When the wind stops blowing
"On a typical day, a unit megawatt-hour costs £40. That evening, the top price reached £4,000."
On a cold night in January 2021, the national grid's controllers made frantic calls as temperatures dropped across the UK. With low wind conditions, which typically accompany a cold snap, Britain's much-trumpeted drive for green power faced reality.
As the wind turbines slowed and fell silent, the gas and coal generators scrambled to start up. In the process, the owners of these generators were able to command a premium price.
On a typical day, a unit megawatt-hour costs £40. That evening, the top price reached £4,000. That prize went to the gas-powered West Burton power station in Nottinghamshire. You know, one of those places hated by the eco-warriors that sustain the heat for pensioners and the power for ventilators. Other gas and coal power stations increased their output overnight, thus averting a disaster.
The UK has made commendable strides in tackling greenhouse gases. A couple of times in 2020, the entire country ran on wind power, albeit during low-demand periods. Yet, a double whammy of cold weather and high demand is not unforeseen. And that's the problem with wind power. No matter how many turbines you build, there is no electricity when the wind stops blowing.
So, you should know that leaving behind the harmful fossil fuels has its consequences. Additionally, traditional power stations require decades to plan and construct.
At least the national grid foresaw this situation, announcing that supplies would be tight as winter began. Moreover, they forecast that the cost of power would increase. Then they helpfully noted: "It does not signal that blackouts are imminent." You can monitor all this stuff in real time at this website.
Experts struck a different tone, asserting "the UK is at much greater risk of blackouts." Already this winter, the national grid issued three warnings as cold weather stretched capacity. For now, the system worked, although the ability to respond to demand surges this winter will face a severe test.
France is facing a similar dilemma. It plans to dramatically downsize its nuclear capacity while shifting to renewables such as wind and solar. This plan involves building 6,500 new wind turbines in addition to the 8,100 already in service.
Here's the issue: France is already 90 per cent carbon-free in electricity production thanks to nuclear power. The trouble is, nuclear power is verboten with the eco-warriors, and these plants must go.
Instead, France will keep its fossil fuel stations on standby for when the wind dies down. This will cost £110 billion in the initial stages to solve a problem France doesn't have while producing more CO2 emissions.
If we could store electricity efficiently, none of this would be an issue;the power generated on windy and sunny days could be saved for when demand arises. One option is pumping water uphill on good days, then releasing it to flow downhill and turn turbines on bad days.
However, the UK and France need hundreds of hydroelectric plants that disrupt upland areas with massive reservoirs. Additionally, the battery storage option seems a long way off.
It's easy to spot when something is out of kilter. Is incoherent policy thinking exacerbated by activist agendas that see wind and solar as the only solutions? Trying to push back against these concepts is a struggle in a post-rational world. Practical issues, like those discussed above, seem to elude the Greta cult. We may retort with: "How dare you!".
We need a mix of nuclear and fossil fuels supporting renewables for a long-term, stable electricity supply at an affordable price. I hope rational adults work on this to ensure the lights and heat stay on.
A blackout or two may cause the majority to sit up and take notice.
July 2024.
As the wind turbines slowed and fell silent, the gas and coal generators scrambled to start up. In the process, the owners of these generators were able to command a premium price.
On a typical day, a unit megawatt-hour costs £40. That evening, the top price reached £4,000. That prize went to the gas-powered West Burton power station in Nottinghamshire. You know, one of those places hated by the eco-warriors that sustain the heat for pensioners and the power for ventilators. Other gas and coal power stations increased their output overnight, thus averting a disaster.
The UK has made commendable strides in tackling greenhouse gases. A couple of times in 2020, the entire country ran on wind power, albeit during low-demand periods. Yet, a double whammy of cold weather and high demand is not unforeseen. And that's the problem with wind power. No matter how many turbines you build, there is no electricity when the wind stops blowing.
So, you should know that leaving behind the harmful fossil fuels has its consequences. Additionally, traditional power stations require decades to plan and construct.
At least the national grid foresaw this situation, announcing that supplies would be tight as winter began. Moreover, they forecast that the cost of power would increase. Then they helpfully noted: "It does not signal that blackouts are imminent." You can monitor all this stuff in real time at this website.
Experts struck a different tone, asserting "the UK is at much greater risk of blackouts." Already this winter, the national grid issued three warnings as cold weather stretched capacity. For now, the system worked, although the ability to respond to demand surges this winter will face a severe test.
France is facing a similar dilemma. It plans to dramatically downsize its nuclear capacity while shifting to renewables such as wind and solar. This plan involves building 6,500 new wind turbines in addition to the 8,100 already in service.
Here's the issue: France is already 90 per cent carbon-free in electricity production thanks to nuclear power. The trouble is, nuclear power is verboten with the eco-warriors, and these plants must go.
Instead, France will keep its fossil fuel stations on standby for when the wind dies down. This will cost £110 billion in the initial stages to solve a problem France doesn't have while producing more CO2 emissions.
If we could store electricity efficiently, none of this would be an issue;the power generated on windy and sunny days could be saved for when demand arises. One option is pumping water uphill on good days, then releasing it to flow downhill and turn turbines on bad days.
However, the UK and France need hundreds of hydroelectric plants that disrupt upland areas with massive reservoirs. Additionally, the battery storage option seems a long way off.
It's easy to spot when something is out of kilter. Is incoherent policy thinking exacerbated by activist agendas that see wind and solar as the only solutions? Trying to push back against these concepts is a struggle in a post-rational world. Practical issues, like those discussed above, seem to elude the Greta cult. We may retort with: "How dare you!".
We need a mix of nuclear and fossil fuels supporting renewables for a long-term, stable electricity supply at an affordable price. I hope rational adults work on this to ensure the lights and heat stay on.
A blackout or two may cause the majority to sit up and take notice.
July 2024.
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