tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post4347242511320110440..comments2024-03-23T09:47:39.612+00:00Comments on alan sloman's big walk: Renewable Energy: Vision or Mirage?Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-75377777232922799562011-12-17T13:04:16.233+00:002011-12-17T13:04:16.233+00:00Absolutely Andy!Absolutely Andy!Andrew Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14744521212967848460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-51657900108324780452011-12-17T09:29:20.768+00:002011-12-17T09:29:20.768+00:00In reply to Bernie, if I may, there is an interest...In reply to Bernie, if I may, there is an interesting point to be made. It is true that technology improves all the time and in connection with wind the biggest 'improvement' would clearly be storage (pump storage or batteries, or the fabled Norway connector).<br />But there is another side to the story.<br />Because of the completely unjustified time pressure that is being put on policy, we have been importing Danish-German technology developed for the conditions they face there which are wholly unsuitable to our climate and landscape.<br />There are other turbine designs which are both more graceful and more efficient (one in particular, is the size of a big cairn and is much more efficient, producing energy both at higher and lower wind speed than the Leviathans we are being lumped with).<br />Back in the 1950s we were world leaders in nuclear technology. We have let that slip. And now as far as wind is concerned we are completely passive recipients of imported technology.<br />If we had had a more reasoned debate on energy provision, with none of the browbeating from the usual suspects, we could have developed a technology that would have allowed us to harness wind resources without alienating a substantial portion of the population. It was the wind farms issue that completely changed my view of the likes of FOE and WWF. Up until then I was admiring and supporting their work and I was as 'green' as the next wooly jumper wearer. It is still incomprehensible to me why they went the way they did (other than: it is a *very* lucrative way to go for their extremely well paid officials).<br />A lost opportunity indeed.Andy B.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-32395251988017673442011-12-17T08:41:08.540+00:002011-12-17T08:41:08.540+00:00News just in:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla...News just in:<br /><br />http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-16217781<br /><br />It's the third story in the BBC Scotland webpage.<br /><br />In many ways it is a non-story because council officials routinely recommend approval for wind farms. It's a rare day when they recommend refusal. It is equally routine for councillors to overrule them.<br /><br />What is remarkable is that the BBC should give it such prominence.<br /><br />It is also remarkable that they should, for once, give the last word to the MCofS and not to the renewable industry or the WWF.<br /><br />No doubt, if it gets approved the likes of Moonlight Shadow will be dancing in the streets of Manchester to celebrate another victory for the green cause.Andy B.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-77270525484448747582011-12-16T23:51:39.326+00:002011-12-16T23:51:39.326+00:00Sadly there are two opposing ideas here.
The well ...Sadly there are two opposing ideas here.<br />The well being of the planet and the preserving of our natural resources.<br />And short term monetary gain for a small minority and a few mainly foreign companies who would appear to have no real interest in the natural environment that they desecrate.<br /><br />Now, where do Wind Turbines fall into those two camps?<br /><br /><b>Bugger. </b><i> I wasn't going to comment on this thread</i><br /><br /><b>It's coming up to Christmas I need to be HAPPY.</b><br /><br />It's not helped by the fact that the Councillors have been advised to accept the Allt Duine proposal at the pending meeting. <br />I got an email about it today.<br /><br /><b>And I've got a cold as well!!!!!!</b>Andrew Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14744521212967848460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-14928540303520550342011-12-16T20:36:58.164+00:002011-12-16T20:36:58.164+00:00Hi Bernie. Thank you for your comment. Wind turbin...Hi Bernie. Thank you for your comment. Wind turbines are now a well established technology and improving their robustness cannot get in the way of the realisation that when we need their energy most, the wind does not blow - when high pressure dominates mid winter over the whole of Northern Europe.<br /><br />If you read the report in full (I have given the link in the main text of my post) you will see that as well as this pretty major structural failure, new OCGT power stations need to be built as spinning reserve for the variations in output. The existing CCGT power stations are having their lives cut drastically by the constant on-off demand necessitated by fluctuating wind energy. These OCGT stations are less efficient than the CCGT stations they are replacing.<br /><br />So - all in all - as the Adam Smith Institute Paper demonstrates admirably, wind power is a complete nonsense. To cap it all, after a penetration of something like 15% of our electrical requirements, their effects on greenhouse gas emissions are actually counter productive!<br /><br />I am not against WWF, Greenpeace and FoE in general but I am vehemently opposed in their approach to wind energy as they are supporting an industry that is destroying wild land. To do this in the face of overwhelming evidence that wind power is ineffective flies in the face of reason. They have established a totally untenable position and are sticking to it, no matter how ridiculous it makes them appear.<br />In doing so they damage the otherwise excellent causes they promote, as engineers will forever doubt their integrity and learn to distrust them.Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-36577215060314628672011-12-16T15:49:10.910+00:002011-12-16T15:49:10.910+00:00Your discussion about wind farms makes interesting...Your discussion about wind farms makes interesting reading. As with most things, there are drawbacks and there are people who make dubious claims about how great these things are. However, with investment and research, is it not possible that the technology could become more efficient and more durable? Many technologies improve over time, so why should wind turbines or solar panels be any different? Whilst these technologies may only provide a relatively small part of our energy needs, that is not reason enough to abandon them.<br /><br />On the subject of WWF, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace, I sincerely think that our planet would be much worse off without them. Perhaps you should read up on some their campaigns which have helped to protect both our shared environment and other species on this planet. Incidentally, I don't own a woolly jumper.Bernie Thorntonhttp://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/bernie36/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-53520259026088201012011-12-14T18:01:16.633+00:002011-12-14T18:01:16.633+00:00As it's that time of year, a (slightly modifie...As it's that time of year, a (slightly modified) rhyme:<br /><br />Christmas is coming, the cats are getting fat,<br />Please put a copy in the Government's hat.<br />If you can't send a copy, a precis will do,<br />If you can't send a precis, then God help you.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing.Juleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16576395337502021082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-53057314254475011592011-12-13T16:22:19.022+00:002011-12-13T16:22:19.022+00:00With about 5000 turbines requiring new gear boxes ...With about 5000 turbines requiring new gear boxes every ten years or so (simplified numbers to keep the calculations easier) that's 500 new gear boxes a year - which is ten a week. That's quite a bit of work.<br /><br />Factor in that they'll probably only be able to work on the turbines for half that time because of weather considerations and that's 20 new gear boxes a week.<br />I am not sure how long it takes to fit a new gear box , but let's guess at a couple of days? <br /><br />That's 40 team days a week. Let's say they work five days a week, this means that you will need 8 teams of men working constantly on swapping gear boxes over.<br /><br />These gear boxes (sizeable bits of engineering) all need to be brought up into the hills on big trucks, (and the old ones taken away again) the mobile cranes have to be dragged there as well... A massive operation<br /><br />It's not like swapping a gear box in your Fiesta either... Imagine the difficulties of doing this out at sea...<br /><br />When wind farms become uneconomic due to the inevitable lowering of the ROC's, will they want to bother will all this? or will they let them just jam / catch fire... <br /><br />It will be interesting to find out exactly what is proposed in their planning submission for maintenance and removal.Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-15080366456208737862011-12-13T13:21:43.038+00:002011-12-13T13:21:43.038+00:0025 years down the line, who knows how many times t...25 years down the line, who knows how many times the ownership of these power companies will have changed hands?<br /><br />Every merger and takeover will be another opportunity for a smokescreen of deniability and avoidance of any responsibility for the cleanup (it not being the kind of cleaning up they're interested in!).<br /><br />My fear is that, like redundant ski tows and other bits of hardware, they'll just be left to rust.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-47563266674130854922011-12-13T09:03:17.460+00:002011-12-13T09:03:17.460+00:00The bases are the problem, Alan. The base for you...The bases are the problem, Alan. The base for your average Highland turbine is in excess of a thousand tonne of concrete and steel. You can imagine the effect on the peatland/water table.<br /><br />But predictably (and perversely) enough the so-called 'greens' who get their knickers in a twist as soon as 'fracking' is mentioned or a mouse fart in a nuclear station, are conspicuously silent on the effect of this much concrete and steel dumped for all time on previously pristine and highly delicate ecosystem.<br /><br />The hypocrisy of these people is just mind blowing.<br /><br />Another thing to note: every time the Beeb reports on findings critical of the wind industry the last word is invariably given to a) Richard "summers are going to get drier in Scotland" (said in 2003)/"summers are going to get wetter in Scotland" (said in 2008) Dixon of WWF b) someone from Scottish Renewables, c) someone from the Government (sometime you get one of the above, some three of them).<br /><br />Now, compare that to reports critical of fracking, nuclear or coal and you'll NEVER have an industry representative putting the case in favour. The last word is always given to some so-called 'greenie' (i.e. some NGO parasite with her nose firmly in the trough).<br /><br />It makes you wish for a "Scottish Spring" in more ways than one...andy B.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-10200276939212343812011-12-12T21:12:13.872+00:002011-12-12T21:12:13.872+00:00AlanR - What seems to be happening in the States i...AlanR - What seems to be happening in the States is that the turbines, once they lose the revenue streams from the subsidies, are just abandoned and left to rot, falling to pieces.<br />Over here, some of the planners have asked for bonds to ensure the things are taken down and the bases covered over, but it will still leave the road ways, substations all the pylons....Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-51607690692739573732011-12-12T21:09:42.261+00:002011-12-12T21:09:42.261+00:00OM: Passionate... Moi? I've been accused of ma...OM: Passionate... Moi? I've been accused of many things in the past. but never of being passionate...<br /><br />As for the Stirling Engine - that was completely new to me - how utterly fabulous! It looks like you should be able to knock one up in the garden shed. We shall have to ask Stef to see if he can manage it. He's pretty handy in the shed department.<br /><br />As for our Jimmy... I wondered how long it would be before he would appear with his snout in the trough. There hasn't even been a decent interval, has there? When did he step down? May wasn't it?.<br /><br />Greedy bastard.<br /><br />As for the WWF, well- they're as bad as Friends of the Earth & Greenpeace. Woolly jumpered, man made sandals clowns totally screwing up our environment... What did Clarkson say he was going to do to the striking civil servants? Too good for that lot. Tie them to the rotors of a wind turbine.Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-69181284556165504162011-12-12T21:01:58.568+00:002011-12-12T21:01:58.568+00:00S'n'S; Andy, It's great to have an art...S'n'S; Andy, It's great to have an article from such an august outfit completely demolish the argument for the mad dash for renewables. And in a very readable way, too.<br />:-)<br />Will the politicians take note, though? It's probably too late to avoid the power cuts already but it's never too late to try a more effective policy.Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-88980179713361147152011-12-12T20:55:18.386+00:002011-12-12T20:55:18.386+00:00Just been scanning todays media and noticed that b...Just been scanning todays media and noticed that by some strange coincidence a report by Reform Scotland was published today, saying how we will meet our renewable targets, will be exporting £2bn of leccy per annum, and will be world leader in the renewables industry.<br />I googled Reform Scotland and noticed that the Advisory Board contains one James Mather ! Familiar , no?<br />I also noticed that the WWF were highly critical of the ASI report. It doesn't make the struggle any easier when a crowd of thick green tossers actively supports the destruction of the environment.Oldmortalityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11828967124865650752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-3809040552195290582011-12-12T20:26:47.882+00:002011-12-12T20:26:47.882+00:00Thanks for posting this Alan. I would like to know...Thanks for posting this Alan. I would like to know also what the cost would be if and hopefully not when this type of folly was to get to it's max life of 25yrs. How much would the tax payer have to fork out to replace the installations when the power companies have flogged off the inefficient contraptions.AlanRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07180571503542781921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-33212328820958367582011-12-12T19:09:28.029+00:002011-12-12T19:09:28.029+00:00Says it all really.
(But not as eloquently or pass...Says it all really.<br />(But not as eloquently or passionately as your good self)<br /><br />BTW, whatever happened to the Stirling Engine ?Oldmortalityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11828967124865650752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-39548854355038028792011-12-12T18:28:13.618+00:002011-12-12T18:28:13.618+00:00What a load of utter nonsense from a left wing, mi...What a load of utter nonsense from a left wing, minority, fringe group of tree huggers and.... oh hang on, The Adam Smith Institute you say, Ah :)<br /><br />Brilliant read Alan. Clear and concise in confirming what the rest of us have known for sometime. (Never realised solar energy was so inefficient)<br /><br />As I've posted on other forums, my optimistic side has hope that the weight of evidence is growing to a point that it just can't be ignored. The cynic in me still sighs and says as long as there is short-term profit to be had the desecration will continue.<br /><br />Cheers for putting this information out there. Compulsory reading for anyone who thinks the turbines are going to save us from the darknessAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com