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Published Date: 06 July 2009
THE plans for renewables to displace a very high proportion of fossil fuels are frightening and may condemn Scotland to a new dark age.
A cursory glance at any utility bill will show that a kWh of electrical power is about four times the price of kWh of gas. As renewables are often over twice the price of other forms of electricity generation, Scottish Government plans could see power bills increase by a factor of ten by 2020. Unfortunately, the high cost of renewables is not compensated by any practical advantages. Gas, oil and coal can all be stored in large quantities to cope with peaks in demand. Large-scale electricity storage has been a pipe dream for 100 years.

PAUL SPARE

Davenham

Cheshire





The full article contains 128 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 05 July 2009 9:05 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

nabodican,

Newton Stewart 06/07/2009 07:54:37
True.
2

gus1940,

Edinburgh 06/07/2009 10:02:53
Not having had Gas for over 20 years my recollection is that gas was billed by the cubic foot or by therm.

Is it now the case that it is billed by the kw/hr. If so what is the definition of a kw/hr of gas given that as far as I am aware gas meters measure the volume of gas passing through them.
3

fred bloggs,

Edinburgh 06/07/2009 16:31:36
Actually, electricity is around twice not four times the price of gas in kWh ignoring the slightly lower efficiency of gas boilers compared to electric heaters.

And wind power, whose cost will remain unchanged as the costs of the non-renewables soar, is now competitive.

Storage of wind energy is already performed with pumped storage hydro and soon vehicle to grid will assist when enough folk switch to battery cars, vans and trucks.
4

nabodican,

Newton Stewart 06/07/2009 17:44:45
Fred is at it again
Wind is not competitive , it only survives because of the head start it is given in that the grid is forced to take it and the huge subsidies it gets in the form of ROCS.
Wind energy is not stored by pumped hydro, pumped hydro was in being long before wind became flavour of the month. In fact it will be whatever electricity is availlable in the grid at the time and also nearest to the hydro.
You really show your ignorance of electricity if you believe that powering cars, vans and trucks will ever be viable for anything other than milk floats and the like.
5

fred bloggs,

Edinburgh 06/07/2009 19:41:11
Nabodican: your ignorance is astounding,

Electric vehicles are already on the road:

Sports car with 300 mile range and 0 - 60mph in 6 secs:

http://www.teslamotors.com/

Electric vans and trucks, manufactured in the UK:

http://www.smithelectricvehicles.com/
6

fred bloggs,

Edinburgh 06/07/2009 19:57:18
To further illustrate nabodican's astounding ignorance:

At the opening of Glendoe hydro pumped storage last month Ian Marchant, SSE Chief Executive said:

"It means that together with the hydro we already have in Scotland we could comfortably supply the households in Scotland, but not industry as well. Pump storage makes sense because it fits in with wind farm development. Effectively you pump either when demand is very low overnight or when it is windy, then you generate when demand is high or when there is no wind."

7

fred bear,

06/07/2009 21:12:47
#6
I know I'm breaking my own rule in attempting intelligent discourse with you, but do you ever stop cutting and pasting and actually think? When do you pump during a winter anticyclone when there has been no wind, and demand determined by sub zero temperatures, for many days on end?

 

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