| Everyone is talking about global warming and | | | | wind farm is less predictable, makingthe balance |
| climate change, butfew people seem to realise | | | | more difficult. If wind accounts for 3% or 4% |
| that Britain faces an energy crisisin just a few | | | | ofcapacity as at present, fluctuations can be |
| years. Why? First, we have changed | | | | absorbed by usingother generators. Much more |
| fromself-sufficiency in energy to a net energy | | | | than 10% and the whole grid will behopelessly |
| importer in ageneration. We import 60% of our | | | | unstable. |
| coal, 10% of our gas and afteryears of plenty we | | | | All this assumes the project will be built, but there |
| are starting to import oil again. We use moregas | | | | is muchlocal opposition. They object to the 234 |
| than anything else - for generating electricity, for | | | | turbines, 140m highwith rotors describing a 100m |
| cookingand heating our homes, for powering | | | | diameter. They object to the 35mile run of 141 |
| industry - and by 2010 80%of gas will come from | | | | pylons, each of which will be 27m high. |
| abroad. | | | | Theyobject to the 104 miles of new road, the |
| In October 2006 a new pipeline from Norway | | | | nine substations andthe control building. Once the |
| was commissioned; bigenough to supply 20% of | | | | power is brought ashore, thereare objections to |
| the UK's requirements. Other importscome from | | | | the 50-mile pylon route through the Highlands. |
| Algeria in tankers, or by pipeline from the | | | | If the objections are overcome it will probably be |
| Netherlands, Germany or Russia. Russia has the | | | | ten yearsbefore we can reasonably expect the |
| biggest reservesof gas in Europe, and by 2020 it | | | | electricity to flow from the |
| will be the principal supplierto the UK and other EU | | | | Lewis Wind Farm. Supply shortages are predicted |
| countries. In January 2006 Russia was indispute | | | | as little as 3years from now. |
| with Ukraine and cut off its gas. In fact, the | | | | A windmill on your roof |
| pipelinesto Hungary and the Czech Republic go | | | | Why not put a windmill on your roof at home? |
| through Ukraine, so Ukrainesolved the problem by | | | | You can generateyour own electricity and if you |
| cutting off those countries and keepingtheir gas | | | | have a surplus you can sell itback to the grid. You |
| for itself. Britain is at the far end of the | | | | even get a grant from the government. |
| pipeline,and any problems in between us and | | | | Unfortunately there are problems and a domestic |
| Russia could cut off our gas. | | | | turbine is veryunlikely to save you money or |
| Britain's power stations are aging and nearly all will | | | | produce a worthwhile amount ofelectricity. |
| need tobe replaced by 2020. At the moment the | | | | There are several domestic turbines available |
| generators seem to bedragging their feet until | | | | from £1500installed and rated to save you |
| they see a clear government policy onenergy | | | | about 30% of your electricitybill. For a typical |
| pricing, carbon taxes and carbon trading. In the | | | | home that is £300 per year, so the unit |
| meantime they work on extending the life of | | | | paysfor itself in 5 years and after that it's all |
| existing plant and hopethat it does not get less | | | | profit. In fact,most turbines produce their rated |
| reliable as it gets older. | | | | output at wind speeds ofaround 12 metres per |
| What's the alternative? What about wind? | | | | second, but if you go to the DTI's windspeed |
| There is a plan to build the biggest wind-farm in | | | | database, which is searchable by postcode, you |
| Europe on theisland of Lewis in the Outer | | | | will findthat the average speed for most of the |
| Hebrides. Lewis Wind Power hasapplied to install | | | | British Isles is littlemore than half that. A turbine |
| 234 turbines, which will provide 702 MW,about the | | | | running at half speed produces alot less than half |
| same as a small power station. By comparison, | | | | its rated output. |
| the | | | | Siting is another problem. Manufacturers |
| Sizewell B nuclear station produces 1,188MW and | | | | recommend that aturbine should be installed in a |
| Drax, the UK'slargest coal-fired plant, produces | | | | clear, steady airflow, wellaway from buildings or |
| 4,000 MW. | | | | trees which cause gusting. In gustyconditions your |
| Wind power cannot produce a constant supply of | | | | turbine will not produce its full output and islikely to |
| energy at everyhour of the day. We can still be | | | | wear out more quickly. Your roof top, especially |
| sure that the wind will blow onaverage for a given | | | | intown, is not a good location! |
| number of days each year, and the amount | | | | If you are not at home to use your electricity it's |
| ofenergy that can be harvested is considerable. | | | | difficult tostore but you can sell it back to the |
| The wind is free,and it's not controlled by anyone | | | | grid. However, the pricepaid is about 5p/unit or |
| else. The Lewis wind farmcould produce about 1% | | | | less than half what you would pay tobuy it from |
| of the UK's electricity needs - when thewind | | | | your electricity supplier. Your payback time will |
| blows. | | | | beextended. |
| When it doesn't blow there needs to be other | | | | You will save more money, more electricity and |
| generating plantavailable to meet demand. | | | | more greenhouseemissions by upgrading insulation |
| Managing the grid - balancing demandand supply - | | | | and buying low-energy lightbulbs, than by installing |
| is a highly skilled task. Demand fluctuates | | | | a turbine on your roof. Wind power isnot a |
| butoutput from conventional power stations is | | | | solution to Britain's energy gap. Be prepared |
| relatively steady andpredictable. Output from a | | | | forblackouts! |