If Only....

 

Graph From GridWatch

If only yesterday's energy output could (in Most Part) repeated. Wind was producing the bulk of our electricity. The eco-loons would be very proud. 

But unfortunately this is not reflected every day. As I've shown, there are times when the wind doesn't blow and it's bitterly cold. In winter, solar is next to insignificant.

Interesting that even as the wind was blowing, the European interconnectors were supplying a big chunk of electricity to us. In the evening the alsort-coloured block at the top of the graph supplying almost 20% of our electricity.

Again, I can only surmise that the UK market pays well for French Nuclear and German coal-fired electricity. Enough so that they can supply some of their precious energy to us. I doubt very much if it is gas-fired electricity they are supplying to us, given the privations being enforced across Europe to reduce electricity consumption. 

The Swiss being the most recent. Considering plans to restrict private use of electric cars to essential journeys only if the energy crisis worsens. 

Switzerland. A bastion of freedom and democracy. A land of lakes and mountains. You'd think they'd be be abundant in hydro power rather than relying on external energy resources.

So, given it's so bad in Europe all of these things are being considered, why are they supplying so much electricity to us? I'm sure the Swiss wouldn't be best pleased, nor the Germans or the French. After all, there have been many requests from European politicians to reduce energy consumption, from having cold showers, to switching the lights off on public buildings and monuments early.

The EU is already talking about mandatory targets for energy reductions at peak times across Europe. Citizens have already been asked to not use appliances between 4pm and 7pm in order to reduce peak load. I assume so that greener options like nuclear can produce the bulk of the power and gas turbine power plants don't have to be brought in to fill in the peak demand.

Over the past month, watching the Gridwatch graphs has been interesting. From the windless cold snap, to yesterday's high wind/low solar/high interconnector graph.

It just shows how messed up energy supply in the UK is. Renewables aren't the solution, not until the energy produced by renewable sources can be stored efficiently.

We really need to get a grip on tidal power. It's a regular, reliable, and free source of power. We have some of the fastest tidal races in Europe. Harness that and channel all the renewable production into storage and then you'd go a long way to reduce fossil fuel production. The capacity still needs to be there, because there will be periods where we can be without wind for weeks. But then tidal power could produce a lot of power and channelled into storage it could be a reliable source of energy.