"Energy"

In the last few days there has been much about the rising cost of fuel bills. This picture was intended to illustrate different forms of power but unfortunately is not as clear as I had hoped and is best seen in large.
The massive Cockenzie Power Station in the foreground was built on the site of a coal mine and generated electricity until it was decommissioned last March. On the eastern edge of the photo lies the crude oil tanker, Alfa Germania, waiting at anchor to go to the terminal at Hound Point and just out of sight there are also a couple of tankers ready to go to Grangemouth. – a town yesterday hit by the threat of massive unemployment. During the last few days in the distance I have noticed massive blades being placed on the “world’s largest turbine” at Methil (in the centre on the far shore.) This 7MW offshore turbine will create enough energy for 4800 homes. If the tests on this protype are successful it will produce as much energy as 10 of the 26 turbines a few miles south on Soutra Hill.
The picture was taken from the viewpoint mound on the site of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s victory at the Battle of Prestonpans in 1745. He would not understand the electricity pylons as his heating and lighting would have been by fires and candles. Times change and soon many wind turbines, especially offshore, will be helping to produce more of our energy needs, while few conventional power stations will remain.