Article in IET queries role of wind power and balancing costs in the UK

David Millborrow is a Claverton participant…. Thanks to Hugh Sharman for forwarding this piece. This article from David Millborrow seems to pretty much demolish this article.. .. http://tx1.fcomet.com/~claverto/cms/download/316/ …………………………………. Quote ” Today, the UK is committed to European Union targets to deliver 35 per cent of electricity from renewables by 2020. Starting from a base of […]

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How Much Wind Energy is there? – Brian Hurley – Wind Site Evaluation Ltd.

Introduction

The starting point is an estimate of the total quantity of kinetic energy in the atmosphere. Lorenz gives 1.5 x 106Joules/m2 as the quantity of kinetic energy contained in the atmosphere(1). Smil gives a figure described as the annual “solar radiation reaching the earth” as equal to 5.8 x 1024Joules, or 1.84 X 1017W, and 360W/m2(2). Annual Solar radiation absorbed by earths surface(land and sea) 2.9 x 1024Joules, or 9.19 X 1016W, and 180W/m2. Note the solar constant is 1,366W/m2. Smil refers to a source from Lorenz(1976) that “atmospheric motion” was about 2% of 3.5PW insolation. ( Applying 2% to Smil’s 9.19 X 1016W giving 1.84 X 1015W with his figure for winds below 1km 1.22 x 1015W is the right order of magnitude

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Toronto gets feed in tarrifs – we don't – we wonder why.

Quote “Renewable energy in Ontario got a massive boost Thursday with the proposal of a fixed-price plan that, by June, could see the province paying out generous premiums to large and small generators of green power. The premiums – called advanced feed-in tariffs – are what the government guarantees to pay over the life a […]

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"Green Grid" – Excellent article in New Scientist by David Strahan (The Last Oil Shock) on HVDC supergrids

Articles “Green grid” A version of this article was published in New Scientist on 12 March 2009. Original is here (This article was in part stimulated by the last Claverton conference held at Wessex Water, Bath where Dr Czisch spoke, and various discussions, (various discussions2),   (various discussions3)  (varous discusions4) on this website.  Graeme Bathhurst is […]

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BBC newsitem: Rapid-charge/discharge modified lithium-ion batteries

   Interesting item claims scientists have developed “affordable”, rapid-charge / discharge modified lithium-ion batteries. This improvement might make a significant difference to the prospects for practical EVs / PHEVs, by extension to G2V for smoothing wind energy outputs.   http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7938001.stm

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UK National Grid talking about wind in the future, when there is a high penetration

Slide 14 of the presentation labelled future system operation at :  http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Electricity/Balancing/operationalforum/2009/               – presented to all and sundry at the Operational Forum (open to all comers) by National Grid at the Ardencote Manor 2 weeks ago, may interest. The following three slides after that are also interesting, as […]

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