Wind Turbines

Zlatan

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 26, 2016
8,086
4,290
Noticed recent performance of UK wind turbines was shocking but not shocking much.
Hovering around 2% of our countries needs at moment. (,not sure but I think it needs to be 15% plus to be viable)
Yes, we woz conned.
 
  • Disagree
Reactions: chris_n

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,260
30,648
In recent weeks with a high pressure nearby it may by down temporarily, but wind turbines contributed 15% of UK electricity in 2017.

I have Bulb green energy supplier for mine and this is the current bill situation, almost all from wind, hydro and solar:

Elec.jpg

If you see a glow from my home's direction after dark, it's probably from my halo. :)
.
 
Last edited:
  • :D
Reactions: mike killay

Zlatan

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 26, 2016
8,086
4,290
In recent weeks with a high pressure nearby it may by down temporarily, but wind turbines contributed 15% of UK electricity in 2017.

I have Bulb green energy supplier for mine and this is the current bill situation, almost all from wind and solar:

View attachment 25122

If you see a glow from my home's direction after dark, it's probably from my halo. :)
.
That was 2017 flecc... Have a look for 2018...so far 2%..Your halo would be rather dim if dependant on wind this year... Pretty much same throughout Europe too. Leucate has had worse year on record wind wise (and rain) Times there its been windy its been too windy... for sailing or turbines. Mondial Du Vent (April) had no wind at all. Defi Wind had one day... (May)
I, d like to know logistics behind an energy supply that has to cope with one of its now major supplies varying between nothing and 15%(more in some regions of France) of demand. You need a system capable of over 115% to cope with down time of turbines.
 
  • Disagree
Reactions: chris_n

ianboydsnr

Pedelecer
Apr 25, 2018
165
115
63
Cumbria
I think they switch them off when there a surplus of electricity from other sources,
They seem to be addressing this with battery parks, there’s a large one being built about 7 miles from me, so they don’t have to pay to shut them down, and can feed the power back in at peak demands, I have heard of a few others being built as well.
 

Zlatan

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 26, 2016
8,086
4,290
I think they switch them off when there a surplus of electricity from other sources,
They seem to be addressing this with battery parks, there’s a large one being built about 7 miles from me, so they don’t have to pay to shut them down, and can feed the power back in at peak demands, I have heard of a few others being built as well.
Yep, I saw a scheme where they were buying up old Lithium batteries no longer fit for transport. (sub 80%,) but since renewable energy investment has dropped by 57% last year (43 %) previous and there is still the commitment for further turbines I can't see there been any money left for battery parks.(not 10 gw anyway)
This year got off to a great start aswell. January was first month wind provided over 10 gw... but quite literally since Feb we, ve had almost no wind. (I, ve sailed twice in UK this year)
I, m not convinced system can cope with fickle nature of wind, but time will tell. I know a few farmers now rich from Turbine grants though!
 

ianboydsnr

Pedelecer
Apr 25, 2018
165
115
63
Cumbria
Yep, I saw a scheme where they were buying up old Lithium batteries no longer fit for transport. (sub 80%,) but since renewable energy investment has dropped by 57% last year (43 %) previous and there is still the commitment for further turbines I can't see there been any money left for battery parks.
This year got off to a great start aswell. January was first month wind provided over 10 gw... but quite literally since Feb we, ve had almost no wind. (I, ve sailed twice in UK this year)
I, m not convinced system can cope with fickle nature of wind...
I find that surprising as it’s been windy here, and for most of the year, and the few times I have been to the north east it was windy there as well.
 

soundwave

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 23, 2015
16,996
6,536
stick 2 of these in the back garden ;)
 

chris_n

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 29, 2016
754
453
63
Niedeau, Austria
That was 2017 flecc... Have a look for 2018...so far 2%..Your halo would be rather dim if dependant on wind this year... Pretty much same throughout Europe too. Leucate has had worse year on record wind wise (and rain) Times there its been windy its been too windy... for sailing or turbines. Mondial Du Vent (April) had no wind at all. Defi Wind had one day... (May)
I, d like to know logistics behind an energy supply that has to cope with one of its now major supplies varying between nothing and 15%(more in some regions of France) of demand. You need a system capable of over 115% to cope with down time of turbines.
First quarter was 29% of UK generation. Yes its low at the moment but no where near as bad as you are claiming over an extended period. Keep burning fossil fuel and choking on the emissions. I wonder how many people who are forced to ride ebikes wouldn't have to without all of the emissions from coal and gas fired generation and heating during the course of their lives.
 

Zlatan

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 26, 2016
8,086
4,290
First quarter was 29% of UK generation. Yes its low at the moment but no where near as bad as you are claiming over an extended period. Keep burning fossil fuel and choking on the emissions. I wonder how many people who are forced to ride ebikes wouldn't have to without all of the emissions from coal and gas fired generation and heating during the course of their lives.
We must be looking at different data. One I found (which I, ll have a look for) reckoned 2%..(But not 2% of expected, 2% of UK requirement)
We must be talking different parameter as most wind has ever supplied is15% of total used.
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,260
30,648
That was 2017 flecc... Have a look for 2018...so far 2%..Your halo would be rather dim if dependant on wind this year... Pretty much same throughout Europe too. Leucate has had worse year on record wind wise (and rain) Times there its been windy its been too windy... for sailing or turbines. Mondial Du Vent (April) had no wind at all. Defi Wind had one day... (May)
I, d like to know logistics behind an energy supply that has to cope with one of its now major supplies varying between nothing and 15%(more in some regions of France) of demand. You need a system capable of over 115% to cope with down time of turbines.
The chart of my supplies is for April, so I'm getting enough. Bulb are able to get in before most suppliers for renewables due to the unusual way they operate.

But I agree that down time is a serious problem during high atmospheric pressure periods with high current demands when wind speeds are minimal.
.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Zlatan

Nealh

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 7, 2014
20,981
8,565
61
West Sx RH
New offshore ( Brighton/Shoreham) wind farm still under construction currently over 100 pylons erected and quite a few propellers turning, should add capacity for the grid.
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,260
30,648
http://dailym.ai/1srwVYG

I know it's Daily Mail reporting this but??? (Study is a few years old aswell)
Yes that's very out of date now. The biggest potential problem with turbines was the high maintenance cost due to gearbox failures, but the newest generation of them have no gearbox, the neodymium magnet generator running at propeller speed so no upspeed conversion.

The productivity is indeed low on average. It's not widely known but the USA led the way with wind turbines very long ago since they had so many very suitable sites, like ravines tunnelling wind. Their long term experience showed between 13% and 26% usable production time per annum, depending on site.

For some of our land based ones it's been as low as 8%, mainly due to poor siting to grab high subsidies while they were available.

However the situation is changing due to the wide spread of sitings now, particularly offshore which are more productive and it's now a numbers game. The idea is to have very large numbers at all windy points around Britain on the basis that it's rare to have no wind everywhere so there's always usable production.

Of course that's a very costly strategy, but it's made cost effective by the very high cost of the alternatives, like nuclear and tidal barrage for example.
.
 

grldtnr

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 22, 2012
627
288
south east Essex
Tidal barrages may be expensive , but there is nothing more reliably predictive than the tides, roughly 11 hrs 40 mins cycle time, in & out every day.

One major thing is the environmental aspect of building dams ,but it doesn't have to be that way, build a turbine on land, float it out then sink and anchor to the sea bed in the tidal currents.why isn't this being done?

If we could send men to the moon, land , then go walk about in the '70's, why can't we plonk a power generator on the sea bed.

It beats me.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: mike killay

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,260
30,648
build a turbine on land, float it out then sink and anchor to the sea bed in the tidal currents.why isn't this being done?
It is being done. There was an experimental turbine in Strangford Loch, Northern Ireland to gather data, decommissioned in 2017 as it had served its purpose.

Now there's a proposal for a massive new scheme off Ireland generating 100 mW, information on this link.

Of course the obvious disadvantage of free standing turbines compared with a barrage and dam is that the water can take the least line of resistance and just go round the turbine, so nothing like as efficient as the water forced to go through.
.
 

Nealh

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 7, 2014
20,981
8,565
61
West Sx RH
Wind turbines are ugly, why do they have to paint them white rather than camouflage?
Probably to prevent birds, aircraft & helicopters from crashing in to them.
 
Last edited:
  • :D
Reactions: Zlatan

tillson

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 29, 2008
5,252
3,197
First quarter was 29% of UK generation. Yes its low at the moment but no where near as bad as you are claiming over an extended period. Keep burning fossil fuel and choking on the emissions. I wonder how many people who are forced to ride ebikes wouldn't have to without all of the emissions from coal and gas fired generation and heating during the course of their lives.
The fact is, if wasn’t for fossil fuel derived power, you wouldn’t have the equipment or the energy available to you to make your contribution to this thread, which condemns fossil fuel.

It’s all very well doing the trendy eco thingy, but mankind has an insatiable appetite for energy and as we become more sophisticated that appetite grows. Windmills and solar panels with sheep grazing next to them are window dressings intended to satisfy the muesli eating, bearded men & women who wear hollowed out potatoes on their feet instead of a stout pair of brogues.

Our future energy supply has to come from a massive investment in the nuclear industry.
 

grldtnr

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 22, 2012
627
288
south east Essex
It is being done. There was an experimental turbine in Strangford Loch, Northern Ireland to gather data, decommissioned in 2017 as it had served its purpose.

Now there's a proposal for a massive new scheme off Ireland generating 100 mW, information on this link.

Of course the obvious disadvantage of free standing turbines compared with a barrage and dam is that the water can take the least line of resistance and just go round the turbine, so nothing like as efficient as the water forced to go through.
.
I guess that's why freestanding turbines on the seabed ar'nt being built if currents just dodgebaround them, but surely you could construct training walls to funnel water through turbines.
Strangford Lough would be a good place to put a freestanding turbine, current flows in excess of 8 knots through the narrows
 

Advertisers