The noises associated with wind turbines are generally those of any large machine. Whirrs, creaks, and the blowing of the wind are all you’d expect to hear. But on October 2, one wind turbine is going to be sounding quite a bit more musical.

Staging a Protest

Welsh musician Cian Ciaran, keyboardist for a band known as the Super Furry Animals, has played in a lot of places, but few of them are as unusual as on the top of a turbine. He plans on performing his newest solo album for the first time to a crowd of 7 people – the viewing platform is too small to fit any more.

This isn’t just an advertising gimmick; it’s a protest in favor of clean energy. Much of Europe continues to switch over to cleaner energy. In Wales, Ciaran’s home country, there’s only one nuclear power plant left, and it should be shut down within the next few years. Unfortunately, the United Kingdom wants to build new reactors at the same location. The proposed contract would last 40 years, during which time the energy company would be guaranteed government subsidies.

Ciaran’s protest is in favor of building more wind farms instead. He believes that wind energy is a cheaper and healthier option. So he’s making a stand on top of a turbine to draw attention to his cause.

The concert itself probably won’t be that big of an affair; you can’t fit that many people on top of a wind turbine. Still, the message fits perfectly with his new album. Ciaran actually describes it as a “protest album,” and this is the perfect way to kick it off.

Choosing Wind Energy

The United Kingdom’s specific situation aside, Ciaran’s protest brings to light an important issue many governments face: the choice to switch to wind energy. In some cases, it’s easier or less expensive to stick to conventional methods, even if that means damaging the environment or losing money in the long run. It takes active effort to build a wind farm, and even more to start switching energy grids over. Add that to zoning issues and the losses accrued by taking down an old energy plant, and it’s easy to see why many governments are still reluctant.

A picture of the turbine in question, courtesy of The Guardian

Will Ciaran’s protest have any effect? We’ll just have to wait and see.