Britain plans to get almost half its electricity from wind power

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A government minister will announce a target of 33 GW of wind capacity by 2020 for GB tomorrow at a Berlin energy conference. This will involve some 7,000 new wind turbines. The total British electricity generation capacity is currently 75 GW. Most of the turbines will be offshore, which offers a more stable wind environment and largely eliminates the NIMBY problem.

The implications for Ireland include that grid connectivity with GB can be relied on even less as backup to Ireland’s wind generation system. Direct connection between Ireland and Continental Europe is even more of an imperative. Britain will probably be dumping surplus wind generated electricity into the Continental grid around Calais, Belgium, Netherlands and Northern Germany. It makes sense for Ireland to connect to the network somewhere in Western France, because the electricity market around Northern Germany/Benelux/Pas de Calais will be probably be swamped with wind power from North Sea offshore turbines.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article3022277.ece

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Some means of energy storage is need with such a system,

[mad scientist idea]
Perhaps the surplus energy could be used to inflate giant balloons under the north sea with water or some other substance - this can then be released via turbines on calmer days or damming up a section of coast and pumping water into it. [/mad scientist idea]

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Deleted User wrote: »

Some means of energy storage is need with such a system,

How does Denmark to do? High capacity grid connections with Norway, Sweden and Germany. Britain will have to do the same – the country has a tiny link with France as it stands.

Plug in hybrids, battery powered and H2 cars will offer storage in time – but serious grid connectivity is essential to make the market work for green energy. Hence the second paragraph of my posting.

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BendiBus

probe wrote: »

Plug in hybrids

If I had to pick a technology that I think will be a winner then the plugin hybrid would be it.

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BendiBus wrote: »

If I had to pick a technology that I think will be a winner then the plugin hybrid would be it.

I think it is the most sensible starting point for electric cars. Most people thinking about buying an electric or (in the hopefully not too distant future H2) car will have the "what if I run out of juice" worry in the back of their mind.

At least in this scenario with a plug in hybrid car, you can fill the tank with regular fuel and start the on-board generator as a backup if the battery runs out. The generator will power the car and charge the battery in the background.

The widespread use of PIH cars will force car park operators and others to install charging points. This will have the effect of "rolling out" (yuk) the infrastructure for the non-hybrid electric car.

The Aptera www.aptera.com is a bit lightweight for my taste, but at least it is a starting point for people to try the technology out.


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Map of Britain's proposed offshore wind farm locations:

http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/round_1_2_windfarm_sites-2.pdf

Press release:

http://www.gnn.gov.uk/imagelibrary/downloadMedia.asp?MediaDetailsID=226475

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