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[Rods2]

A couple of interesting articles one in DT today on why having less offshore windmills and modern gas power stations and using the cost savings on home insulation would be a much more cost effective solution. 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/9318072/Gas-better-than-wind-for-low-carbon-Policy-Exchange-claims.html

Second article shows due to base load fluctuations and inefficient use of conventional base load power stations, when wind power gets over 10% of electricity generation you have no CO2 emissions savings and may increase them. 

http://joannenova.com.au/2011/07/lessons-in-wasting-money-use-more-wind-and-solar-and-emit-just-as-much-co2/

[Kevin Wood]

Yep, pretty much matches the opinion of a mate of mine who works for Nat. Grid herding electrons around the country.

.. but, despite being pointless, wind turbines provide such a visual political spectacle, such as I was able to observe from Whitstable beach yesterday. A spot I've enjoyed since my childhood, now ruined.

[Nickbat]

Good links, Rod.

Got a lot of time for Jo Nova. Good looking and clever.   

[Dishevelled Den]

A couple of interesting articles one in DT today on why having less offshore windmills and modern gas power stations and using the cost savings on home insulation would be a much more cost effective solution. 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/9318072/Gas-better-than-wind-for-low-carbon-Policy-Exchange-claims.html

Second article shows due to base load fluctuations and inefficient use of conventional base load power stations, when wind power gets over 10% of electricity generation you have no CO2 emissions savings and may increase them. 

http://joannenova.com.au/2011/07/lessons-in-wasting-money-use-more-wind-and-solar-and-emit-just-as-much-co2/

While I can see the sense in trying to get some alternative technology in place to generate energy for the increasingly power hungry future, some technologies such a wind power are simply nowhere near being mature enough to provide a cost-effective means of doing so - a sad fact but a harsh one nonetheless.

The following excerpt culled from that Failygraph piece says it all for me;

Jenny Banks, policy officer at WWF-UK, said: “It’s ridiculous to expect that a dash for gas at the expense of building renewable generation would somehow lead to bigger carbon cuts. This is based on a very idealistic view of the effectiveness of the EU emissions cap.

We are being ass-oppsed by such ill-thought out schemes from the EU - most of which have no basis in good sense and furthermore, the means of lubrication for this most unwelcome experience is being provided by the very people we have charged with looking after the interests of this country first and foremost – now that really gets on my diddies.