POST NOW FILLED Applications are invited for an exciting 3 year studentship to develop biogas fermentation technology. A new company is being set up to commercially exploit anaerobic digestion technology. As part of this work the company is working with North Wyke Research and Exeter University. The group is looking for an enthusiastic Engineer / […]
Read MorePotential Wind Energy Investment Opportunity
We have been approached and asked to make known an opportunity to invest in a wind farm(s) project to Claverton members or their associates. Essentially this involves 600 MW capacity in a series of wind farms in various countries with 30 MW in the UK. We have been told that agreements have been obtained with governments and land owners. […]
Read MoreTidal Barrage power generation potential in England
At the last count, the sum of the estimates of potential power from those bays & estuaries that have at least one bank in England, is about 5.57GWe (49TWh/y), equivalent to about 12.7% of current electricity demand
Read MoreConference on Offshore wind power planning, economics and environment University of Birmingham Friday 28th August 2009
MORE DETAILS FROM: Dr David Toke, Senior lecturer in Environmental Policy, University of Birmingham, email : d.toke@bham.ac.uk
Read MoreWind Energy Variability and Intermittency in the UK : New Reports
Three completely independent reports on the wind variability issue appeared in June and July 2009, all with the same message: the variability of wind needs to be taken into account, but it does not make the grid unmanageable; and the additional costs, which are modest, can be quantified.
Read MoreUKERC topic scoping workshop (TPA – Technology and Policy Assessment theme)
2009/8/13 Gross, Robert J K Dear Colleague The UK Energy Research Centre Technology and Policy Assessment theme (www.ukerc.ac.uk) is hosting a workshop for stakeholders from across the energy arena to help define its priority research areas for the next 5 years. We very much hope that you will be able to attend and contribute. The […]
Read MoreSmall scale gasification. by Neal Van Milligen, Manager, Bioten Power and Energy Group, Gasification Division
While renewable energy is one of the most environmentally responsible courses for consumers, the same technology which provides green power can be profitable as a traditional power source as well. Renewable energy portfolios are being mandated worldwide resulting in comfortable returns on $.12 USD/ kW and more on $.15 USD/ kW green energy programs. However, […]
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What square of land area of wind turbines would be needed in reasonable sites in the UK to in one year generate all UKs power demand?
Data
A 5 MW turbine rotor diameter is 126m ( from the Repower website http://www.repower.de/index.php?id=12&L=1 )
According to Martin Alder, a wind farm owner and developer:
Across wind turbine spacing = 3 x dia (Assume tower to tower)
Down wind turbine spacing = 5 x dia
According to Colin Palmer, of Wind Prospect, a leading wind farm developer, load factors of 30 – 35% onshore, and 40% offshore are readilly achievalbe.
So assume 33%.
Calculation
Take a 70 mile by 70 mile square. This equals 112 km by 112 km
So downwind, turbine spacing (tower to tower) will be 126 x 3 = 378m. Thus in 70 miles / 112 km we can accommodate (112 x 1000 / 378 ) +1 = 297.3 towers (allowing half blade length to protrude out of area at edges).
Similarly, cross wind, we need 5 x 126 = 630 m. Thus in 70 miles / 112 km we can accommodate (112 x 1000 /630) +1 = 178.8 towers (again allowing half blade length to protrude out of area at edges).
Thus a 70 mile by 70 mile square can accommodate 297.3 x 178.8 = 53,157 turbines..
At 5 MW each, these will generate at peak 265.7 GW.
Assuming reasonable sites and a 1/3 , 33% load factor, this will generate on average 79.73 GW.
Read MoreTechnology S-curves in renewable energy alternatives: Analysis and implications for industry and government
Plotting the performance of a technology against the money or effort invested in it most often yields an S-shaped curve: slow initial improvement, then accelerated improvement, then diminishing improvement. These S-curves can be used to gain insight into the relative payoff of investment in competing technologies, as well as providing some insight into when […]
Read MoreConference on Offshore wind power planning, economics and environment
Do you want to know more about planning issues and offshore wind and how they link up with other issues such as economics? Do you want to know about international comparisons between the UK and other EU states? Well come along to the University of Birmingham on August 28th which has a registration fee of […]
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