Wind generation of electricity

[chorleyjeff]

Tonight wind is generating less than 2% of electricity . 

Why are we spending so much money and despoiling countryside for such a low percentage ( in fairness In windy weather it can get to 6%)  ?

And as an aside why are electric cars described as zero emission when 25-30% of electricity is generated from coal fired power stations and about 50% from gas?

Jeff

[CanonChrissy]

Wow that's some statistics there Jeff!

[JHFoto]

9 hours ago, chorleyjeff said:

Tonight wind is generating less than 2% of electricity . 

Why are we spending so much money and despoiling countryside for such a low percentage ( in fairness In windy weather it can get to 6%)  ?

And as an aside why are electric cars described as zero emission when 25-30% of electricity is generated from coal fired power stations and about 50% from gas?

Jeff

Don't worry, in the the not too distant future cars will be able to run on water.................

[fuzzyedges]

I quite like the turbines they look so graceful 

So much more natural than ripping out of the ground and burning 

Tides and wind the way to go 

[chorleyjeff]

13 minutes ago, fuzzyedges said:

I quite like the turbines they look so graceful 

So much more natural than ripping out of the ground and burning 

Tides and wind the way to go 

That would be nice how but how would we cope with reducing electricity consumption  by, say, 75% 

Jeff

3 hours ago, CanonChrissy said:

Wow that's some statistics there Jeff!

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

Stats are from the above web site. 

Nerdiish me finds this sort of info. fascinating.

Jeff

[fuzzyedges]

11 minutes ago, chorleyjeff said:

That would be nice how but how would we cope with reducing electricity consumption  by, say, 75% 

Jeff

 

Someday we will have to learn how to survive on less power (or at least my grandsons grandsons will) so we might as well start now and improve to reduce that deficit 

[Terry]

It's all a plot by the power generation companies. what the turbines are really doing is making wind by sucking out electricity from the grid. 

[WereBo]

4 hours ago, Terry said:

It's all a plot by the power generation companies. what the turbines are really doing is making wind by sucking out electricity from the grid. 

There's a far easier way to make wind, just fit exhaust-pipes to the houses parliament..... 

Edited November 3, 2015 by WereBo

[chorleyjeff]

3 hours ago, Terry said:

It's all a plot by the power generation companies. what the turbines are really doing is making wind by sucking out electricity from the grid. 

Or alternatively to suck money from electricity consumers.

Jeff

[chorleyjeff]

I am surprised to see that wind power is now generating 11% of electricity. We live on a windy island so let's hope the trend continues upwards.

Just a thought. How much electricity does a wind turbine need to generate to replace it's energy costs of making, transporting and erecting it? Same question for building a nuclear power station?

Jeff

[colinb]

Out of curosity how many of us have solar panels on our roofs? I think they look much better (in most cases) than turbines.

 

[fuzzyedges]

2 minutes ago, colinb said:

Out of curosity how many of us have solar panels on our roofs? I think they look much better (in most cases) than turbines.

 

I agree Colin it would cost a fortune to strengthen the attic for a turbine 

[colinb]

18 minutes ago, fuzzyedges said:

I agree Colin it would cost a fortune to strengthen the attic for a turbine 

very good  I guess I walked right into that one Fuzzy

[chorleyjeff]

3 hours ago, fuzzyedges said:

I agree Colin it would cost a fortune to strengthen the attic for a turbine 

Agreed. But the wind blows at night.

I think all new buildings should be super insulated and be strong enough to attach a wind turbine.

And most of us should use less electricity and petrol. Will future generations wonder at our profligate use of fuel such as jetting of on holiday a couple of times a year?

Rant over!

Jeff

[colinb]

14 hours ago, chorleyjeff said:

Will future generations wonder at our profligate use of fuel such as jetting of on holiday a couple of times a year?

Jeff

now that is a whole new argument (but I'll keep jetting off)