Wind power, or the lack of it.

Figures from the company's electricity system operator (ESO) showed that wind-powered electricity accounted for26.8%of generation in 2022, up from 21.9% the year before.
www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/06/great-britains-windfarm-electricity-at-record-high-in-2022-but-gas-use-up-too

Unfortunately this figure hides a multitude of problems, like wind only contributing about 5% or less of the power we need in really cold weather when the wind can be non-existent. We have also had a very windy winter.

I am not opposed to wind, I just think we shpould be putting far more money into other resources for carbon neutral power, to make our system more resilient.

volver

And, here I am, right on cue. 🤣

I've no idea where the "Wind can only meet 3% of the power we need" claim comes from, that's not what that gridpower page shows. Also, it only shows the current split of supply and says nothing about capability. Unless I'm reading it wrong, then you can correct me M0nica.

The whole "what happens when the wind doesn't blow then" thing is a gift to those who want to jump on the green movement and say we best stick with oil then. I'm not suggesting that anyone here is doing that, quite the opposite.

Tidal and wave power are being considered. Considered quite a lot. Along with geothermal, which is my current favourite.

We need it all. Can we stop complaining about wind? (If you know what I mean 🙂)

You're absolutely right there. All my electricity generated by green power. Not had a blackout yet. Coming from an area dealing and maintaining wind power, this is good to know job doing well. As an Island, yes we should be looking at tidal power too.

As PaddyAnn says, wind is not the only source of renewable power. Rainwater is a very constant source, filling lochs and reservoirs and turing turbines on windless days as well as windy ones, Hydro-electric schemes produce clean power, and pumped hydro schemes store the source of that power by using off-peak production to pump the water to storage loch where it can be released to turn turbines when it is needed.

The UK has four pumped storage hydro power stations in Scotland and Wales, with a total capacity of 2.8 GW. The operators of Cruachan power station in the Highlands are seeking planning permission to increase its capacity with more catchment and storage.
www.cruachanexpansion.com/about/

I’ve plenty of wind power

We are surrounded by sources of power. Sun, wind, rain, tide, hamsters scurrying round their wheels . . .

These weather-generated sources are each at their peak in different circumstances and places. There is no point in taking one source, like wind-power, and saying that it won't be enough on windless days. We have to develop ALL the ways of making electricity, find and use the most efficient way to tap them, and then amalgamate them all into one system which had draw on whichever is most productive at any given time, and w

Hamsters keep running round their wheels at all hours of the day and night (we had to take them out of the kids' bedrooms at night for that reason or they'd have been up for hours watching them play) so maybe installing a cage and wheel in every newbuild could power the lights? How about all the gyms filled with sweating body-builders lifting weights and pulling on machinery? Commecting them up would generate quite a bit - maybe keep the fridges and freezers working for the cold drinks in the gym's cafe?

multicolourswapshop

I’ve plenty of wind power

Plenty of hot air generated in the Houses of Parliament, Hoolyrood and the Council offices, too.

Hoolyrood? Let's all hold a Hooly!

The UK has four pumped storage hydro power stations in Scotland and Wales, with a total capacity of 2.8 GW. The operators of Cruachan power station in the Highlands are seeking planning permission to increase its capacity with more catchment and storage.

But that uses underused electricity through the night, to generate power through the day. It doesn't actually generate power on its own.

Think how useful that will be on all the imaginary wind-free days...

10am now we have solar today we are up to 54% renewable plus nuclear etc thats 80% without fossil fuel

Nuclear will kill us all.

Let's not do nuclear.

Jane71

*The UK has four pumped storage hydro power stations in Scotland and Wales, with a total capacity of 2.8 GW. The operators of Cruachan power station in the Highlands are seeking planning permission to increase its capacity with more catchment and storage.*

But that uses underused electricity through the night, to generate power through the day. It doesn't actually generate power on its own.

It acts like a battery, but without using acid. The energy created when demand is lower is used to put the water into a place where it is ready for gravity to let it drop past the turbines and create instant energy at peak times when most is needed.

Uneven demand means that power is wasted when production is high but demand is low. Storing it keeps it available for when production is the same but demand is soaring.

Storage of energy is as big a problem as producing it.

More storage capacity would mean more water to turn the turbines when demand is at its highest.

I would rather have a million wind turbines, solar panels, wave power, etc, than another nuclear power station ever. We have not made enough use of renewables. Why doesn't every new house being built have to have solar panels on the roof?
Why have we not made more use of the wave power which surrounds our country.?

How about water wheels? Don’t laugh but these were a great source of sustainable power in the past, and some of those remaining are still used for grinding flour. You store water in a mill pond and run it across the water wheel buckets to make the wheel turn and drive the machinery inside the mill. If you could pump the water back up you could have perpetual motion.

Water wheels are a great idea.

www.heraldscotland.com/news/16966120.reinventing-wheel-historic-water-wheels-making-comeback-scotland/

Sadly, there is no such thing as perpetual motion.

There was plenty of wind where I was yesterday. I didn’t go out, I’d have been blown away. I doubt we could just rely on wind though.

Katie59:

'no solar yet' - but what about the solar going back to the grid from my panels?

Ok, it's only a little - but it all adds up. It's very sunny here today, I've used the dishwasher - then the washing machine (both on 'eco' settings) for free. Now, all the power (except that used by the fridge) is being exported.

I agree with so many of the posts on here. Yes to the use of all the different sources of non fossil fuelled power; no to nuclear!

As several have pointed out, not every source (say wind power) are appropriate for every area of the UK, but perfect for others.
Surely there is enough scientific evidence by now to show what works and where.

I have had solar panels for a few years, but this years addition of a battery has made a huge difference! Ask all factories, megastores, covered car parks, industrial estates to install solar panels on their roofs.

The local college has a wind turbine which was installed when the old buildings were restored and new ones built. Give an incentive to other new buildings to install them if they are in a good area for wind.

The geothermal solution has great possibilities I feel. Again, new buildings could be required to install them.

(Oops - just saw your later comment Katie59)

12 midday, grid now 70% renewable might get higher by 2pm. with just 16% gas the only fossil fuel used
It’s not often that we get plenty of wind and sunshine together but while it lasts we’ll enjoy it

Not a good day for renewable only 15%, so lots of gas being used as well as nuclear, it’s going to be several decades before we get a non fossil grid but gas will be available to fill any gaps.

Just noticed my grammatical mistake; 'is' not 'are'!

volver3

Water wheels are a great idea.

www.heraldscotland.com/news/16966120.reinventing-wheel-historic-water-wheels-making-comeback-scotland/

Sadly, there is no such thing as perpetual motion.

Thanks for posting Volver. That’s a really interesting article.