The Real Cost Of Wind Power In Britain?

[dazzap]

I think some of these posts miss the real point.

Energy prices, I think we can agree, are headed in one direction. While there are ups and downs the trend is up. AFAIK fusion power is still 30 years away (exactly the status for the previous 30 years)

If you believe in "peak energy" you'll be worried about the rate of increase going up fast in the next decade.

The truth is that on-shore wind power is viably economic now and will only become more so as energy prices go up. Unlike fossil based energy the "cost" is largely pegged to the install cost with the primary fuel being totally free.

Although Cognitive Polyphasia results in 75% of the UK being in support of wind power so long as its somewhere else... I think we still need it. However, my personal belief is that rather than a few people being very badly affected by very large turbines in large farms - we should have smaller mid-sized turbines everywhere there is wind. ie lots of people with low impact. This would seem a more equitable approach.

[Leafy]

It may not yet be cost effective for private homes but wind power could be quite effective for industry. Seems to be working for a vehicle manufacturing plant in Dagenham anyway. Land Rover build diesel engines there, but build them using wind power. Here's the link if you want to have a look. Do you think it's more than a green gimmick though? Our Planet

[John D]

Originally Posted by Leafy

It may not yet be cost effective for private homes but wind power could be quite effective for industry. Seems to be working for a vehicle manufacturing plant in Dagenham anyway. Land Rover build diesel engines there, but build them using wind power. Here's the link if you want to have a look. Do you think it's more than a green gimmick though? Our Planet

Do you honestly think that a 'production plant' such as this could rely on 'windpower' as its source of electrical energy?
Given that the annual 'load factor' of energy produced by windpower is around 30% and a plant such as this is likely to have an annual load factor in excess of 50% (given three shift working) and will require near constant power 24 hours per day for at least 5 days a week, I THINK NOT.

Windpower is possibly the most variable and unpredictable source there is for the generation of electrical energy. Production plants certainly need a much more reliable and sustainable source.

John D

[Doggle Avaddit]

Originally Posted by John D

Do you honestly think that a 'production plant' such as this could rely on 'windpower' as its source of electrical energy?
Given that the annual 'load factor' of energy produced by windpower is around 30% and a plant such as this is likely to have an annual load factor in excess of 50% (given three shift working) and will require near constant power 24 hours per day for at least 5 days a week, I THINK NOT.



John D

I don't think Landrover are claiming any such thing.

Their blurb says they are "committed to building diesel engines using wind power". How much wind power is actually generated and used to build these engines is not stated at all.

[Doggle Avaddit]

Oh, and while we're on the subject of car production and energy requirements, check this out:

Brenda and Robert Vale claim, in their book,

Vale, Brenda; Vale, Robert (2009). Time to Eat the Dog?: The Real Guide to Sustainable Living. Thames & Hudson. ISBN 978-0500287903

that the energy cost of owning and running an alsation sized dog is twice that of a 4.6-litre Toyota Land Cruiser driven 10,000 kilometres a year.


Hit & Run: A paw carbon rating - Hit & Run, People - The Independent