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Wind Turbines.......

Discussion in 'Consumer Concerns' started by Aromulus, Jan 4, 2015.

  1. subseastu
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    subseastu I'm Bruce Wayne Lifetime Member

    I installed the farm offshore Blackpool and to be honest I don't agree with them, certainly not onshore anyway. At the time I installed them it was heavily subsidised by the dutch I believe. There are large plans afoot for the construction of more turbines in Hull docks.

    Turbines are quite restricted in their operating parameters in what wind speeds can work in. To me the way ahead is nuclear though no one wants one of those on their doorstep and solar. Solar I think has the best all round capabilities. Tidal should be of use to us in the UK but its a young, expensive tech at the moment.
  2. oss
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    oss Somewhere Staff Member

    This is solar Stu, real solar in the UK, an 8 KW array of 32 panels on the roof of the building I am sitting in right now.

    The graph shows an obvious problem with solar in the UK.

    upload_2015-1-5_9-2-5.png
  3. aposhark
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    aposhark Well-Known Member Lifetime Member

    Yes, Jim.
    Solar is really needed in the months that there is less sun :rolleyes:
  4. oss
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    oss Somewhere Staff Member

    More like efficiency of solar arrays is lowest in the UK when it is really needed, in the Phils on the other hand you would get good angles of incidence most of the year and much less variable output, but the arrays, at least in the cities, would have to be more robust due to regular typhoons and much flying debris.

    Given that in the UK many offices run aircon these days during summer a lot of the energy produced goes to good use, we in fact use all the power we generate, it keeps our servers running and our aircon during summer and makes a considerable dent in our electric bill.

    I will keep banging the drum that we need ALL possible energy technologies at our disposal.
  5. aposhark
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    aposhark Well-Known Member Lifetime Member

    I am with you on that one, Jim :like:
  6. Anon220806
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    Anon220806 Well-Known Member

    Agreed.
  7. oss
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    oss Somewhere Staff Member

    I should have replied this way Mike, 'more sun is needed in the months where there is less sun, let's all move to the Philippines' :D

    Would solve my SAD problem at least ;)
  8. Anon220806
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    Anon220806 Well-Known Member

  9. subseastu
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    subseastu I'm Bruce Wayne Lifetime Member

    Well that's a given really isn't it but during the summer months you "back feed" the grid with these renewable energy sources don't you so actual expenditure would be slightly more even wouldn't it?

    But I agree with your other post, more is needed
  10. Bootsonground
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    Bootsonground Guest

    Take fracking out of the equation and I would agree with your point.
    It seems like a desperate and dangerous solution to me given the facts coming out of the U.S lately.
    Solar is a good move if you are feeding the power to the utility box via a grid tie with excess being sold to the grid.(only for daytime power)
    Solar power storage is still a week and expensive link that is holding the technology back IMO.
  11. Anon220806
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    Anon220806 Well-Known Member

    Oil shale fracking is already out of the equation at the current price of 50 dollars a barrel.

    Interestingly, as oil gets cheaper renewables become less attractive financially.
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2015
  12. Anon220806
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    Anon220806 Well-Known Member

    I agree with Oss for 2 reasons.

    1] That if for example we get 10% of our energy needs from wind power, then say 10% from solar power, then 10% from nuclear power and then 10% from tidal power. And then 10% from converting seaweed to gas and 10% from geothermal power and 10% from hydro electric......we are almost there in terms of dispensing with hydrocarbons and all that it brings with it.

    Wind turbines might appear expensive but not as expensive as hydrocarbons in terms of the health of the planet and the life forms on it. One wind turbine falling down doesn't mean we shouldn't use them as if one plane drops out of the sky shouldn't stop us from flying. Living next to a wind farm is a bit like living next to an airport.

    2] The more sources of energy competing against one another the better in terms of price and flexibility.


    On geothermal energy. Newcastle is setting up a major project right now, for a heating network. the same is happening in Cornwall. Given that 99% of the earth beneath our feet is at greater than 100 degrees C, it makes sense to tap into an "unlimitless" supply if possible. For example geothermal energy gives about 13% of New Zealands energy supply. Thats 13%...just another 87% to find from other renewable sources. And it can be converted to other forms of energy i.e. electricity once on the surface. The owners of the Eden project in Cornwall are moving over to geothermal energy in those parts. In contrast to wind power, geothermal is also able to operate steadily 24 hours a day. It is estimated that geothermal power from the south west of England alone could meet 2% of the UK’s annual electricity demand.
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2015
  13. oss
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    oss Somewhere Staff Member

    It is speculated that the Saudi's are trying to kill off American fracking or at least prevent further investment in fracking with a prolonged glut of over production, as they don't like the idea that the American's could become independent in oil once more.
  14. Anon220806
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    Anon220806 Well-Known Member

    Indeed. In the land where oil is cheaper than water, the saudis are sitting there in their deckchairs in the big sandpit, shades on, enjoying themselves as the fracking boys in the US are feeling the squeeze.

    It will also affect any sources of hydrocarbon that are a bit more expensive to produce, like the Canadian oil sands and the deepwater fields and prospects.
  15. oss
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    oss Somewhere Staff Member

    Well they don't want to get too clever, some people think that the Saudi's are seriously overstating their reserves, if they are then they are giving away their future for a short term gain.

    Oil will climb again significantly, whatever happens.
  16. Anon220806
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    Anon220806 Well-Known Member

    Yes. I have seen a good half dozen of these in my working life time and it always bounces back. It is a question of when.
  17. subseastu
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    subseastu I'm Bruce Wayne Lifetime Member

    Hopefully not too long, we are starting to feel in my company now.
  18. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    Given that gas prices are generally on an upward curve, maybe it's just as well that the EU is reportedly to ban the use of gas cookers, central heating boilers, gas-powered generators etc., within the next ten years and by that time, we'll either be cooking using candles or 100 watt microwave ovens. A diet consisting mainly of ready-meals does not appeal.
  19. subseastu
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    subseastu I'm Bruce Wayne Lifetime Member

    Bloody hell I hope not!!! Buggered if I'm going to be living in tent trying to boil water over a camp fire
  20. Anon220806
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    Anon220806 Well-Known Member

    Hot off the press. Oil company has decided to stop prospecting for oil and other fossil fuels and go for renewables instead. They already have a foot in the door with renewables. It's windfarms I believe.

    Well. It was hot off the press in December. But I first heard about this at work today.

    "Their HQ is in Germany, where EON is the country’s largest utility with huge investments in coal, gas, nuclear, hydro & offshore wind plants. It also happens to be a huge distributor of energy & power across Europe, oh and it has a massive trading arm which, amongst other things, buys gas from Russia."

    http://energydesk.greenpeace.org/2014/12/01/qa-eon-really-just-ditched-fossil-fuels-go-renewable/
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2015

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