Is an renewable energy grid as unreliable as once thought? No it isn't

 Many peoples notions about renewable energy is that it is unreliable. We are taught this in schools and, and it would seem this way with solar not working at night and no wind on windless days producing no electricity. But it is not like that. It is true that solar doesn't work in the dark, but with battery systems the power is evened out. The UK has much of its energy offshore and there the wind blows nearly all the time and by spreading out the wind farms, if it is not windy in one place it is in another. The Renewable grid also uses some HEP in Scotland and some wave power which doesn't stop. As more and more renewable energy sources occupy more and more of the grid, the electricity supply is becoming even more reliable than it was under coal and gas.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Most chemicals detected in food packaging materials are not listed for use

Image
 What harmful substances are in food packaging? Most chemicals detected in food contact materials are not listed for use.  Food packaging is important for today’s globalized food system, but food contact materials (FCMs) can also be a source of hazardous chemicals migrating into foodstuffs. Assessing the impacts of FCMs on human health requires a comprehensive identification of the chemicals they contain, the food contact chemicals (FCCs). Researchers at  the University of Basel  systematically compiled a“database on migrating and extractable food contact chemicals” (FCCmigex) using information from 1210 studies. They found that to date 2881 FCCs have been detected, in a total of six FCM groups (Plastics, Paper & Board, Metal, Multi-materials, Glass & Ceramic, and Other FCMs). 65% of these detected FCCs were previously not known to be used in FCMs. Conversely, of the more than 12’000 FCCs known to be used, only 1013 are included in the FCCmigex database. Plas...
Read more

Racing for the future

Image
In this episode Philip and Paul look at SailGP and its Sustainability Impact League. As well as being Powered by Nature, the organisers have gone one stage further by introducing a Green aspect to the competition. There is an additional prize for the most green team. A second leader board, which runs alongside the Season Championship, has been created to monitor the performance of the teams in the Impact League, with each team's score at each SailGP event being added to the overall Impact League leader board.At the end of the season it is proposed that there will be two podiums, with the winner of the Impact League crowned alongside the Season Champion and earning funding for its purpose partner, who supports and advises them throughout the season and is visible on the team’s livery. SailGP's Impact League has been set some sustainability criteria - social and environmental - to operate against with each team awarded points based on its fulfilment of these criteria. The criteri...
Read more

Climate change has happened.

Image
  Philip and Paul discuss the IPCC 2022 Report on Climate Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Climate change has happened What does the report say? The warnings make for grim reading. 3.5 billion people are highly vulnerable to climate impacts and half the world’s population suffers severe water shortages at some point each year. One in three people are exposed to deadly heat stress, and this is projected to increase to 50% to 75% by the end of the century. Half a million more people are at risk of serious flooding every year, and a billion living on coasts will be exposed by 2050. Rising temperatures and rainfall are increasing the spread of diseases in people, such as dengue fever, and in crops, livestock and wildlife. Even if the world keeps heating below 1.6C by 2100 – and we are already at 1.1C – then 8% of today’s farmland will become climatically unsuitable, just after the global population has peaked above 9 billion. Severe stunting could affect 1 million children in ...
Read more