"Wise words" from a politician - perhaps not???

[duncet]

"Wind Power will help to slash our Energy Bills" - proclaims Kwasi Kwarteng.
Does he not know that we already have more than enough turbines - But not enough wind?
This is why we should always have a back up or, alternatively, go begging to Russia or France (at extortionate prices) so that we can keep our heating on and our businesses operating.
Short of wind? Try putting a turbine outside Number 10 - Plenty of hot air generated there.
Still, it must be worth it - we are saving the planet?????

[silver fox]

"Wind Power will help to slash our Energy Bills" - proclaims Kwasi Kwarteng.
Does he not know that we already have more than enough turbines - But not enough wind?
This is why we should always have a back up or, alternatively, go begging to Russia or France (at extortionate prices) so that we can keep our heating on and our businesses operating.
Short of wind? Try putting a turbine outside Number 10 - Plenty of hot air generated there.
Still, it must be worth it - we are saving the planet?????

That's the inbuilt problem with both wind and solar, totally reliant on day to day weather conditions.

[salus.populi]

There really is a dearth of intelligence and talent in the Cabinet.

[Alikado]

I might be cynical but it would help justify opening the new Cambo Oil and Gas field off Shetland and the new Cumbrian Coal pit.

[The PNP]

I might be cynical but it would help justify opening the new Cambo Oil and Gas field off Shetland and the new Cumbrian Coal pit.

Neither of which, for obvious reasons, should be allowed to proceed.....

The Govt 'take' from the North Sea has largely been squandered over the years by successive Govt's, on financing vote-winning budgets. When it should have been used to give generous financial incentives to the private sector, to develop long-term green energy, especially tidal power.

Unlike wind or solar energy, tidal is a guaranteed and totally predictable everlasting source of power. The UK happily enjoys one of the greatest tidal ranges in the world. That is to say, that there is a great difference in height beween low and high water.

Apart from an hour or two at high or low water, the rest of the day (and night) the tide is either rising or falling. Which means a tidal barrage across an estuary containing turbines, will be generating immense power for around 20 hours in every 2 hour period.

[said]

I might be cynical but it would help justify opening the new Cambo Oil and Gas field off Shetland and the new Cumbrian Coal pit.

I agree with that.

[said]

Neither of which, for obvious reasons, should be allowed to proceed.....

The Govt 'take' from the North Sea has largely been squandered over the years by successive Govt's, on financing vote-winning budgets. When it should have been used to give generous financial incentives to the private sector, to develop long-term green energy, especially tidal power.

Unlike wind or solar energy, tidal is a guaranteed and totally predictable everlasting source of power. The UK happily enjoys one of the greatest tidal ranges in the world. That is to say, that there is a great difference in height beween low and high water.

Apart from an hour or two at high or low water, the rest of the day (and night) the tide is either rising or falling. Which means a tidal barrage across an estuary containing turbines, will be generating immense power for around 20 hours in every 2 hour period.

Except for the fallout. By harnessing the tide, say near Liverpool. it would create a domino effect of damage all along our coastline and that of the Welsh Coastline. It would cost far more than it would save.

[donkey22]

I might be cynical but it would help justify opening the new Cambo Oil and Gas field off Shetland and the new Cumbrian Coal pit.

Experts at the International Energy Agency said in May that to limit warming to 1.5ºC, there must be no new oil, gas or coal developments. We have to keep fossil fuels in the ground. The Cambo oil field would be a needless environmental disaster.

There are only 2 coal fired power stations remaining in the U.K. and one of them is due to be decommissioned by 2024. The coal from the Cumbrian mine is earmarked for the steel industry with 85% of it to be exported.

[said]

"Wind Power will help to slash our Energy Bills" - proclaims Kwasi Kwarteng.
Does he not know that we already have more than enough turbines - But not enough wind?
This is why we should always have a back up or, alternatively, go begging to Russia or France (at extortionate prices) so that we can keep our heating on and our businesses operating.
Short of wind? Try putting a turbine outside Number 10 - Plenty of hot air generated there.
Still, it must be worth it - we are saving the planet?????

Solar panels are around 23% effective while wind turbines are around 40% effective. The problem is the maintenance costs. Wind power is far more expensive to run than solar panels, but even then the cost of maintaining solar power over the long term is very expensive to each householder. But coal is far more reliable. My guess is that Methane will become more commonly used once they figure out how to transport it.

[MICK/GILLY]

Don’t worry now cos the worlds gonna be alright
Cos the land has been here longer than the likes of you and I.

The likes of you and I, the levellers .

[The PNP]

Except for the fallout. By harnessing the tide, say near Liverpool. it would create a domino effect of damage all along our coastline and that of the Welsh Coastline. It would cost far more than it would save.

A domino effect - how so? The Mersey will still fill and empty with the tides as before, except that it will be happening via the barrage.

In any case, whether or not turbines were incorporated within them, dams/barrages will have to be constructed across all our estuaries at some point. This because towns and cities upstream of the barrages will need protection from rising sealevels. A barrage can then have its turbine inlets shut at times of high tides, to provide that protection. They also offer the potential to put a highway along the top, possibly generating tolls to offset operating costs.

[local]

The Conservatives yes the ones I am so often accused of being a loyal fan of have done a pathetic job of securing our energy.

[Toodles McGinty]

I might be cynical but it would help justify opening the new Cambo Oil and Gas field off Shetland and the new Cumbrian Coal pit.

Nail on the head.

[local]

Nail missed head you mean,

the coal mine would produce a form of coal that's used for steel production shipping it in from abroad is about as dumb as it gets environmentally.

The Gas field would produce gas for uk needs unless were all going to switch off our heating and electricity when the wind doesn't blow in winter.

Good luck with solar generation over these next 6 months.

[silver fox]

Experts at the International Energy Agency said in May that to limit warming to 1.5ºC, there must be no new oil, gas or coal developments. We have to keep fossil fuels in the ground. The Cambo oil field would be a needless environmental disaster.

There are only 2 coal fired power stations remaining in the U.K. and one of them is due to be decommissioned by 2024. The coal from the Cumbrian mine is earmarked for the steel industry with 85% of it to be exported.

It’s so easy to say leave fossil fuels in the ground, but the reality is we use and (like it or not) we need the gas, until there is a viable alternative, the coal is apparently of a type used for steel production, again a fuel we use and need, currently importing the stuff, if anything it’s more environmentally friendly using home produced fuels, than importing it.

Certainly we need alternatives, but they are simply not available nor reliable at the moment.