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UK Wind Farms Are Overstating Their Output

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Re: UK Wind Farms Are Overstating Their Output

#41

Post by Retric »

CiaranMcNulty wrote: post #36
tyingq wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's interesting, and looking at per-capita use graphs over the years...seems predictable. Are there any major sectors of "use" that would shift if electricity were cheap enough? Like, for example...in the UK, is any significant part of building/home heating, or industrial production still gas or fuel oil?

The majority of existing homes and hot water supplies use natural gas

As long as it’s actually cheap that’s not an issue. Swapping to a resistance heater when electricity rates cost less than natural gas is a cheap and straightforward way to suck up excess electricity in the winter. Unfortunately, UK fees may prevent ultra low retail rates even if wholesale power is cheap.

A more elaborate system can use predicted rates and thermal mass with heat pumps to dramatically reduce energy costs while also shifting demand to peak production periods.

Re: UK Wind Farms Are Overstating Their Output

#42

Post by marcosscriven »

simmerup wrote: post #30
martinald wrote: post #24

I think the UK by 2030 (or so) is actually going to have a really major problem with too much renewable capacity at times - not just not enough transmission capacity, just too much full stop. There's currently 30GW of wind in the UK (offshore + onshore), plus an ambition to get another 35GW of offshore installed in the next 6 years. I'm not sure whether that will be met, but I would project at least another 20GW of o…

Wouldn’t we just use more electricity? I know I cut back on my electric because it costs 28p per kwh, which is crazy high.

Who do you get energy from? Octopus Tracker is currently 15p, and not been over 19p for months. A few days in December it was down to 7p.

Re: UK Wind Farms Are Overstating Their Output

#43

Post by physicsguy »

happymellon wrote: post #27
physicsguy wrote: post #3

The curtailment periods in the UK are already a problem, particularly in Scotland where there is now not enough grid capacity. There's no point building massive farms up there now without corresponding National Grid investment, which isn't happening anywhere near fast enough.

I don't remember where I saw it previously, it could have been here, but Octopus is looking to fix this. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/01/25/octopus-buil... It does make me wonder why the National Grid can't keep up. We can all see how BT has a massive conflict of interest with OpenReach, which is why AltNets are thriving. But what's stopping National Grid?

Octopus don't have deep enough pockets to do that really. They're still making a loss despite the hype they get.

Re: UK Wind Farms Are Overstating Their Output

#44

Post by flir »

martinald wrote: post #24

I think the UK by 2030 (or so) is actually going to have a really major problem with too much renewable capacity at times - not just not enough transmission capacity, just too much full stop. There's currently 30GW of wind in the UK (offshore + onshore), plus an ambition to get another 35GW of offshore installed in the next 6 years. I'm not sure whether that will be met, but I would project at least another 20GW of o…

With the shift to electric vehicles and heat pumps, I doubt it. But if we reach the point where we're regularly overproducing electricity, there are some steel producers who would be happy to solve that problem for us.

Re: UK Wind Farms Are Overstating Their Output

#46

Post by pjc50 »

happymellon wrote: post #27
physicsguy wrote: post #3

The curtailment periods in the UK are already a problem, particularly in Scotland where there is now not enough grid capacity. There's no point building massive farms up there now without corresponding National Grid investment, which isn't happening anywhere near fast enough.

I don't remember where I saw it previously, it could have been here, but Octopus is looking to fix this. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/01/25/octopus-buil... It does make me wonder why the National Grid can't keep up. We can all see how BT has a massive conflict of interest with OpenReach, which is why AltNets are thriving. But what's stopping National Grid?

Locals hate pylons. As do Tory MPs. I guess Octopus are just willing to push harder on the planning permission system.

Re: UK Wind Farms Are Overstating Their Output

#47

Post by pjc50 »

martinald wrote: post #24

I think the UK by 2030 (or so) is actually going to have a really major problem with too much renewable capacity at times - not just not enough transmission capacity, just too much full stop. There's currently 30GW of wind in the UK (offshore + onshore), plus an ambition to get another 35GW of offshore installed in the next 6 years. I'm not sure whether that will be met, but I would project at least another 20GW of o…

> I think we are going to be in a position where we have (way) too much power at least 50% of the year.

This seems ridiculous to cite as a problem, at a time when people are facing record high bills, but perhaps some time between now and then the subsidy can be tapered a bit.

Re: UK Wind Farms Are Overstating Their Output

#48

Post by martinald »

ta1243 wrote: post #25
martinald wrote: post #24

I think the UK by 2030 (or so) is actually going to have a really major problem with too much renewable capacity at times - not just not enough transmission capacity, just too much full stop. There's currently 30GW of wind in the UK (offshore + onshore), plus an ambition to get another 35GW of offshore installed in the next 6 years. I'm not sure whether that will be met, but I would project at least another 20GW of o…

Scope for the increase in electric use between electric cars (244b vehicle miles, or 60TWh) and moving from gas to heatpumps (250TWh of domestic gas usage, so 80TWh), that adds a constant load 24/7 of 15GW (if it were evenly spread through the year)

Yes I get that, but even adding 15GW to current demand doesn't really move the needle as much as you'd think. I'm also not sure it will be soaked up entirely, EVs yes but heat pumps I'm not as sure about.

Re: UK Wind Farms Are Overstating Their Output

#49

Post by ben_w »

cjs_ac wrote: post #39
daniel-s wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is not reference or context in your comment. Are you simply suggesting that someone is corrupt because you dislike their political position?

Jacob Rees-Mogg is a very strange politician. Here's a short documentary about him[0]. Highlights include: * Being the subject of a French television documentary when he was 12 years old[1]; * Campaigning against abortion (which itself is weird in the UK outside of Northern Ireland) while investing in abortion pills; and * Campaigning for election in one of the most deprived areas of the UK, while accompanied by his…

> is frequently referred to on Reddit as 'the honourable member for the nineteenth century' (prior centuries are often substituted).

Also on UK broadcast satire, though I can't remember off the top of my head if I'm thinking of Have I Got News For You or The News Quiz. (Possibly both?)

Re: UK Wind Farms Are Overstating Their Output

#50

Post by simmerup »

marcosscriven wrote: post #42
simmerup wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wouldn’t we just use more electricity? I know I cut back on my electric because it costs 28p per kwh, which is crazy high.

Who do you get energy from? Octopus Tracker is currently 15p, and not been over 19p for months. A few days in December it was down to 7p.

Really?! I’m on ‘Flexible Octopus’ — the only alternative they’re offering me is Octopus Fixed which is 26p per kwh for 12 months

Edit; Oh, I see, I need a smart meter to get Tracker. I’m a renter so not sure about the process for getting a smart meter there

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