The Future of Power Generation in Great Britain

[LongQ]

This does not seem to have reached the BBC yet so I assume it is just Daily Mail lies.

"Britain Becalmed: Turbines across the UK are at a STANDSTILL after wind 'disappears' for a week causing a two-year low in electricity production"

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-581...

However the BM Reports data does seem to confirm the sort of pattern of output shown in one of the graphs.

[V8 Fettler]

LongQ said:

This does not seem to have reached the BBC yet so I assume it is just Daily Mail lies.

"Britain Becalmed: Turbines across the UK are at a STANDSTILL after wind 'disappears' for a week causing a two-year low in electricity production"

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-581...

However the BM Reports data does seem to confirm the sort of pattern of output shown in one of the graphs.

0.22GW at its lowest

[rolando]

LongQ said:

This does not seem to have reached the BBC yet so I assume it is just Daily Mail lies.

"Britain Becalmed: Turbines across the UK are at a STANDSTILL after wind 'disappears' for a week causing a two-year low in electricity production"

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-581...

However the BM Reports data does seem to confirm the sort of pattern of output shown in one of the graphs.

It would be against the biased policy of the BBC to wheel in Horridbin to report this.

And is there any chance of the technology ever being available to store electricity for as long as this to keep the lights on and the wheels of industry and commerce turning, even at this time of year when demand is relatively low?

[turbobloke]

Allegedly Harrabin huffed and puffed but still couldn't blow the house down get the turbines spinning.

[rolando]

turbobloke said:

Allegedly Harrabin huffed and puffed but still couldn't blow the house down get the turbines spinning.

Never was a truer word said in jest.
This situation is further evidence (if it's needed) of the unsuitability/unreliability/unsustainability/… of wind as a means of generating electricity. It's mind-blowing (sorry) that there are those who fail to understand this.

[turbobloke]

http://www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk/

[LongQ]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

How did solar perform at the same time? You know as part of the balanced portfolio.....

Difficult to know.

The BM reports site has data for "Actual Or Estimated Wind And Solar Power Generation" with explanation for how to understand Wind reports now compared to legacy data but nothing about how to understand solar. I suspect the numbers in the data for Solar are the "Estimated" values suggested in the name of the data set.

As far as I understand it no solar output is actually metered so the best numbers available are estimates of production and, some consideration of estimated of "reduced demand" by consumers that have their own solar arrays - either home rooftop or more industrial installations.

The Monthly Graph for Solar estimate data on Gridwatch suggests the end of May and into the start of June 2018 was, overall, notably less productive for Solar than the early weeks of may. (Based on the estimated generation values.)

[rolando]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

How did solar perform at the same time? You know as part of the balanced portfolio.....

What turbobloke said (gridwatch) and pathetically at night time — but you knew that, didn't you.

[MartG]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-06-07...

[V8 Fettler]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

How did solar perform at the same time? You know as part of the balanced portfolio.....

0.83GW total for renewables at 4.30AM today Paddy (from http://grid.iamkate.com/)

Why should we have a balanced portfolio of energy sources for electricity? Couldn't we have a robust, reliable, cost effective portfolio instead?

[LongQ]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

rolando said:

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

How did solar perform at the same time? You know as part of the balanced portfolio.....

What turbobloke said (gridwatch) and pathetically at night time — but you knew that, didn't you.

Why not actually answer the question both of you .. ?

Did I miss the lights going out or something ?



or for perspective:

Must have been a bit of a challenge if they asked a coal plant to produce.

[rolando]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

rolando said:

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

How did solar perform at the same time? You know as part of the balanced portfolio.....

What turbobloke said (gridwatch) and pathetically at night time — but you knew that, didn't you.

Why not actually answer the question both of you .. ?

Did I miss the lights going out or something ?



or for perspective:

Those graphs mean sod all without any indication of what they represent — except the first must be solar generation, peaking at midday and sod all at night, as I said in my answer (if you bothered to read it).

[LongQ]

For those especially interested in Solar the team at Sheffield University has this interesting little tool available on line.

https://www.solar.sheffield.ac.uk/pvlive/regional/


I note that the latest 2018 capacity numbers they report are.

Installed GB Capacity: 13.05GWp
Effective GB Capacity: 12.68 GWp


Note that this is note a metered output but an estimate. The site has information that provides further details.

[V8 Fettler]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

V8 Fettler said:

Couldn't we have a robust, reliable, cost effective portfolio instead?

That is clearly not feasible.

In what way is coal-fired not robust, reliable and cost effective?

[WatchfulEye]

The Chinese have started up their first EPR reactor, the same design as the units under construction at Hinkley Point, and begun test nuclear operations.

Although all the major EPR projects have been subject to significant delays, the start of operation indicates that the design is operable and should provide some reassurance that others will be deliverable.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/energy-commoditie...

The final milestone for Taishan unit 1 will be completion of operational testing of the reactor and connection to the electricity grid.

Edited by WatchfulEye on Thursday 7th June 22:12

[Gary C]

V8 Fettler said:

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

V8 Fettler said:

Couldn't we have a robust, reliable, cost effective portfolio instead?

That is clearly not feasible.

In what way is coal-fired not robust, reliable and cost effective?

Don't think anyone can argue against that statement at all.

And I don't think anyone can argue that wind/solar on its own can ever as successfully replace it, there is simply not enough wind every day all day.

God help us if we industrialise after brexit.

[turbobloke]

Gary C said:

V8 Fettler said:

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

V8 Fettler said:

Couldn't we have a robust, reliable, cost effective portfolio instead?

That is clearly not feasible.

In what way is coal-fired not robust, reliable and cost effective?

Don't think anyone can argue against that statement at all.

And I don't think anyone can argue that wind/solar on its own can ever as successfully replace it, there is simply not enough wind every day all day.

God help us if we industrialise after brexit.

Well said Gary C.

[LongQ]

jmorgan said:

rolando said:

Swansea bay for the chop and a fresh future for Wylfa?

Carwyn Jones (head waffler in the Welsh Assembly) promise 200 million if they build the lagoon at Swansea.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-44373...

Wish he would hurry up and leave the building.

This at the BBC a few days back apparently.

"Swansea tidal lagoon numbers are awful, Alun Cairns says"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-44360...

[rolando]

LongQ said:

jmorgan said:

rolando said:

Swansea bay for the chop and a fresh future for Wylfa?

Carwyn Jones (head waffler in the Welsh Assembly) promise 200 million if they build the lagoon at Swansea.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-44373...

Wish he would hurry up and leave the building.

This at the BBC a few days back apparently.

"Swansea tidal lagoon numbers are awful, Alun Cairns says"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-44360...

My original source was correct re Wylfa but gov't still procrastinating over the money wasting lagoon. £200 million towards it would be £200 million of tax-payers' money down the drain to produce intermittent and eye-wateringly expensive leccy to drive thousands upon thousands into fuel poverty. Time the whole idea was scrapped.

Edited by rolando on Sunday 10th June 13:11

[jmorgan]

Maybe I read the wrong stuff but the winner in the Bay thing will be the developers not the nation (or Wales) and Jones, well, Labour rule the roost here so god knows what will happen.