Another 1 GWh wind farm taking our current supply up enough for 3 200 000 homes to be built in forest near Dumfries. 100% renewable energy by 2030? More like 1 000%.

johnrobertson834

Harestanes_410x250

(c) scottishpowerrenewables.com

We have roughly 2 500 000 homes in Scotland and already have enough wind and tidal capacity to meet the demand for 3 200 000* homes after the installation of a new 1 Gwh wind-farm in a national forest near Dumfries with the capacity for 500 000 homes. According a to fully-sourced Wikipedia account, Scotland has:

  • existing installed capacity of 1.3 Gwh of hydro-electric schemes
  • an estimated potential of 36.5 Gwh of wind
  • 25% of the estimated total wind power capacity in Europe
  • An estimated potential of 7.5 Gwh of tidal power
  • 14 GWh of wave power potential, 10% of EU capacity
  • Total renewable electricity generating capacity may be 60 Gwh or more

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy_in_Scotland

So, with a potential to generate 60 GWh what is our domestic demand? In 2015 it was only 6 Gwh!

http://euanmearns.com/scotland-gagging-on-wind-power/

https://www.energyvoice.com/otherenergy/157290/1gw-wind-energy-installed-scotlands-national-forest/

*This, of course, depends on wind energy collected but we have already had one complete month (October) with 189% and another (May) with 95% prior to the completion of the three massive offshore fields – Neart Na Gaoithe, Inch Cape and Seagreen in the Outer Firths of Tay and Forth.

The Scottish government target of 100% by 2030 is fast looking pretty timid as we surge toward 100% by 2020 and, perhaps, 1 000% by 2030.

13 thoughts on “Another 1 GWh wind farm taking our current supply up enough for 3 200 000 homes to be built in forest near Dumfries. 100% renewable energy by 2030? More like 1 000%.”

  1. Marlene Halliday November 25, 2017 / 6:37 pm

    Been trying to calculate the value of that 60GWh. Wholesale price of electricity is about £42 per MWh. So 42x1000x60 = approx £2.5million. That doesn’t seem nearly enough. Have I missed something out?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • macgilleleabhar November 25, 2017 / 7:49 pm

      Not bad for an hour’s production Marlene ?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
    • Alasdair Macdonald November 26, 2017 / 12:04 pm

      Do you think that BBC Scotland and the Tories could spin this as ‘ANOTHER TARGET MISSED!’?

      “Scottish Government plans to have 100% of Scottish energy generated by renewable energy by 2030, lie in ruins when it was revealed that this target won’t be achieved until 2020 – 10 YEARS SHORT OF THE TARGET!!”

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  4. broadbield November 25, 2017 / 9:20 pm

    Yeah, but what are we going to do with that extra 54 GWh, Prof? I know, we could put a whole lot of immersion heaters in the sea, warm it up so it’s like the Med and the tourists would flood in!!

    Or we could do like you’ve said before and develop the hydrogen economy.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • johnrobertson834 November 26, 2017 / 12:28 pm

      Hmmm….I like the sound of warming the North Sea. Many years ago, took a dip on Aberdeen beach in April. Hailstone attack as I dried off.

      Like

      Reply
  5. William Henderson November 25, 2017 / 10:10 pm

    For a bit of perspective, the absolute peak generating demand of the whole of the UK is about 55GW at present. Today, which was quite cold, saw a maximum demand of around 40GW.

    There’s an interesting insight into electrical generation at:

    http://www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk/

    From that site it can be seen that during this afternoon wind power was supplying about 50% more energy than nuclear.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment