Rules and Guidelines
Want to participate in the discussions? Please read our Community Rules and Guidelines. Need some help? Visit Support and Answers.

  • State Not Answered
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 9 replies
  • Subscribers 13 subscribers
  • Views 1946 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
You may also be interested in
This discussion is locked.
You cannot post a reply to this discussion. If you have a question start a new discussion

The role of wind turbines for the future?

Aaron O'Sullivan

Project drawdown - onshore wind turbines as ONE solution to drawdown emissions

"Wind power plays a large and essential role in any long-term projections of a low-carbon future. It does not require mining or drilling for fuel, so its costs are not susceptible to fluctuations in fossil fuel prices.

One concern with wind electricity is intermittency. Wind speeds vary on a seasonal and hourly basis, requiring back-up power or storage at certain times to meet electricity demand and potentially investments and improvements in grid infrastructure and the flexibility of power systems. Both studies and real-world experience suggest these investments are manageable and cost less than fossil fuels when externalities (health and environmental impacts) are taken into account. Further, regions that do not yet have a centralized electric system designed around fossil use could easily design a flexible or distributed electricity system to take advantage of this resource.

Wind power capacity is projected to continue growing steadily with or without enabling climate policies. However, deployment could be accelerated by policies that put a price on carbon emissions, feed-in tariffs, renewable portfolio standards encouraging renewable energy use, public research and development to help advance the technology and further lower costs, and financial incentives such as production credits and tax breaks."

Onshore Wind Turbines | Project Drawdown

Project drawdown - offshore wind turbines as ONE solution to drawdown emissions

"Wind power plays a large and essential role in a low-carbon future: wind has large capability and is globally available, and the outputs of wind and solar are complementary in many regions of the world. Wind does not require mining or drilling for fuel, and its costs are therefore not susceptible to fluctuations in fossil fuel prices.

The growth of offshore wind could be aided by renewable energy and portfolio standards that mandate a certain level of renewable use. Wind developers could also benefit from regulatory stability, such as feed-in tariffs that guarantee a certain rate of return on wind energy and tax incentives that encourage investment by helping offset development costs. Public research and development can also help decrease costs, particularly for this immature technology. Technology knowledge transfer could help spread wind power across borders."

Offshore Wind Turbines | Project Drawdown

Going Green (Onward)

The Renewables Obligation and Contracts for Difference schemes have also encouraged investment in renewables, driving down the cost of wind and solar to the point that renewables are now the cheapest form of new electricity generation. (BEIS electricity generation cost report (2020))

Going Green Report from Onward (Think Tank ) - Going-Green.pdf (ukonward.com)

Octopus energy launches it's 'fan club' to discount unit prices when turbines are generating nearby

An interesting development I noticed recently was a discount if you're living near to a turbine 

"Octopus customers living near our local fans can enjoy cheaper 100% renewable electricity whenever the turbines are spinning.

Join Octopus Fan Club and get:

100% renewable electricity from your local Fan!
20% off your unit rate whenever your turbine is spinning and you're using electricity
50% off your unit rate when the wind picks up and the green electrons are really flowing"

Introducing Octopus Fan Club: Local green energy for your home | Octopus Energy

International Energy Agency Outlook on Wind Progress

There are challenges to be overcome though, more so in the areas surrounding storage, which is where something like Power Potential from the National Grid could play its part. 

Power Potential | National Grid ESO

Here's the close down report Power Potential (Transmission & Distribution Interface 2.0) project close down report (nationalgrideso.com)

Parents
  • 0

    Unfortunately wind and solar will always be parasitic generation. Yes they will replace some conventionally generated MWh but the conventional generation will always be required. There are always technical ‘tweaks’ possible such as generation of VARs but they will never be enough. An interesting article from E&T showing a rather more realistic viewpoint:

    “A UK energy supply regime that ensures security of supply at the same time as working towards net zero targets and coping with increasing input from renewables will need less input from politicians and more from experienced professional engineers.”

    https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2022/10/how-do-we-stop-renewables-failing-us-again/

    Another problem on the horizon for wind and solar:

    “Government plans cap on renewable energy revenues”

    https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-63224014

    Maybe the end of the gravy train for the offshore wind people who were offering a low strike price in the hope that the market price remained higher.

Reply
  • 0

    Unfortunately wind and solar will always be parasitic generation. Yes they will replace some conventionally generated MWh but the conventional generation will always be required. There are always technical ‘tweaks’ possible such as generation of VARs but they will never be enough. An interesting article from E&T showing a rather more realistic viewpoint:

    “A UK energy supply regime that ensures security of supply at the same time as working towards net zero targets and coping with increasing input from renewables will need less input from politicians and more from experienced professional engineers.”

    https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2022/10/how-do-we-stop-renewables-failing-us-again/

    Another problem on the horizon for wind and solar:

    “Government plans cap on renewable energy revenues”

    https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-63224014

    Maybe the end of the gravy train for the offshore wind people who were offering a low strike price in the hope that the market price remained higher.

Children
  • 0 in reply to Roger B

    Reading that BBC article, it looks like renewables are too profitable, and people want to nobble them.

    Makes a change from being told that renewables make no financial sense, as they will always need subsidies.

    Perhaps we should use some of that profit to build energy storage systems, which is the way forward we should be following.

  • 0 in reply to Roger B

    Isn't VAR a massive help when using intermittent generation because of the potential for supply dips?

    I did a bit of looking at it recently and don't get me wrong some of it I don't 100% follow, but it looks like they're using the generation in some instances to provide reactive power during times of low usage to negate the need to force those intermittent generation areas from needing to switch off. 

    from a simple perspective it seems like a great way forward which doesn't need a great deal of extra infrastructure and actually provides more of a bonus in grid resilience than we have now?

    Yeah I saw the how do we stop renewables post, but what's confused me with that post is the other E&T article saying something rather contradictory?

    engx.theiet.org/.../global-rise-in-electricity-demand-met-entirely-with-renewables-report-finds

Join us to get the best from IET EngX.

Joining EngX lets you personalise your experience so you stay up to date on the topics that interest you, plus you’ll be able to make connections who are looking to collaborate, exchange ideas and more.

Join us Not now

Community Rules & Guidelines