Renewable energy is no way to keep the lights shining
With the decommissioning of the UK's coal and nuclear power stations, the big renewable energy bluff will finally be exposed as we begin to suffer power cuts. What is amazing is that articles by so called energy experts in Cornish papers can only think of adding more unpredictable wind and solar to our energy mix. I cannot understand how they think that renewable power systems that require up to 90% backup will keep the lights on. What is more likely is that Cornwall's rush for wind turbines and solar farms will destabilise the grid not give us a secure supply.
Now we have the possibility that power companies will hold the government to ransom and demand a high price for its electricity equal to that paid for wind and solar if we want them to build new nuclear at Hinkley point or new clean coal and gas power stations. We may not like it but nuclear and shale gas are the only things that will keep the lights on and keep our industry competitive.
The green movement who have much to answer for in destroying our power infrastructure will point to Germany as an example of a country decommissioning its nuclear plants and committing to wind and solar power.
Do not be deceived. Germany is having to import more and more coal and nuclear power from its neighbours to keep the lights on, it has already suffered power glitches.
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The UK has not the luxury of neighbours with cheap spare power.
Of course many have pointed out that some times Germany has been overwhelmed by power from its renewables, but that is an attempt to mislead you because if Germany has 20% of its energy from wind and solar how can it ever supply all its needs on those rare occasions when the wind is blowing flat out all over Germany and the sun is bright everywhere? What really happens is that when renewables come on line the conventional power stations see a drop in demand form their generators, they have no idea how much power or for how long it will be supplied and so they still have to continue to burn power and pay for all that planned for local and imported energy.
Sadly Cornwall council will allow more wind turbines and massive solar farms to be built and use money that it should be using to run services for the Cornish to put up its own turbines and solar panels. The council and the likes of Merlin Hyman from Regen South West will still boast of the south west as having a bright future in renewable energy which will bring thousands of jobs and prosperity ( forgetting the last 25 years that they have been saying it) while paying for anyone to connect to the wave hub.
Our MPs and councillors will keep going on about energy mixes because it sounds good.
Solar to keep the lights on! Keep the council planning executives pay high, more like.
3 Comments
by seftonchase
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 9:22AM
“Hello John,
What you say about the cost of renewables may be true. However my point is not about how anything to do with reducing Carbon Dioxide emissions, which is what the development of low carbon renewable energy production is about. My point is different. It's about the heath effects of utilising existing forms of energy production which do seem to cause premature death. if you accept this argument, then we can go on to discuss what should be done about it, which may or may not include low carbon technologies.”
by johndavies
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 3:28PM
“seftonchase, you say –
"for too long and the real costs have been hidden from us"
Indeed they have, the renewables industry (& government) have been adept at hiding the actual levels of subsidy's they receive, plus they never mention the cost of backup & infrastructure.
Have a look at the eye-watering amounts of our cash given to -
Delabole Wind Farm
http://tinyurl.com/axwngld
It's well worth exploring that link as it shows the OFGEM payments to 700+ windfarms.”
by seftonchase
Monday, March 18 2013, 10:55AM
“Firstly can I correct a few misconceptions in this article. The coal fired power stations that are closing now were the 6 power stations that the Generating Companies refused to update back in 2008. These were Kingsnorth, Tilbury, Part of Ferrybridge, Ironbridge, Cockenzie and Didcot. What the Generating Companies then decided not to do was to upgrade this plant to make it safer for us. They could have fitted new equipment to bring the emissions of Sulphur Dioxide and Nitrous Oxides in line with the EU requirements that come into force this year. The new standards are intended to reduce the amount of Acid Rain, which kills tress and also reduce the premature death rate, estimated at 29,000 in the UK, caused by these forms of pollution. Mr Sweet may be happy about this state of affairs, I'm not. I should point out that at present a legal organsiation, with which I have no connection, ClientEarth is presently taking the Government to the High Court over the Government's refusal to implement legal obligations to reduce these levels of pollution.
Not all of the above power stations are closing. Two have or are converting to Biomass, Tilbury and Ironbridge which is not mentioned in the article.
Lastly and perhaps more controversial is the idea we should pay more for our energy in line with the principle that the polluter pays. If that is what it costs to prevent premature deaths and reduce our impact on the environment and we also want warm homes and the ability to maintain our life style then so be it. Perhaps the real issue here is that we have enjoyed the benefits of relatively cheap energy for too long and the real costs have been hidden from us”