More problems with wind

Hugh Sharman is an Englishman living in Denmark and is a Principal in Inteco, a Danish energy brokering and consulting outfit.

Here is a lucid and sensible document he has written, which anyone who wishes to consider the arguments about the use of wind powered electricity generation should read. (PDF Alert).

Now this month he has published an item for Proceedings of the Institute of Civil Engineering, vol 158, p. 161 (not online but available at cost of US$33 – Abstract at end of this post). In this he provides a technical analysis of the problems of power distribution where generation is in the North and West but consumption in the South and East of the UK.

Generators are paid, as it were, ex-works, passing up the opportunity to lose the 10%-20% lost in transmission. Of the proposed 11 Gigawatts to be built , some 7 Gigawatts will be generated in Scotland connected by the current single aerial 2 GW connector.

Sharman points out both the unwillingness to address the costs of bridging the gap, by politicians which will inevitably be from the public purse. Meanwhile major projects like the Isle of Lewis remain unbuilt until this problem is resolved.

Sharman , based on his deep knowledge and experience reckons 10 Gigawatts is possible.

It is therefore unsurprising that United Utilities bowed out of their interests in North West wind farms. Some time ago. Readers are also directed to the problems Vestas Wind Systems are having in producing reliable equipment posted about last week. It is evident that efficiencies (utilization) are going to be lower than expected and maintenance costs higher. Already installed costs have gone from an initial £1.15 MN per MWatt to £1.75 Mn - and the installers are losing money - and the National Lottery is also picking up 20% of the cost! Good causes indeed.

Why UK wind power should not exceed 10 GW Abstract

Britain's wind power reached 1 GW in June this year, making it the eighth largest national installation in the world. Over the next 5 years a further 6 GW is likely to be built at a cost of £7 billion in the rush to meet the Government's target of 10% renewable energy by 2010. The plan is for wind energy to deliver three-quarters of the target but that, as this paper explains, would actually require 12 GW, meaning the target will not be met. Furthermore, experience in Denmark and Germany shows that the UK will find it impractical to manage much over 10 GW of unpredictable wind power without major new storage schemes or inter-connectors. The paper concludes that while wind power should be exploited as fully as possible, it must not be at the expense of renewing existing firm generating capacity.

Also see (not online) "UK wind power takes a battering" by Rowan Hooper, New Scientist 12th November Issue 2525