Green, ethical, energy issues in the news

Exiled_Tyke

silverwhistle said:

Exiled_Tyke said:

If ever we wanted a major success story on moving to RE here it is.

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/dec/27/uruguays-green-power-revolution-rapid-shift-to-wind-shows-the-world-how-its-done

It addresses a good number of sceptic's complaints and provides an excellent case study on how it's done.  Hopefully this will inspire other countries to follow and eventually put pressure on those being left behind. 

As opposed to: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/27/zero-onshore-wind-plans-submitted-in-england-since-de-facto-ban-was-lifted

Yeah, absolutely. I suppose I should have included that article as well but I'm sure you can tell I was thinking of the UK as being one of those potentially being left behind! 

Netexporter

Wooden wind-turbine towers:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67718719

Better carbon footprint and easier to transport than the largest steel towers.

gefnew

Quite an undertaking .

World's longest undersea and land power cable switched on in Lincolnshire - BBC News

Netexporter

They're building an HVDC interconnector from Algeria to the UK. I suspect that will be the longest in the world.

Martyn1981

Netexporter said:

They're building an HVDC interconnector from Algeria to the UK. I suspect that will be the longest in the world.

Hi, is that the Morocco project? If so, then yes it's an absolute monster at 3,800km. With two 1.8GW cables.

The plan is to use PV, wind and massive storage for a constant daytime supply of ~3.6GW (reduced overnight). If it happens, and at a decent price, then that alone would be around 10% of the UK's need.

Apparently their on-shore winds are so consistent, that they can get off-shore ling wind capacity factors of 50%+. And PV cell/panel costs continue to fall fast, as production and rollout continues to rise dramatically around the World.

Netexporter

Hi, is that the Morocco project? If so, then yes it's an absolute monster at 3,800km. With two 1.8GW cables.

Yes. The great thing is the evening wind power corresponds with our evening peak. Another bonus is that all the world's capacity to make the cables was booked for years ahead, so they're building a factory in Scotland to make them, which will then be a valuable asset in the future, as the world becomes more interconnected.

Coastalwatch

Netexporter said:

Hi, is that the Morocco project? If so, then yes it's an absolute monster at 3,800km. With two 1.8GW cables.

Yes. The great thing is the evening wind power corresponds with our evening peak. Another bonus is that all the world's capacity to make the cables was booked for years ahead, so they're building a factory in Scotland to make them, which will then be a valuable asset in the future, as the world becomes more interconnected.

As mentioned elsewhere Viking link is now approved for transmission and we are currently importing 1.4 GW's through it. In fact Interconnectors were supplying 7 GW's, or 20% of the nations demand this morning. With wind still doing the heavy lifting at 16.3 GW's and gas at an unusually low 3.6 GW's. Emissions 48g/kWh.

michaels

Netexporter said:

They're building an HVDC interconnector from Algeria to the UK. I suspect that will be the longest in the world.

Is this confirmed, I thought it was still very much at the concept stage?

Presumably if built the leccy will arrive in Cornwall and then be constrained by UK grid capacity....

Netexporter

Is this confirmed, I thought it was still very much at the concept stage?

They've got planning permission for the cable factory at Hunterston. They've applied directly to central government for permission for the terminal in North Devon and expect a decision in 2024 (probably waiting for the Tories to be given their marching orders). So, I suppose it is between concept and spades in the ground (ships on the sea).

As the project is not looking for government subsidy I'd say it was a no-brainer, given a government not wholly owned by the fossil fuel industry.

Martyn1981

Yep, it's beyond concept, and the Government is fast tracking it (for consideration), but it will all come down to the CfD price, and whether one can be agreed.

The scheme is looking for a CfD of ~£60/MWh using the 2012 baseline (~£85/MWh in todays money) for 25yrs, which is higher than the last on-shore wind and PV CfD's, but this scheme has built in storage/consistency.

At 3.8GW, it sort of compares well to HPC which is 3.2GW. HPC is getting a 35yr CfD of £89.50/MWh (£128/MWh in todays money).