BBC Top Story. Diesel & Petrol cars banned from 2040

maximania

50Twuncle wrote: »

See this link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_in_the_United_Kingdom#/media/File:UK_Electricity_Capacity_Margin.PNG for the true energy spare capacity in the system (at present) - it looks as if it is around 20% - so I don't know where your figure of 66% comes from ...(if we only use 1/3 of our capacity)
These figures date back 7 years (2010) - which will only have got worse, since more oil and coal fired stations have gone off line since then....

Your graph seams to be showing the maximum peak in any given year (Chrismas day dinner for example) and not average daily grid use.

http://www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk/

Gives a much better idea of the real use during the day/month/year.

I agree that the figures will have changed because oil and coal power stations are now being decommissioned. However the solar power industry is growing at a rate of 2.4Gw a year and wind power 2.5Gw last year. Thats equivalent to two large or 4 small oil/coal power stations each year. In 5 years that could well be suppling 25Gw-35GW.. Whats more Its Green and Cheap.