Re: Wind energy to power the UK by 2020, government says

Err.. not really..
Geographically diverse(grid) wind power can be used to back up one
another, especially when the capacity it's over built.. Weather is
somewhat predicable in the 24 to 48 hour range and utilities
currently monitor the weather forecasts in great detail. A similar
consideration can be said for solar energy production.

yes, however in both instances, "geographically diverse" means on
different freaking CONTINENTS! (to a limited extent it can work more
locally, 1 windfarm at the top of the alps backing up another offshore
farm) Have you any idea of the carbon cost, infrastructure cost,
ecological damage and resistance that will be caused by running an
HVDC line from a windfarm in cairo to back up the grid in london?
They are generally backed up by NG power plants for a freaking
reason!

Surplus renewable energy can be used to produce additional
hydrogen/methane supplies using an electrically efficient hybrid two
stage cracking (SO2) process. SO2 can be manufactured via desert
solar thermal process, and stored in anticipation of surplus
electrical supply. We will still have much of our current NG
generation capability in standby.. Where gas turbine, lifespan &
maintenance determined by usage, where reduced usage == longer
lifespan, carbon neutral cycle.

just dumb.

Currently there are several proven load shedding mechanisms
employed by utilities. In the future I expect these mechanisms to
become somewhat more intelligent. I.E. Heat up hot water per power
co request, cool down/heat up structure an extra degree or two, EV's
returning some energy back to the grid, etc.

possible. but... now you've overbuilt an expensive technology,
built a very expensive leveling methodology (hvdc lines
circumnavigating the freaking globe), *now* you're spending *extra*
money just to shed the high value electricity any way other than
grounding it out? This is an insane plan.

To get out of this mess we should be investing in both renewables
and a major grid expansion, perhaps converting much of the existing
high tension capability into HVDC.. (3-7x improvement in carrying
capacity, geographic sensitivity (supply/load) significantly reduced.)

Or we could build a few hundred nuclear plants and be done with
it for the next 50 years.
Either way, it is an absolutely enormous project, the only
difference is, the nuclear option is proven effective, whereas the
wind option is proven ineffective.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Wind energy to power the UK by 2020, government says
    ... Geographically diversewind power can be used to back up one ... especially when the capacity it's over built.. ... currently monitor the weather forecasts in great detail. ... consideration can be said for solar energy production. ...
    (sci.energy)
  • Re: Wind energy to power the UK by 2020, government says
    ... Geographically diversewind power can be used to back up one ... especially when the capacity it's over built.. ... currently monitor the weather forecasts in great detail. ...
    (sci.energy)
  • Re: Wind energy to power the UK by 2020, government says
    ... especially when the capacity it's over built.. ... Didn't work last winter in Europe. ... they haven't got enough back-up generation for when the turbines can't deliver power. ...
    (sci.energy)
  • Re: Strategies for CO2 reduction
    ... > Some of your claims for wind energy seem out. ... > You claim an installed capacity of 25GW, ... > a maximum power of 22.5GW. ... On average, wind turbines at sea run at about 35% of capcity, compared ...
    (uk.environment)
  • Re: U.K Stereo moving to the US
    ... Power generation for the year was 376.8 BkWH. ... The typical cross border capacity appears to be 2 way - ie to two adjacent ... > No one in their right mind uses electricity for heating. ... But not if it's generated by oil or gas. ...
    (sci.electronics.repair)
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