Renewable Energy - Revision history

Trevor at 10:28, 24 September 2021

2021-09-24T10:28:26Z

Trevor at 15:19, 8 October 2020

2020-10-08T15:19:20Z

Trevor at 11:45, 22 November 2019

2019-11-22T11:45:33Z

Trevor at 11:37, 22 November 2019

2019-11-22T11:37:48Z

Trevor at 11:34, 22 November 2019

2019-11-22T11:34:12Z

Trevor at 11:16, 22 November 2019

2019-11-22T11:16:08Z

Trevor at 11:13, 22 November 2019

2019-11-22T11:13:37Z

Trevor at 10:40, 22 November 2019

2019-11-22T10:40:16Z

Trevor at 10:25, 22 November 2019

2019-11-22T10:25:42Z

Trevor: Created page with "# Solar Power # Wind Power # Tidal Power"

2019-04-25T09:14:53Z

Created page with "# Solar Power # Wind Power # Tidal Power"

New page

# [[Solar Power]]
# [[Wind Power]]
# [[Tidal Power]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Renewable energy is ''GREAT'' - it's zero-carbon and provided free of charge by Mother Nature! However, the UK - contrary to some press reporting e.g. the [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48473259 coal free fortnight] - '''doesn't produce very much of it''' … which can be explained as follows: although the ''media'' tend to use the term 'energy' and 'electricity' interchangeably, they're not.
+== Confusing energy, electricity and fuel? ==
-<blockquote>"On 14 May, Britain generated a quarter of its energy from the sun - the largest proportion yet." gushed the BBC<br>
+Don't worry - you're in good company. Many politicians and journalists - ''who should know better'' - also get confused. 'Energy' and 'electricity' in particular get used interchangeably, almost as synonyms - but they're not. So you get gushing comments like:
 BBC News Website<br>
 May 2019<br>
 </blockquote>
-Electricity is the smallest of three broad categories of energy production/supply and renewables contribute around 25% to ''electricity'' generation - as shown in the latest (2018) official figures published by the [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/818151/Energy_Flow_Chart_2018.pdf Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy]<br>
+So how much energy does the UK produce and consume - and how much of it comes from renewable sources?
-[[File:Energy Flow Chart 2018.png|thumb]]
+According to the latest (2020) official figures published by the [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1006380/Energy_flow_chart_2020.pdf Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy] we used 170 million tonnes of oil equivalent
 Here's the breakdown:
-* Gas - largely used for heating - 44 units
+* Gas - excluding gas for electricity generation - largely used for heating - 42 units
-* Electricity - many uses - 30 units, of which
+* Electricity - many uses - 30 units, derived from:
 ** 7 units from hydro, wind and solar PV
-** Bio-fuels (4 units)
+** Bio-fuels (10 units)
-** Balance from gas, nuclear, coal
+** Balance supplied from mostly gas, nuclear, coal and imports
-* Petroleum products - largely used for transport - 77 units
+* Primary demand for petroleum products - largely used for transport - 53 units
 Electricity ''can'' be used for heating (e.g. heat pumps) and electricity ''can'' be used for transport (electric trains, electric cars); the figures above show there is a '''huge''' shortfall perhaps by an '''order of magnitude''' which not only would cost a great deal to build, but also create logistical problems with the stability of the grid, if it were.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 Renewable energy is ''GREAT'' - it's zero-carbon and provided free of charge by Mother Nature! However, the UK - contrary to some press reporting e.g. the [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48473259 coal free fortnight] - '''doesn't produce very much of it''' … which can be explained as follows: although the ''media'' tend to use the term 'energy' and 'electricity' interchangeably, they're not.
-<blockquote>"On 14 May, Britain generated a quarter of its energy from the sun - the largest proportion yet."<br>
+<blockquote>"On 14 May, Britain generated a quarter of its energy from the sun - the largest proportion yet." gushed the BBC<br>
 BBC News Website<br>
 May 2019<br>
-'''''Er-ER! Wrong!'''''</blockquote>
+</blockquote>
 Electricity is the smallest of three broad categories of energy production/supply and renewables contribute around 25% to ''electricity'' generation - as shown in the latest (2018) official figures published by the [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/818151/Energy_Flow_Chart_2018.pdf Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy]<br>

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Renewable energy is ''GREAT'' - it's zero-carbon and provided free of charge by Mother Nature! However, the UK - contrary to some press reporting e.g. the [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48473259 coal free fortnight] - '''doesn't produce very much of it''' … which can be explained as follows: although the ''media'' tend to use the term 'energy' and 'electricity' interchangeably, they're not. Electricity is the smallest of three broad categories of energy production/supply and renewables contribute around 25% to ''electricity'' generation - as shown in the latest (2018) official figures published by the [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/818151/Energy_Flow_Chart_2018.pdf Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy]<br>
+Renewable energy is ''GREAT'' - it's zero-carbon and provided free of charge by Mother Nature! However, the UK - contrary to some press reporting e.g. the [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48473259 coal free fortnight] - '''doesn't produce very much of it''' … which can be explained as follows: although the ''media'' tend to use the term 'energy' and 'electricity' interchangeably, they're not.
 [[File:Energy Flow Chart 2018.png|thumb]]
 Here's the breakdown:

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 * Petroleum products - largely used for transport - 77 units
-Electricity ''can'' be used for heating (e.g. heat pumps) and electricity ''can'' be used for transport (electric trains, electric cars); the figures above show there is a '''huge''' shortfall perhaps by an '''order of magnitude''' which not only will cost a great deal, but also create logistical problems with the stability of the grid.
+Electricity ''can'' be used for heating (e.g. heat pumps) and electricity ''can'' be used for transport (electric trains, electric cars); the figures above show there is a '''huge''' shortfall perhaps by an '''order of magnitude''' which not only would cost a great deal to build, but also create logistical problems with the stability of the grid, if it were.
 Presently our National (electricity) Grid compensates for renewables' [[intermittency]] to balance supply and demand by managing output from Combined Cycle Gas Turbine power stations (the work-horses of UK electricity generation) and the relatively few still operating coal-fired power stations. When these all '''close in 2025''' grid stabilisation will become harder and power shortages are a real possibility.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Renewable energy is ''GREAT'' - it's zero-carbon and provided free of charge by Mother Nature! However, the UK doesn't produce very much … which some may find surprising - although the media tend to use the term 'energy' and 'electricity' interchangeably, they're not. Electricity is the smallest of three broad categories of energy production/supply and renewables contribute around 25% to ''electricity'' generation - as shown in the latest (2018) official figures published by the [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/818151/Energy_Flow_Chart_2018.pdf Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy]<br>
+Renewable energy is ''GREAT'' - it's zero-carbon and provided free of charge by Mother Nature! However, the UK - contrary to some press reporting e.g. the [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48473259 coal free fortnight] - '''doesn't produce very much of it''' … which can be explained as follows: although the ''media'' tend to use the term 'energy' and 'electricity' interchangeably, they're not. Electricity is the smallest of three broad categories of energy production/supply and renewables contribute around 25% to ''electricity'' generation - as shown in the latest (2018) official figures published by the [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/818151/Energy_Flow_Chart_2018.pdf Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy]<br>
 [[File:Energy Flow Chart 2018.png|thumb]]
 Here's the breakdown:
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 Presently our National (electricity) Grid compensates for renewables' [[intermittency]] to balance supply and demand by managing output from Combined Cycle Gas Turbine power stations (the work-horses of UK electricity generation) and the relatively few still operating coal-fired power stations. When these all '''close in 2025''' grid stabilisation will become harder and power shortages are a real possibility.
-Could '''''you''''' devise a storage strategy to balance variations in wind and solar PV to within +/- 1000 MW of the average 6700 MW (actual 2019 figures)?<br>
+Without fossil-fuelled power generation to prop-up renewables, some other measure is needed to shave the peaks and fill the troughs of supply - storage is one possibility, but it is incredibly difficult and costly even at renewables' present day 25% contribution. Could '''''you''''' devise a storage strategy to balance variations in wind and solar PV to within +/- 1000 MW of the average 6700 MW (actual 2019 figures)?<br>
 [http://windgod.fluke.org.uk/ Have a go!]

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 Electricity ''can'' be used for heating (e.g. heat pumps) and electricity ''can'' be used for transport (electric trains, electric cars); the figures above show there is a '''huge''' shortfall perhaps by an '''order of magnitude''' which not only will cost a great deal, but also create logistical problems with the stability of the grid.
-Presently our National (electricity) Grid compensates for renewables' [[intermittency]] to balance supply and demand by managing output from Combined Cycle Gas Turbine power stations (the work-horses of UK electricity generation) and the relatively few still operating coal-fired power stations. When these all '''close in 2025''' grid stabilisation will become harder and power shortages are a real possibility. Storage
+Presently our National (electricity) Grid compensates for renewables' [[intermittency]] to balance supply and demand by managing output from Combined Cycle Gas Turbine power stations (the work-horses of UK electricity generation) and the relatively few still operating coal-fired power stations. When these all '''close in 2025''' grid stabilisation will become harder and power shortages are a real possibility.
 # [[Solar Power]]
 # [[Wind Power]]
 # [[Tidal Power]]