£150 Billion- that will make a significant uplift to our economy

M0nica

growstuff

M0nica

if we go predominantly dolar and wind it is going to get very cold in winter when we have those bright windless freezing periods that can last for a week or two.

We will all have to install wood burning stoves.

No, we won't. Nuclear will probably have to be part of the mix, but there's no reason why solar and wind (and hydro) can't be part of it too.

No argument. I agree, but some seem to think solar and wind, and some water will do the trick. It won't. I totally agree that until fusion comes, it will, but is still at least 20 plus years away, nuclear is the way forward

Good! We're singing from the same hymn sheet. I am not one of the some who thinks we will be able to rely on renewables - for the foreseeable future at least. However, relying on fossil fuels just is not sustainable for the distant future and I do think we should be investing in research into alternatives and using them as part of the overall mix.

I really do object to GNers who can't/don't read posts properly and then use their misunderstandings to attack posters (who never held certain views in the first place). It's no wonder the political climate is increasingly adversarial.

Nothing comes from Trump without strings attached.

Re renewables.

Tbh I don’t think that it was ever intended to be the sole energy supply. Nuclear and later fusion was always to be in the mix.
What we must get rid of is fossil fuels, which is exactly the plan going forward.

Shame Nick Clegg didn’t look ahead though.

Whitewavemark2

Re renewables.

Tbh I don’t think that it was ever intended to be the sole energy supply. Nuclear and later fusion was always to be in the mix.
What we must get rid of is fossil fuels, which is exactly the plan going forward.

That's what I thought too, but I see so many posts bad-mouthing renewables. As ever, my views are (I hope) balanced.

This- gleaned from google

“How much renewable capacity is possible?
Studies and recent data suggest that renewable energy could provide far more than the UK's needs, though significant infrastructure and flexibility challenges must be addressed.
Current capacity and potential
Offshore wind: The UK has vast offshore wind potential, with one analysis suggesting the technical potential could exceed 1,000 GW. As of September 2024, the UK had over 30 GW of wind capacity installed, with offshore wind comprising nearly 15 GW.
Solar: As of 2024, the UK had a solar capacity of 17 GW. This is still significantly below the 70 GW target for 2035. Opportunities exist for major expansion through commercial rooftops and large-scale farms.
Grid potential: One report estimated that wind and solar alone could generate up to 2,896 TWh a year, compared to an estimated demand of 1,500 TWh by 2050. This, however, depends on substantial grid upgrades”

...when we have those bright windless freezing periods

Solar needs light, not heat. A bright day would be fine for it, MOnica.

Yes DS is solared up to his eyeballs - every surface including the garden shed, and it whizzes along except at night and very dull days. He has a battery to store excess which is used when necessary.

He runs a car as well as all the usual stuff, including underfloor heating. He lives in a big Arts and Craft house so it is entirely possible.

MaizieD

^...when we have those bright windless freezing periods^

Solar needs light, not heat. A bright day would be fine for it, MOnica.

but solar could not possible produce enough power to compensate for the lack of wind.

GrannyGravy13

Sizewell C Nuclear Power Plant (Suffolk) was approved in 2022, just googled it will take between 10-12 to complete, should/might be online mid 2030’s

I don’t think there was a lot of support for more nuclear in U.K. the one in my county was decommissioned many years ago.

They are safer now, and technology has improved.

I hope they have. There were some very strange looking fish caught. 😱

Space based solar panels. This could be the answer.

www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/2020/02/space-based-solar-power

We invented AI. . It will mean the only tax the government will receive is from the wages of the employees . There will also be less jobs.

M0nica

MaizieD

...when we have those bright windless freezing periods

Solar needs light, not heat. A bright day would be fine for it, MOnica.

but solar could not possible produce enough power to compensate for the lack of wind.

It can however be stored

It isn’t intended for renewables to be our sole provider.

Nuclear and eventually fusion as well as heat exchangers etc. etc. will all play a part, and that is before taking new technology and things like hydropower into account.

I think that it is the older generation that is having difficulties with the concept, the young seem to be taking the challenge in their stride.

Blyth, where its traditional industries of coal and power stations have died out, could see 4000 jobs created in a new data centre. Also Hartlepool, which has been blighted by unemployment for 50 years, could see 2800 jobs created by a nuclear power station and thousands in construction. This is the sort of investment the country needs as the old industries in the North East are dead and won't come back.

Whitewavemark2

M0nica

MaizieD

...when we have those bright windless freezing periods

Solar needs light, not heat. A bright day would be fine for it, MOnica.

but solar could not possible produce enough power to compensate for the lack of wind.

It can however be stored

It isn’t intended for renewables to be our sole provider.

Nuclear and eventually fusion as well as heat exchangers etc. etc. will all play a part, and that is before taking new technology and things like hydropower into account.

I think that it is the older generation that is having difficulties with the concept, the young seem to be taking the challenge in their stride.

I have absolutely no problem with the future developments for providing us with emission free energy. I have consistently championed nuclear power, even when to admit it was virtually to be shown the door.

But I spent most of my working life working in the energy industry and 20 years of my retirement on the local liaison committee of my local coal and gas powered power stations and when I hear all the dewy eyed enthusiasts saying, wind or sun, or storgae will solve all our problems. no they will not because everyone of them comes with technological and other problems that have yet to be solved

Take battery storage, well we all know about exploding telephones, ebike and car electricity storing baatteries. Imagine how big the bang would be if a battery installation holding 600MW were to go up.

In tme these problems will be solved, but it takes time and cock-eyed optimism is as damaging to the future as pessism and fear. I will always try to deal with the realities, as the French say.

Cumbrianmale56

Blyth, where its traditional industries of coal and power stations have died out, could see 4000 jobs created in a new data centre. Also Hartlepool, which has been blighted by unemployment for 50 years, could see 2800 jobs created by a nuclear power station and thousands in construction. This is the sort of investment the country needs as the old industries in the North East are dead and won't come back.

Those 2.800 jobs will only be in the construction stages. once the nuclear power station is up and running, it may well only need a couple of 100 employees, all with high level specialist training. Those 2,800 jobs are not long term.

Data centres can require up to 20MW of electricity a year to operate. Enough to supply 15-20,000 houses. they also generate a vast quantity of heat. This is why they are sited near power stations, as said in my previous post these facilties are mixed blessings and we need to be realistic about what they can bring to an area - and the damage they will do.

But never the less, this is, whatever you may think of it the unstoppable future.

The U.K. has apparently some of the most skilful and qualified people in the world, so let’s retain them in the U.K. otherwise they will certainly leave to benefit another country.

We can’t be Luddite’s because this is such a radical and complete change that we must embrace.

Whitewavemark2

But never the less, this is, whatever you may think of it the unstoppable future.

The U.K. has apparently some of the most skilful and qualified people in the world, so let’s retain them in the U.K. otherwise they will certainly leave to benefit another country.

We can’t be Luddite’s because this is such a radical and complete change that we must embrace.

The future is always unstoppable.

But we want the future to work, we may well have the technology to resolve the energy crisis but if we do not think through what we are doing we will solve that problem by creating new and different ones. that is what caused the problem in the first place.