campbeltown harbour were highlighted among its advantages.
N-RIP Stage 2 gives details on 10 other key locations for the manufacture and assembly of renewable devices.
They were Leith, Dundee, Nigg, Ardersier, Aberdeen, Peterhead, Hunterston, Arnish and Kishorn.
Under the plan, sites would work together in clusters named Forth/Tay, Moray Firth and Subsea and West Coast.
N-RIP Stage 3 will include the results of discussions with the sites' owners.
HIE said: "Campbeltown/Machrihanish is one of the 11 strategic sites outlined in N-RIP, and a key part of the West Coast cluster.
"Whilst N-RIP Stage 2 refers specifically to Skykon, the prime importance and value are based upon the strategic location, facilities and infrastructure.
"We are currently working closely with the administrator and until the situation becomes clearer it is too early to say whether there will be any material impact on N-RIP."
Could it be that the Scottish Government's heavy handed approach to getting any wind farm it wants built, by overruling any local objections and overturning refusal of planning permission, might be becoming counter-productive?
An alliance of environmental and heritage bodies have urged government to commit to giving greater protection to natural landscapes - the call was made in a letter to the prime minister and first ministers of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
Quoted Text
Scottish charity the John Muir Trust is among the organisations to sign the letter.
It said landscapes were more than scenery and were important contributors to the economy.
The letter has also been signed by the National Trust, National Trust for Scotland, Northern Ireland Environment Link and the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales.
It urges the governments and assemblies to reaffirm their commitment to the European Landscape Convention.
Ratified by the UK government in 2006, the convention seeks to have natural landscapes recognised in law and relevant areas of policy.
Stuart Brooks, chief executive of the John Muir Trust, said Scotland has about 300 distinct types of landscape.
He said: "But landscape is more than scenery.
"It is the interaction between people and place and is the bedrock upon which our society is built. It gives meaning and value to the world around us, contributing to our sense of identity and quality of life."
Mr Brooks added "In 2003, the value of people visiting the landscape, through exploring parks, woodland areas, lochs and open space was estimated by Scottish Natural Heritage as nearly £4bn.
"The same study reported that visitors to Scotland's wild landscape areas contributed as much as £751m to the Scottish economy, supporting 20,600 jobs."
The open letter comes amid opposition to new wind farms in the Highlands.
The John Muir Trust and Mountaineering Council of Scotland have expressed disappointment at approval for 33 turbines at Dunmaglass in the Monadhliath hills.
A public meeting held over the weekend also heard opposition to plans for a 28-turbine development on land between Kiltarlity and Abriachan
A deal has been struck to keep open an Argyll-based factory which makes towers for windfarms while efforts continue to safeguard its future.
The future of the plant at Machrihanish has been in doubt since Danish parent company, Skykon, filed for bankruptcy.
This forced the Campbeltown operation into administration last week with staff told not to turn up for work.
Administrators Ernst and Young have now agreed a deal with engineering firm Siemens to resume production.
Siemens will provide funding for an outstanding order of 30 wind turbine towers for a windfarm near Abington in South Lanarkshire.
I found the last part of the quote particularly interesting, because I am sure the last time this factory was in trouble, or the time before that, or the time... whatever, one of the reasons given for its problems was its product, that of offshore turbines.
I guess that was wrong, or, one of those former rebirths has seen its capability modified to produce land based wind turbines.
Either way, if it's such a capable factory, why can't it support itself, rather than apparently merely stumble from crisis to crisis, or funding package to funding package?
Either the owners are completely incompetent and should be fired/replaced pronto, or there is something going on here that we are not being told about.
Rupert Soames, chief executive of the conventional power-supply company Aggreko, compared government energy policy to a belief in the "tooth fairy," with politicians "holding hands and singing Kumbaya to the great green god."
Quoted Text
Halcyon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia A halcyon (pronounced /ˈhælsiən/) is a mythical bird said to breed in a floating nest at sea during the winter solstice, during which time it charms the wind and waves into calm.
Wind power is a myth, the principle that it can aspire to a sustainable energy source is'gone with the wind', base load and peak load is the norm.
Reference Scottish movers and shakers, sorry, it is all here in China, every manufacturer is building for export, unfortunately the last deal signed will migrate to China.
Apologise fo my less than enthoustiic atitude, had visited the last Scottish Boiler,albeit, taken over by an English company manufacturer and guess, they are now CHinese , Cochrans.
Not exactly something I might have predicted, but acommunity group in Edinburgh has won public funding to look at building a wind turbine on the famous promenade at Edinburgh's Portobello beach.
Up to 20,000 tonnes of sand is to be moved from one end of an Edinburgh beach to the other in a bid to prevent homes from being flooded.
Edinburgh City Council is to spend up to £60,000 moving the sand at Portobello Beach about a mile from the east side to the west.
It follows huge storms in March 2010, which moved thousands of tonnes of sand along to the east of the beach.
Now, I may be wrong here - and I hope I am - but I've watched enough 'Horizons' and 'Coasts' to have learned one thing about beaches and sand movement - if the sea has decided to move it, it will, regardless of how loud the residents shout at it, or how much the council spends.
As with rerouted rivers, nature always wins in these cases.
Hopefully, I'm just being a little naughty and saying this, and with any luck, the reality will be that it was just a '1 in 100 years' storm that moved the sand at Portobello beach.
But if not, and the sea and nature has decided that the sand belongs at the 'other' end, Portobello council will find itself pretty busy in the coming years
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