Energy Matters Global and Domestic

[bobins]

The fly in the ointment with increasing wind farm capacity (which I agree with up to a <saturation> point), is that it'll then increase the unit cost of gas generated electricity when it's needed. Yesterday we saw next to naff-all wind generated electricity, so you're going to need near that amount of capacity sitting there available to 'turn on' via gas powered stations whether you need it or not. The running costs of the gas powered generating stations will increase as they'll only be able to recoup their costs over less GWh of production. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

[mickthemaverick]

A random thought has occurred to me regarding wind generators. Since energy can neither be created nor destroyed it follows that converting the wind energy into electricity must reduce the amount of energy remaining in the wind. Ergo a given number of wind generators will convert all the wind energy into electricity leaving the wind with none. Wind with no energy = still air!! Still air means all the generators would stop having equalised the air pressure around the globe and destroying the opportunity to generate electricity from wind at all!!

[NewcastleFalcon]

Its a complex interconnected business thank goodness I don't have to sort it all out and its in the safe hands of National Grid ESO/ Offgem and HM Govt...to plan ahead.

If everyone reckons that the longer term price of Natural gas is going to come down and return to the "old normal", relax just keep burning it, bolt on some dubiously effective carbon capture utilisation and storage gubbins, sort of like a pipe leading under the sea, and reclassify it as low carbon energy generation.

With the build out of solar and wind, and as much storage as can be practically mustered overall yearly demand for gas generation for the grid should fall. If it doesn't, and the price of gas doesn't return to the "old Normal" our temporary emergency interventions whatever they turn out to be, are likely to be less temporary than we had hoped.

Solar/Wind/Storage/Interconnections/Nuclear are the elements which could help and to be fair that's where the investment is going. The status quo of the energy generation mix doesn't provide a solution to anything other than how to make UK energy unaffordable for UK citizens and Businesses, create a huge jump in inflation and wreck the economy.

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

A random thought has occurred to me regarding wind generators. Since energy can neither be created nor destroyed it follows that converting the wind energy into electricity must reduce the amount of energy remaining in the wind. Ergo a given number of wind generators will convert all the wind energy into electricity leaving the wind with none. Wind with no energy = still air!! Still air means all the generators would stop having equalised the air pressure around the globe and destroying the opportunity to generate electricity from wind at all!!

Did you see the 1000'th post on this thread Mick? Have a look and see just how prophetic the random hand can be It will require opening the spoiler on the 1000th post.

viewtopic.php?p=726972#p726972

Regards Neil

[myglaren]

A random thought has occurred to me regarding wind generators. Since energy can neither be created nor destroyed it follows that converting the wind energy into electricity must reduce the amount of energy remaining in the wind. Ergo a given number of wind generators will convert all the wind energy into electricity leaving the wind with none. Wind with no energy = still air!! Still air means all the generators would stop having equalised the air pressure around the globe and destroying the opportunity to generate electricity from wind at all!!

Just reverse them when the sun is shining and create more wind.
Patent applied for by D. J. Trump esq.

[mickthemaverick]

I must confess to not looking at the spoiler when you posted that Neil, but now I see what you mean!! Clearly my thinking may be cyclic too!!

Having said that, the other thing that I feel may be happening is too much concentration on the generating and not enough attention to better use of what we have. In the light of yesterday's CAP changes I spent an hour going right through the house this morning and added the total wattage of all our currently fitted light bulbs. The total was 1596 Watts!! I have just completed purchasing LED lamps to replace all the halogen and irridescent lamps which will give me a grand comparable total of 176 Watts!! Yes it has cost a total of £72.45 but that will be recouped very quickly at the new usage rates. I will be fitting those as they arrive and it will be interesting to see the resulting drop in consumption in the next couple of meter readings!!

Edit That represents an 89% reduction in electrical energy consumed for lighting!!

[mickthemaverick]

A random thought has occurred to me regarding wind generators. Since energy can neither be created nor destroyed it follows that converting the wind energy into electricity must reduce the amount of energy remaining in the wind. Ergo a given number of wind generators will convert all the wind energy into electricity leaving the wind with none. Wind with no energy = still air!! Still air means all the generators would stop having equalised the air pressure around the globe and destroying the opportunity to generate electricity from wind at all!!

Just reverse them when the sun is shining and create more wind.
Patent applied for by D. J. Trump esq.

That might not be quite so daft as it sounds ! Using BEV type energy recovery principles the generators could be operated as motors allowing the wind to be generated for the benefit of the upper class yacht owners who may wish to sail down to the med!!

[NewcastleFalcon]

Good thinking Mick. ( er the light bulb post)

Our latest salvo heading Scottish Power's way is a stainless steel hob-top kettle, with the theory that heating stuff with gas at 15p is a kWh will be cheaper than the electric kettle at 52p/kWh.

Regards Neil

[Peter.N.]

I think I only have 4 incandescent lamps left, two in the kitchen cupboards one in the woodshed and a 150w one in the loft of the garage, none of which get used much. All the others have been changed for CFL's but as they fail they are being replaced with LEDs. We never used to worry about the cost of lighting as it was negligible, different now though.

I can remember my dad going round switching all the lights off when electricity was only 1d per kwh. A phone call was 2d but a lot of them are free now!

Peter

[myglaren]

I'm keeping a track on consumption with regard to weather conditions, sunlight and what is being used.
I think my kettle is what uses most but mostly during the day when I use free electric.
As with showers and the use of the washing machine. Used in sunlight they have little impact.
What does seem to is the fridge/freezer, various power supplies for electronics and the two heaters and striplight in the vivarium (heaters always on and not temperature controlled.
May look in to replacing the striplight with suitable LED lighting eventually. However the snake was a ninth birthday present for my daughter and she is 38 now. It was supposed to live thirteen years so the lights may not need replacing.

[Paul-R]

Our latest salvo heading Scottish Power's way is a stainless steel hob-top kettle, with the theory that heating stuff with gas at 15p is a kWh will be cheaper than the electric kettle at 52p/kWh.

Not a theory, it's a fact. The problem is that people are impatient and can't wait the extra time it takes for gas.

[mickthemaverick]

Our latest salvo heading Scottish Power's way is a stainless steel hob-top kettle, with the theory that heating stuff with gas at 15p is a kWh will be cheaper than the electric kettle at 52p/kWh.

Not a theory, it's a fact. The problem is that people are impatient and can't wait the extra time it takes for gas.

Combining mine and Neil's ideas simply boil the hob mounted kettle in the morning while you wash and shave and fill the flasks (I've now equipped us with 2 x 1 litre versions for £12) then you have almost boiling water on tap with no waiting for the rest of the day!! The flasks are working well for us. I'm off to find a hob kettle!

[Gibbo2286]

Won't work for me I wash and shave in cold water.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Won't work for me I wash and shave in cold water.

...and that is something that can also save a mickle, do we really need to wash hands/face whatever by turning the hot tap on I haven't got round to training myself to do the whatever bit, yet! although I think some braver souls than me do the cold shower thing. Our shower is good old gas combi boiler heated, may need a bit of gradual acclimatising before the mixer dial can be moved to the blue side.

But do we need to wash dishes with hot water? Probably not. We just always have,... until now!

Regards Neil

[mickthemaverick]

Won't work for me I wash and shave in cold water.

Not sure you've grasped my idea there Gibbo. I meant boil the water while you are washing and shaving in whatever water so you don't 'wait for it to boil during the day' Thus time is saved when it is time to make a coffee, just pour it from the flask!!

I too only use cold for washing except my hair which I use a shampoo spray from the bath hot tap. I find I can get all 5 of them washed in under a minute!