from Mark Z. Jacobson <jacobson reply-to Offshore windenergy <offshorewind@claverton-energy.com> to Windenergy <offshorewind@claverton-energy.com> date 8 April 2010 16:43 subject Re: [Offshorewind] Claverton Energy Group – wind farms mailing list offshorewind_claverton-energy.com.claverton-energy.com Filter messages from this mailing list unsubscribe Unsubscribe from this mailing list hide details 16:43 (18 minutes ago) The model run for that study is at […]
Read MoreGrid-Connected Intermittent Renewables Are The Last To Be Stored
( Note – this article will shortly be published in the Elsevier International Journal of Renewable Energy which owns all rights.) Abstract When hydro-electric power systems became wide-spread, associated developments for energy storage, using pumped water, soon followed. Many other methods of storage have since been considered. Today’s interest in other renewables, notably wind energy […]
Read MoreThe CEGB (Central Electricity Generating Board) were not blinkered and recognised that wind had a capacity credit value
We weren’t blinkered in the CEGB. We were well aware that wind energy CAN be credited with firm capacity [see Swift-Hook, D. T., 1987 “Firm power from the wind” Wind Energy Conversion, Ed. J. M. Galt, (MEP : London) p. 33] and that the cost of off-setting the variability of wind is modest, see […]
Read MoreNorth Sea Supergrid Declaration
The declaration: 1. The Ministers of the North Seas Countries: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom Considering, 2. The crucial role which offshore wind energy is bound to play in order for Europe to meet the EU’s 20-20-20 targets. The major part of offshore wind energy development in […]
Read MoreCash boost for alternative energy – Phys. Technol., Vol. 9, 1978 and how the UK lost the race to be a major wind energy producer
Cash boost for alternative energy The level of UK Government spending on development of alternative sources of energy is to increase by 60%. In a White Paper last month the Government announced plans for P6m-worth of research and development, to supplement PlOm already committed. Almost half of the extra money (P2.9m) will go on wave […]
Read MoreThe costs of variability due to the presence of large quantities of intermittent/variable wind energy on the UK national grid.
Managing Variability – A report to WWF-UK, RSPB, Greenpeace UK and Friends of the Earth EWNI SUMMARY In order to comply with legislation from the European Union, the UK’s renewable energy target (to produce 15% of final energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020) may require between 35 and 40% of our electricity to come […]
Read Morea regular up to date source of hard info on renewable energy- Renew
Need a regular up to date source of hard info on renewable energy? Renew is a 36 page newsletter on renewable energy developments and policy which has been produced by Open University Professor Dave Elliott without a break bi-monthly since 1979. It’s widely seen as a reliable and up to date source of information, news […]
Read MoreHas Professor MacKay FRS, Chief Scientific Advisor to DECC, underestimated Britain's potential for Renewable Energy?
Today, The Times has claimed that Britain’s potential renewable resources are insufficient to meet demand, and therefore that Britain needs new nuclear plants. This is reported as having been stated by the new Chief Scientific Advisor to DECC, Professor David MacKay FRS, the author of the free online book: Sustainable Energy Without the Hot Air – though it appears that The Times invented this quote. Nevertheless, the claim that Britain cannot live on its own renewables, is also made in his book.
However, the claim is not true.
On the professor’s own (underestimated) calculation of Britain’s renewable potential, it is possible for Britain to power itself from wind and solar. Current energy demand (heat, transport & electricity), is 98kWh per person per day (245GW), and the professor’s book identifies 68kWh/d (170GW) of wind onshore and offshore, and 55kWh/d (137.5GW) from photovoltaics, which together gives 123kWh/d (307.5GW). That means that even ignoring wave, tidal, geothermal and biomass, Britain’s renewable potential supply just from solar and wind substantially exceeds our energy demand.
Read MoreWhat total power could the UK offshore wind resource provide? twice the total European power demand
The potential electricity available from British offshore wind, using current technology including the Norwegian floating turbines, is about 2TWe. This is equivalent to 50 times current British electricity consumption, and 8 times current total energy demand (electricity, heat, transport)
Read MoreAndrews Smith discusses "Wind energy is not controversial apart from its effects on wealthy land owners"
“Wind energy is not controversial apart from its effects on wealthy land owners” A claveton responded: “I’m not sure in what respect it’s not controversial. It’s not ‘the’ answer to anything, except as very much a small part of something. The on-shore wind companies are now having to diversify because, they say, all the possible […]
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