Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: UK National Grid

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Long Eaton
    Posts
    5,429
    Thanks (Given)
    793
    Thanks (Received)
    5721
    Likes (Given)
    15496
    Likes (Received)
    17505

    Default UK National Grid

    During the summer the Greens mad a big issue that the UK had gone 55 days without a coal fired power station supplying electricity. This was the future, get rid of old smelly coal, the future is wind power.
    A local photographer, posted an image of Ratcliffe Power station, showing the vapour from the cooling towers being penetrated by sunlight, I thought it was an old picture as the station although operational has reported to not have supplied power to the grid or many months.
    The picture was recent and on checking the grid status, the following is listed as supplying electricity:-
    Wind 0.81GW
    Solar 0.8 GW
    CCGT 20.4GW
    Nuclear 6.05 GW
    Coal 0.5GW
    Just under 4GW is imported from Franc and Holland
    So much for green energy, need to buy a stock of candles and pariffin.
    regards
    Vic

  2. Thanks Doc Vernon thanked for this post
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Sunbury Victoria Australia
    Posts
    24,991
    Thanks (Given)
    8300
    Thanks (Received)
    10126
    Likes (Given)
    106523
    Likes (Received)
    45652

    Default Re: UK National Grid

    WE have similar problem here in Oz.
    The Greens think we should all sit under a Coconut tree weaving grass skirts.

    Fact is both solar and wind are totally reliant on weather conditions, nothing that relies on such can be succsesfull, ask the old sailing ships often stuck for lack of wind.

    In the mast developed countries, Singapore, Sweden and a few others they burn household rubbish to run power stations.
    If the Greens were as smart as they claim they would realize this is two fold.
    Most such rubbish is buried in land fills where it creates Methane as it decomposes, so burning is a far better option.

    But without coal at present steel cannot be manufactured from Iron ore.

    Without steel then you cannot make wind turbines or solar panels.

    But the greens are very wise they claim, went to a high school up on a hill.
    Happy daze John in Oz.

    Life is too short to blend in.

    John Strange R737787
    World Traveller

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Long Eaton
    Posts
    5,429
    Thanks (Given)
    793
    Thanks (Received)
    5721
    Likes (Given)
    15496
    Likes (Received)
    17505

    Default Re: UK National Grid

    Every time plans for an incinerator plant are unveiled here the Greens are up in arms and the plans are eventually cancelled.
    Greens have no credible plans on how to generate power.
    Vic

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Torquay
    Posts
    11,467
    Thanks (Given)
    3440
    Thanks (Received)
    7758
    Likes (Given)
    11953
    Likes (Received)
    34924

    Default Re: UK National Grid

    Quote Originally Posted by Victoria Moss View Post
    Wind and Hydro down here John 100% renewable now, even export our excess to you guys up there.
    Alas they are not carbon free, as all the components, foundations, etc required manufacturing processes and will continue to do so, no such thing as carbon free power. Decisions are being made by people who are not on top of their brief, or if they are are ignoring the true facts for political gain and a moment of misguided glory. In the UK we have had at least three ministers of transport who could not drive, never owned a car and thought that every part of the country, especially in the countryside enjoyed the same transport infrastructure as London. Electric cars may all be very well as a political solution to satisfy a vociferous minority; a motoring organisation just completed a 130 mile journey in an all electric car, it took them 9 hours! Hate to think what time my 400 mile journey to Whitby would take, currently takes 6 -7 hours (with 2 stops) on one tank of fuel, train takes 14 hours with all the changes, and coach takes 14 -16 hours with all the 'comfort' stops and driver changes. Not everyone has the facility of a private charging point, and flat dwellers with no grounds or car parking are going to need bleddy long extension leads. It is currently illegal to run a power cable from your residence across a public pavement for any reason, unless suitably guarded, so the pavements will become an obstacle course for the blind and elderly, lawyers are going to have a field day, and you can bet your bottom dollar insurance companies will not want to know you.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Sunbury Victoria Australia
    Posts
    24,991
    Thanks (Given)
    8300
    Thanks (Received)
    10126
    Likes (Given)
    106523
    Likes (Received)
    45652

    Default Re: UK National Grid

    That is the problem Ivan that none of 'those' will agree to.
    I am of the opinion they consider us all to be incapable of finding all this out.
    there is no such thing as a free lunch and every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

    Dig up the iron ore, turn it into steel, same with copper, takes a lot of energy with little real reward.
    Happy daze John in Oz.

    Life is too short to blend in.

    John Strange R737787
    World Traveller

  7. Thanks Doc Vernon thanked for this post
    Likes Ivan Cloherty liked this post
  8. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Varsity Lakes, Gold Coast Qld
    Posts
    707
    Thanks (Given)
    583
    Thanks (Received)
    435
    Likes (Given)
    802
    Likes (Received)
    2226

    Default Re: UK National Grid

    Very few greens or their supporters know that here are 2 types of coal, thermal and coking. Thermal used for power (and fires when I was young) and coking used in nearly all metals. Australia mines and exports far more coking coal than thermal
    Loading at an east coast terminal in oz, started loading and I could hear the first coal loading came rattling down the shute. That told me it was thermal coal not the ccoking we should be loading. Then the note changed and got the familiar slump of sfine soft coal landing. Queried the shipping officers who all denied that it could be possible as system always cleared after every loading. Talking to a shiploader later and found out that a blue had been made and covered up, thinking 100 ton of thermal would never be noticed in 100,000 tonnes of coking.

  9. Thanks Doc Vernon thanked for this post
  10. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Sunbury Victoria Australia
    Posts
    24,991
    Thanks (Given)
    8300
    Thanks (Received)
    10126
    Likes (Given)
    106523
    Likes (Received)
    45652

    Default Re: UK National Grid

    Colin, the problem is the 'Greens' only see things one way, theirs and no one else.

    Until some other form is developed there is no way to produce steel from iron ore except by using coking coal.
    But there is still a use for thermal coal in many parts of the globe, despite what they may say China in the northern parts of the country are still using coal fired power stations.
    Happy daze John in Oz.

    Life is too short to blend in.

    John Strange R737787
    World Traveller

  11. Thanks Doc Vernon thanked for this post
    Likes vic mcclymont liked this post

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •