Green, ethical, energy issues in the news

Martyn1981

zeupater wrote: »

Hi

The article is somewhere around 12 months behind the news curve, but in the way it's presented they've raised a number of questions, notably ...

HTH
Z

This article also mentions the apparent price rise, plus the availability of Manchester City special editions ... :footie:

Eaton and Manchester City announce energy storage partnership, first units to ship in July

Martyn1981

The latest BEIS (formerly DECC) Public Attitude Tracker survey is out. PV and off-shore wind still head the popularity charts with around 80% support and 4 or 5% opposition.

Most important (to me) is that for on-shore wind the trends continue with support slowly growing over the years, now at 73% support and 9% oppose.

Also the belief that - Renewable energy developments should provide direct benefit to the communities in which they are located - remains solid at 77% support v's 5% oppose.

Public support for renewables reaches ‘record highs’

Energy and Climate Change Public Attitudes Tracker: Wave 21

(see wave 21 summary tables for the percentages)

michaels

Democracy and on shore wind is an interesting one. High 90s percent of people will only ever be marginally impacted but a few may be badly affected so just going on public opinion may not be 'fair'.

Martyn1981

michaels wrote: »

Democracy and on shore wind is an interesting one. High 90s percent of people will only ever be marginally impacted but a few may be badly affected so just going on public opinion may not be 'fair'.

I agree, but it's the trend that interests me. Solar and off-shore wind have always enjoyed very high support, with very little opposition, but the support for on-shore wind has grown, whilst opposition has fallen, and crucially over the years when on-shore wind has been installed.

Doesn't prove anything, but suggests to me, that the reality of on-shore wind is not 'as bad' as some expected, and even after such a shortish period as we've seen so far, folk are already less concerned.

I suppose it also helps that the large WT's are very quiet, so again reality trumps fear of the unknown.

zeupater

michaels wrote: »

Democracy and on shore wind is an interesting one. High 90s percent of people will only ever be marginally impacted but a few may be badly affected so just going on public opinion may not be 'fair'.

Hi

It's highly likely that the most vocal opinions come from those who aren't directly affected, but have affiliation to (or support the views of) some group or other ....

Time & time again the same 'interested' individuals seem to appear with an intent to disrupt 'local' schemes which will have direct impact on their (& their neighbours') daily lives, even if they need to travel hundreds of miles from their homes to do so! ....

Z

Martyn1981

Speaking of on-shore wind, anyone fancy some subsidy free?

Well, sort of. This analysis of a CfD auction in 2018 (which my be theoretical, I'm not sure) suggests that 1GW of on-shore wind could 'be got' for £50/MWh.

Now, quick explanation of a contract for difference strike price, it guarantees to make the sales price up to the strike price by adding a subsidy payment. But, and here's the important bit, if you sell the leccy for more than the strike price (perhaps at peak times) then the amount above the strike price gets paid back to the subsidy fund/pot.

In this example, they expect the on-shore wind to receive top ups at the start, but pay them all back from reductions as the wholesale price rises through the 2020's, so hence subsidy free over the 15yr CfD term.

An analysis of the potential outcome of a further ‘Pot 1’ CfD auction in GB

What is alarming is that they estimate that today (2017) CfD's for on-shore wind could be £50/MWh and PV £60/MWh, when the 2017 cost of new nuclear (HPC) is £100/MWh.

The report even gives the 2012 money equivalent as £46.10, about half the HPC £92.50 figure.

No wonder the government is excluding on-shore wind and PV from the CfD contracts, it could be very embarrassing for them to get a 'real' update on the 2015 prices of £80/MWh (now £83).

PS. Still no news on the results of the off-shore wind CfD auction from April, but rumours are still rife that they will come in at (or below) the HPC CfD too.

Martyn1981

Just because it's in Wales:

Vattenfall has commenced full commercial operations at the 228MW Pen y Cymoedd wind farm in Wales.

Annual generation is equivalent to approx 15% of all Welsh household demand ...... so another 6 wind farms perhaps, please?

Martyn1981

Germany Breaks A Solar Record — Gets 85% Of Electricity From Renewables

On April 30, Germany established a new national record for renewable energy use. On that day and throughout the long May 1 weekend, 85% of all the electricity consumed in Germany was produced from renewables such as wind, solar, biomass, and hydroelectric power. Patrick Graichen of Agora Energiewende Initiative says a combination of breezy and sunny weather in the north and warm weather in the south saw Germany’s May 1 holiday weekend powered almost exclusively by renewable resources.

lstar337

A new device shows promise in purifying polluted air, while at the same time producing hydrogen, which can be stored for use as a clean energy source.

https://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/researchers-develop-device-purifies-polluted-air-while-generating-hydrogen-sunlight.html

Martyn1981

Ecotricity are to start experimenting with storage

Ecotricity readies large scale storage pilot to manage customer supply

Dale Vince, founder of Ecotricity, said: “We’ve been looking at energy storage for some time now – waiting for the technology to make it possible. And we’re excited that we’re now at that point.