Even though I fully give my backing to Renewable Home
Energy Solutions, including the micro-generation of
electricity from wind power, it may shock you that I don't
support the use of commercial wind power generation as
promoted by government and the so-called green lobby.
I will go into the reasons I believe that commercial wind
power cannot be regarded as green energy. I have thought
long and hard about this subject and my observations have
brought me to the conclusions detailed below.
The biggest obstacle to wind power is it's unpredictability
i.e. If the wind stops blowing or when the wind blows too
hard the turbines stop spinning. This means that these
fluctuations in electricity production cause a roller
coaster of surges on the power grid linked to these
turbines.
The reason for this is that electricity cannot be stored
directly on an industrial scale therefore because there are
no large electricity storage capacity the commercial wind
generators operate in a just-in-time system framework i.e.
the electricity generated by these turbines is pushed onto
the power grid as soon as it is generated.
To counter this, gas turbines are built as backups to
compensate for the troughs. These backup gas turbines have
to be resilient as they are throttled up and down depending
on demand. When commercial wind generators are linked into
the electricity power grid they have to be monitored
constantly, second by second, to ensure a constant supply
of electricity throughout the grid.
So if you believe the exaggerations sprouted about carbon
dioxide being a so-called green house gas then you are
going to be sorely disappointed about commercial wind
generation as the necessary backup gas turbines still emit
carbon dioxide. As the generation and demand have to be
balanced on the grid constantly throttling gas and oil
turbines up and down to counter losses and gains from wind
turbines generates more CO2 per kWh generated than if
operated normally.
The unreliability and high cost of wind power. Wind power
in the United Kingdom, Europe's windiest country, comes at
a steep price. A price that greatly distorts the markets
as the real cost of wind power is hidden.
At the same time that Europe experienced a 15% increase in
energy cost, the United Kingdom experienced a 29.7 % rise
in gas and electricity prices. Ofgem, (Office of Gas and
Electricity Markets) the government regulator for the
electricity and downstream natural gas markets in the
United Kingdom, believes that wind subsidies was a prime
factor for the difference and questions the logic when,
taking all the public investment into account, wind
generates a mere 1.3% of the United Kingdom's energy needs.
According to the United Kingdom's government statistics, in
2006, the average load factor for wind turbines across the
United Kingdom was just 27.4% with the worst performing
turbine having a load factor of only 7%. Therefore a
typical 2MW turbine only produced 0.54MW on average. This
does not compare well with the 90% load factor for thermal
plants.
The poor return on investment is obscured by the subsidy
system which allows turbine operators and supporters to
claim that they make a profit even when wind turbines
operate at very low load factors.
Even though people assume that commercial wind turbines
have a favorable impact on the environment this does not
conform to the latest studies regarding migratory bird and
bat mortality. The mortality of within the already
declining bird population include raptors and eagles.
There is also considerable public protest over the noise
and health effects such as provoked by these installation.
Chronic sound trauma due to the low frequency noise
generated by the blades and infrasound transmitted through
the ground.
Further cause for concern include the devaluation of real
estate for neighbouring properties, the degradation of
natural heritage and the potential loss of the tourist
industries in surrounding areas.
Apart from the above, nobody talks about the construction
costs or even the maintenance cost of these wind farms.
The unholy partnership of self interested businesses,
so-called scientists, grandstanding politicians, alarmist
campaigners and a main stream media pushing their sponsors
agendas provide a new twist on a very old practice;
companies and individuals using public policy to line their
own pockets. This loose grouping, termed the
Climate-Industrial Complex do not promote any discussion or
free thoughts on the matter but vilify any person not on
message. They would make the Spanish Inquisition proud in
their labeling any and all dissenters as heretics.
As an afterthought, maybe just maybe, in light of the
financial irregularities with minister's expenses in the
United Kingdom, we should follow the money and investigate
the relationship between the "partners" of the
Climate-Industrial Complex and look at the politician's
personal investments within this industry.
The freedom of information act definitely has its uses.
Also as most of these companies are listed on the stock
exchange finding out one can follow the paper trail to
follow the money.
However, I do believe that wind power has a place within
Renewable Home Energy Solutions either as a complementary
mix to solar energy or as stand alone provided one stores
excess energy in an array of batteries.
----------------------------------------------------
Alain Prud'homme's interests include the various
technologies that allow for the micro-generation of
renewable energy for homes and the freedom such
technologies avail the ordinary person. He also writes
about the contentious and controversial issues surrounding
global warming and climate change. You can find more
resources at http://www.renewablehomeenergysolutions.com
EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=70011
0 comments
Post a Comment