Causes of Privatisation

[tzijlstra]

Wind farms have an adverse impact on people though. Many people find that they are a problem if situated within kilometres of residential areas. They cast flickering shadows when the sun is at the right angle, and they cause low level noise pollution that people find very disturbing.

And due to the lower power output, we need huge amounts of the things in order to generate anything meaningful.

Unlike nuclear, where we need just a handful of power stations.

 

Wind farms are one part of the puzzle, but not the only part. Increasingly we are investing in windfarm capacity of shore, it negates many of the negative issues you point to. (And the most limiting of all, nimbyism)

 

Please explain. The politics of energy is usually only an issue for oil. Oil is rarely used to generate electricity.

Now battery cars, they're cool. But we need to wait for a new battery technology, maybe Na-O, before it becomes affordable for most of us.

 

Oil is a big issue, our cars run on them, as do our planes and ships. But when it comes to electricity generation there are numerous other factors, for example European dependency on Russian electricity (through gas and coal reliance).

 

Europe rapidly needs to alter that balance, increasing our own electricity production and developing and investing in means of utilising electricity in our modes of transport are very important. As are looking at other alternatives.

 

Here in the UK we hardly notice it, but last month in the Netherlands I came past new electricity speed-chargers (all motorway services HAVE to have one, all cities and towns provide speed-chargers throughout). Some services are now also able to offer other fuel forms like H1. LPG was already available everywhere.

 

We can reduce our carbon footprint by shifting as rapidly as possible towards nuclear power.

It's the best environmental and economical solution. It's just not as trendy or popular with people who don't really understand the issues.

 

Nuclear is definitely an important part of the puzzle and I agree entirely, we need more nuclear power facilities in a hurry.

[unbeliever]

Wind farms are one part of the puzzle, but not the only part. Increasingly we are investing in windfarm capacity of shore, it negates many of the negative issues you point to. (And the most limiting of all, nimbyism)

 

 

 

Oil is a big issue, our cars run on them, as do our planes and ships. But when it comes to electricity generation there are numerous other factors, for example European dependency on Russian electricity (through gas and coal reliance).

 

Europe rapidly needs to alter that balance, increasing our own electricity production and developing and investing in means of utilising electricity in our modes of transport are very important. As are looking at other alternatives.

 

Here in the UK we hardly notice it, but last month in the Netherlands I came past new electricity speed-chargers (all motorway services HAVE to have one, all cities and towns provide speed-chargers throughout). Some services are now also able to offer other fuel forms like H1. LPG was already available everywhere.

 

 

 

Nuclear is definitely an important part of the puzzle and I agree entirely, we need more nuclear power facilities in a hurry.

 

We could extract our own shale gas and escape Russia's claws that way. Methane is insanely common.

Transport is not the issue. I have no great problem with electric vehicles, but they're not ready for prime time because of the battery cost.

 

Where is the money supposed to come from?

The government 2050 plan, which I linked to, of pretending to use renewables whilst actually depending on nuclear is going to cost about £1trillion.

Your home gas will be cut off and you'll be required to drive an electric vehicle.

Your electricity bill will go through the roof. You'll be spending more on electricity than rent. The state will also have to borrow heavily to fund it and cut back on everything not absolutely essential.

Benefits, tax credits, a half-decent NHS, good schools. None of these things will be affordable with the enormous spending required for de-carbonisation.

Won't you miss those things?

[El Cid]

 

Nuclear is definitely an important part of the puzzle and I agree entirely, we need more nuclear power facilities in a hurry.

 

One or two might be ok, but how many nuclear power stations will be needed in the next 100 years, and who will live near them and their waste.

How many nuclear to replace all our present power stations, and then they will last, around 40 years? All new ones every 40 years.

[Cyclone]

Those were just the human issues of course. The real issues are that wind power is not reliable and so cannot be used to cover the base load that we need. Which pretty much makes it pointless.

[Eric Arthur]

A normal power station has the facility to generate 100% of it's rated capacity 100% of the time.

No they don't, any more than a wind turbine can do the same.

[unbeliever]

No they don't, any more than a wind turbine can do the same.

 

Since when?

Even if they do have planned shutdowns, they're planned and can be arranged for when they're not needed. Wind turbines shut down randomly.

[Eric Arthur]

Since when?

 

Since forever. No generator has ever had "the facility to generate 100% of it's rated capacity 100% of the time". If you're going to try to make a point you should base it in reality.

Edited July 31, 2015 by Eric Arthur

[unbeliever]

Since forever. No generator has ever had "the facility to generate 100% of it's rated capacity 100% of the time". If you're going to try to make a point you should base it in reality.

 

There is surely a world of different between planned down time, and randomly switching on and off.

[Eric Arthur]

It isn't randomly switching on and off. You're struggling with this concept but luckily there are cleverer people than you who can it work out so you can boil water without burning yourself on the hot thing in the kitchen.

[Cyclone]

It isn't randomly switching on and off. You're struggling with this concept but luckily there are cleverer people than you who can it work out so you can boil water without burning yourself on the hot thing in the kitchen.

 

You don't think that the wind is essentially random? You think we can control it?

 

Predicting something a few days in advance doesn't alter that it's chaotic and won't be there when we want or demand it.

 

---------- Post added 31-07-2015 at 07:25 ----------

 

Since forever. No generator has ever had "the facility to generate 100% of it's rated capacity 100% of the time". If you're going to try to make a point you should base it in reality.

 

Talk about splitting hairs. That point is long lost.

 

Wind turbines are unpredictable in their power output when looking at any time further ahead than a few days, and on average produce a very low % of their rated capacity.

Unlike conventional generators, which can produce a high % of their rated capacity, and can do so on demand and reliably.