Wind Power, why bother?

Where does our Energy come from? Non Renewable sources Non Renewable sources Coal Coal Oil Oil Gas Gas Nuclear Nuclear Renewable Sources Renewable Sources Solar Solar Wind Wind Tidal Tidal Hydro electric (HEP) Hydro electric (HEP) Geothermal Geothermal

Fuels used in electricity generation in 2006

Offshore Wind Sites In December sites (at 13 locations) were approved In December sites (at 13 locations) were approved As of July 2006 he following offshore wind farms have been built : North Hoyle, Kentish Flats, and Scroby Sands As of July 2006 he following offshore wind farms have been built : North Hoyle, Kentish Flats, and Scroby Sands Beatrice, Inner Dowsing Lynn Rhyl Flats Solway Firth/Robin Rigg A and B are currently under construction Beatrice, Inner Dowsing Lynn Rhyl Flats Solway Firth/Robin Rigg A and B are currently under construction A further 8 proposed sites have received approval since 2006 A further 8 proposed sites have received approval since 2006

Kentish Flats Operational since: September 2005 Operational since: September 2005 Grid reference: TR Grid reference: TR Local Authority: Kent CC / Canterbury CC Local Authority: Kent CC / Canterbury CC Technology type: 30× 3MW wind turbines Technology type: 30× 3MW wind turbines Manufacturer / Installer: Vestas / Elsam A/S Manufacturer / Installer: Vestas / Elsam A/S Annual energy output: Electric: 280,000 MWh/year Annual energy output: Electric: 280,000 MWh/year Supplying energy to: Electric: Regional grid Supplying energy to: Electric: Regional grid Greenhouse gas emissions displaced: 120,400 tonnes CO2/year Greenhouse gas emissions displaced: 120,400 tonnes CO2/year Number of homes supplied 62,200. Number of homes supplied 62,200.

Pros and Cons Clean Clean Renewable Renewable Cheap Cheap Reduced emissions Reduced emissions No noise pollution No noise pollution Little visual pollution Little visual pollution low output low output Harder to maintain Harder to maintain More Susceptible to extreme weather systems More Susceptible to extreme weather systems

Comparison to Non Renewable Sources Coal power, Kings North power station has a capacity of 1940MWe. Coal power, Kings North power station has a capacity of 1940MWe. Nuclear power, Dungeness power station had a capacity of 225MWe but was decommissioned in Nuclear power, Dungeness power station had a capacity of 225MWe but was decommissioned in Kentish flats 30x3 MW capacity turbines total Capacity 90MWe Kentish flats 30x3 MW capacity turbines total Capacity 90MWe

So what does all this mean? From a eco friendly point of view wind power seems to be adequate in most aspects but one stands out the most, Output From a eco friendly point of view wind power seems to be adequate in most aspects but one stands out the most, Output Wind power CANNOT hope to match the output of conventional power sources Wind power CANNOT hope to match the output of conventional power sources

So why bother? Wind power alone cannot match non renewable energy sources, and therefore cannot replace it. Wind power alone cannot match non renewable energy sources, and therefore cannot replace it. It can however alleviate demand on non renewable sources by reducing the need from areas like the Kentish Flats wind farm It can however alleviate demand on non renewable sources by reducing the need from areas like the Kentish Flats wind farm

HOW? Small and large scale farms can provide partial support for an area. Small and large scale farms can provide partial support for an area. This lowers the demand from the national grids non renewable sources This lowers the demand from the national grids non renewable sources This reduces the output the non renewable stations need to maintain This reduces the output the non renewable stations need to maintain Which lead s to lower fuel consumption and emissions Which lead s to lower fuel consumption and emissions

The future As you can see wind power does provide a good source of clean renewable energy, and as larger projects (The London Array and Thames estuary for example) are approved and developed they will further decrease our dependency on non renewable sources, but still it will not be enough to replace these sources entirely.

Conclusion Wind power cannot replace conventional power sources on its own Wind power cannot replace conventional power sources on its own If used in conjunction with other clean renewable sources it will help to effect positive climate change or at least reduce negative climate change. If used in conjunction with other clean renewable sources it will help to effect positive climate change or at least reduce negative climate change. Ultimately wind power REDUCES OUR DEPENDENCY on non renewable energy Ultimately wind power REDUCES OUR DEPENDENCY on non renewable energy

References stats.org/pdf/kent/KT04%20Kentish%20flats%20offshore%20wind %20farm.pdf stats.org/pdf/kent/KT04%20Kentish%20flats%20offshore%20wind %20farm.pdf stats.org/pdf/kent/KT04%20Kentish%20flats%20offshore%20wind %20farm.pdf stats.org/pdf/kent/KT04%20Kentish%20flats%20offshore%20wind %20farm.pdf