Great video (from September) about the UKs energy and where it comes from.
We really are making progress in this area. We have massive wind capacity, adding in tidal (I believe there is a project in Swansea) should give us proper diversity of supply.
But Europe is suffering from the lack of wind during the last month, so much so that LPG tankers are being divert to Europe as the price is better than the original destination.
But Europe is suffering from the lack of wind during the last month, so much so that LPG tankers are being divert to Europe as the price is better than the original destination.
Which is why the diversification point is important. No one is saying we are there yet but it's good to recognise how far we have come. Once we get a few tidal generators up and running plus a bit more geographical diversity to wind we could be well onnthe way to decarbonising the grid.
The key thing in my opinion is cracking solid state batteries. From what I was reading about the Toyota Samsung research project (that was previously using university of Durham research phacilities but moved to China when the last govt cut research funding for anything "green") they were about 2 years away from having a version ready to bring to market and that was a year ago. So hopefully we aren't that far away.
These will be genuinely revolutionary. Far less resource intensive, not mineral dependent in the way that lithium ion batteries are, massive capacity compared to lithium ion and the potential to go much bigger. None of the safety concerns of lithium ion either. The solid state part is interesting too as in the future they will simply be built into houses or rather parts of the house will be made out of battery, or the chassis of the car will be the battery! Should be a lot cheaper too.
Once these take off a small box in a house could store enough electricity to last a couple weeks or even longer of they develop further. We could get localised grids with batteries connected. This would massively remove the dependence on electricity generation in that moment and so it needing to be sunny or windy somewhere right now becomes less of an issue. And when there is an excess we can charge the batteries and export the rest.
In my view large scale rollout of solid state batteries should be the final piece in the decarbonisation of the grid. We can get along way there in the meantime but something along those lines will be needed for that last piece
Did get me thinking about our pricing mechanism for energy. Marginal pricing was designed for a different world without the diversity of sources we now have and frankly it's stupid to continue given the massive price disparity between gas and green energy (green being about a quarter of the price per unit). We've had whole days and weeks this year (particularly in summer) when renewables were the sole energy used. But we still paid for every unit as though it was gas on the open market at that point (not when the gas was actually bought).
So 2 questions:
1) at what level of decarbonisation does the above become so obviously stupid that the model gets changed? Is it 70% renewables in a year? 80%? Is it some question over covering whole days in winter?
2) does this system create an incentive for energy companies to decarbonise so as to have lower costs of producing that energy but still be able to charge for it as gas. But only to a point as they don't want to hit whatever threshold above that loses them their excess profits.
Most of Scotland's wind turbines are locked down for the next 24hours, due to gale force winds. Wind power works in countries like Denmark were they had no or very little natural fossil fuels and was imported, they had a 40 year head start when they realised that importing coal/oil was not sustainable.in the long run so turned to wind power, very few of the wind turbines are on land mostly on the coast but not really offshore
First day in decades that wind turbines are actually making a useful contribution
According to the National Grid, by 2023, wind power contributed 29.4% of the UK’s total electricity generation. So your comment is about as accurate as it is funny.
First day in decades that wind turbines are actually making a useful contribution
They are very good at killing Birds of Prey
Don't blame the turbines. It's their own fault for not looking where they're going. They can spot a mouse or vole on the ground from distance, but not a dirty great turbine blade moving until it's too late. 😉
First day in decades that wind turbines are actually making a useful contribution
They are very good at killing Birds of Prey
"Climate change poses the single biggest threat to birds and other wildlife. Current science suggests that one third of all land-based species could be committed, by 2050, towards eventual extinction if extensive action is not taken to reduce our carbon footprint. This means that low carbon energy sources like wind turbines play a significant role in saving nature". RSPB
There's stuff that can be done to minimise bird strikes. Apparently painting blades black reduces bird strikes by 70%. Let's not use the comparatively small number of deaths caused by turbines as a red herring to put people off of wind power. The number one priority now is to get carbon emissions under control. When we've done that, then will be the time to really focus on other possibilities.
That looks like a current daily figure, very misleading.
If you look at the "All" tab, it says 22%, or the "Weekly" tab, it says 19% renewables
The daily tab is as equally misleading as using "All". That goes back to 2012 so not a really good indicatior of the current capabilities of renewables. What do you think of the figures for "Past Year"? 37.5% renewable and 27.9% fossil fuels. Good progress since 2012 aye? (I realise ME14 was replying to cafcnick apparently trying to misleading himself about wind power)
That looks like a current daily figure, very misleading.
If you look at the "All" tab, it says 22%, or the "Weekly" tab, it says 19% renewables
I said CURRENTLY that is the live figure, nothing misleading about it.
You did indeed, and I'm sure you weren't really trying to suggest that renewables account for nearly half of the UK's power supply (other than for the past 5 minutes maybe 🤔)
When looking at live data on our energy consumption mix, I'll say again, its WINTER and its cold and we're burning lots of gas for central heating. The tab for the last year removes seasonal variables.
That looks like a current daily figure, very misleading.
If you look at the "All" tab, it says 22%, or the "Weekly" tab, it says 19% renewables
I said CURRENTLY that is the live figure, nothing misleading about it.
You did indeed, and I'm sure you weren't really trying to suggest that renewables account for nearly half of the UK's power supply (other than for the past 5 minutes maybe 🤔)
Why make the comment then? The site shows live figures, you are becoming more and more ridiculous with your comments.
First day in decades that wind turbines are actually making a useful contribution
They are very good at killing Birds of Prey
"Climate change poses the single biggest threat to birds and other wildlife. Current science suggests that one third of all land-based species could be committed, by 2050, towards eventual extinction if extensive action is not taken to reduce our carbon footprint. This means that low carbon energy sources like wind turbines play a significant role in saving nature". RSPB
There's stuff that can be done to minimise bird strikes. Apparently painting blades black reduces bird strikes by 70%. Let's not use the comparatively small number of deaths caused by turbines as a red herring to put people off of wind power. The number one priority now is to get carbon emissions under control. When we've done that, then will be the time to really focus on other possibilities.
100% correct. But that doesn't distract from the fact that millions of Birds of Prey, Songbirds and even Bats are killed every year, whilst also being a horrible eye sore on the countryside.
First day in decades that wind turbines are actually making a useful contribution
They are very good at killing Birds of Prey
"Climate change poses the single biggest threat to birds and other wildlife. Current science suggests that one third of all land-based species could be committed, by 2050, towards eventual extinction if extensive action is not taken to reduce our carbon footprint. This means that low carbon energy sources like wind turbines play a significant role in saving nature". RSPB
There's stuff that can be done to minimise bird strikes. Apparently painting blades black reduces bird strikes by 70%. Let's not use the comparatively small number of deaths caused by turbines as a red herring to put people off of wind power. The number one priority now is to get carbon emissions under control. When we've done that, then will be the time to really focus on other possibilities.
100% correct. But that doesn't distract from the fact that millions of Birds of Prey, Songbirds and even Bats are killed every year, whilst also being a horrible eye sore on the countryside.
That looks like a current daily figure, very misleading.
If you look at the "All" tab, it says 22%, or the "Weekly" tab, it says 19% renewables
I said CURRENTLY that is the live figure, nothing misleading about it.
You did indeed, and I'm sure you weren't really trying to suggest that renewables account for nearly half of the UK's power supply (other than for the past 5 minutes maybe 🤔)
Why make the comment then? The site shows live figures, you are becoming more and more ridiculous with your comments.
That looks like a current daily figure, very misleading.
If you look at the "All" tab, it says 22%, or the "Weekly" tab, it says 19% renewables
I said CURRENTLY that is the live figure, nothing misleading about it.
You did indeed, and I'm sure you weren't really trying to suggest that renewables account for nearly half of the UK's power supply (other than for the past 5 minutes maybe 🤔)
Why make the comment then? The site shows live figures, you are becoming more and more ridiculous with your comments.
Why did you post a meaningless figure? Who cares what the number is at this very second, it's irrelevant.
First day in decades that wind turbines are actually making a useful contribution
They are very good at killing Birds of Prey
"Climate change poses the single biggest threat to birds and other wildlife. Current science suggests that one third of all land-based species could be committed, by 2050, towards eventual extinction if extensive action is not taken to reduce our carbon footprint. This means that low carbon energy sources like wind turbines play a significant role in saving nature". RSPB
There's stuff that can be done to minimise bird strikes. Apparently painting blades black reduces bird strikes by 70%. Let's not use the comparatively small number of deaths caused by turbines as a red herring to put people off of wind power. The number one priority now is to get carbon emissions under control. When we've done that, then will be the time to really focus on other possibilities.
Let's not allow turbine bird strikes to be used as an argument against an increase in the use of wind turbines.
The countries striving towards renewable energy will do better than those relying on fossil fuels. If climate change doesn't wipe us out first, those countries relying on the finite fossil fuels will be left behind. That's why we in the UK need to move to non fossil fuels as quickly as we can.
Comments
Great video (from September) about the UKs energy and where it comes from.
We really are making progress in this area. We have massive wind capacity, adding in tidal (I believe there is a project in Swansea) should give us proper diversity of supply.
GB energy will be a massive help on this front.
The key thing in my opinion is cracking solid state batteries. From what I was reading about the Toyota Samsung research project (that was previously using university of Durham research phacilities but moved to China when the last govt cut research funding for anything "green") they were about 2 years away from having a version ready to bring to market and that was a year ago. So hopefully we aren't that far away.
These will be genuinely revolutionary. Far less resource intensive, not mineral dependent in the way that lithium ion batteries are, massive capacity compared to lithium ion and the potential to go much bigger. None of the safety concerns of lithium ion either. The solid state part is interesting too as in the future they will simply be built into houses or rather parts of the house will be made out of battery, or the chassis of the car will be the battery! Should be a lot cheaper too.
Once these take off a small box in a house could store enough electricity to last a couple weeks or even longer of they develop further. We could get localised grids with batteries connected. This would massively remove the dependence on electricity generation in that moment and so it needing to be sunny or windy somewhere right now becomes less of an issue. And when there is an excess we can charge the batteries and export the rest.
In my view large scale rollout of solid state batteries should be the final piece in the decarbonisation of the grid. We can get along way there in the meantime but something along those lines will be needed for that last piece
So 2 questions:
1) at what level of decarbonisation does the above become so obviously stupid that the model gets changed? Is it 70% renewables in a year? 80%? Is it some question over covering whole days in winter?
2) does this system create an incentive for energy companies to decarbonise so as to have lower costs of producing that energy but still be able to charge for it as gas. But only to a point as they don't want to hit whatever threshold above that loses them their excess profits.
i thought they had to turn them off on very windy days…shows what I know…
https://grid.iamkate.com/
"Climate change poses the single biggest threat to birds and other wildlife. Current science suggests that one third of all land-based species could be committed, by 2050, towards eventual extinction if extensive action is not taken to reduce our carbon footprint. This means that low carbon energy sources like wind turbines play a significant role in saving nature". RSPB
There's stuff that can be done to minimise bird strikes. Apparently painting blades black reduces bird strikes by 70%. Let's not use the comparatively small number of deaths caused by turbines as a red herring to put people off of wind power. The number one priority now is to get carbon emissions under control. When we've done that, then will be the time to really focus on other possibilities.
If you look at the "All" tab, it says 22%, or the "Weekly" tab, it says 19% renewables
(I realise ME14 was replying to cafcnick apparently trying to misleading himself about wind power)
EDIT - Just seen your post. Thank you @arthur
But that doesn't distract from the fact that millions of Birds of Prey, Songbirds and even Bats are killed every year, whilst also being a horrible eye sore on the countryside.
How many birds are killed by wind turbines in the UK? - BBC Science Focus Magazine
Who cares what the number is at this very second, it's irrelevant.