The Telegraph article referenced for this piece was written by:
Dr Capell Aris PhD who has spent his career in the electricity generation sector. He is a former Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology
As the United States sets its sights on a significant expansion of ... it would do well to examine the cautionary tale unfolding in Britain.
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With the UK already grappling with the consequences of an aggressive pursuit of green energy, American policymakers and citizens must carefully assess the feasibility and potential risks of such a rapid energy transition.
In this article, we explore the concerns that Britain’s experience should serve as an awful warning to Americans.
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The True Cost of Offshore Wind
“The UK already has 15,000 MW of offshore wind, more than 300 times as much as the USA: and our experience should be a major warning to Americans.”
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/06/11/green-energy-disaster-u...
The exorbitant costs associated with offshore wind power in the UK ...
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A UK pound = $1.26
Offshore wind farms, such as Hornsea Two and Moray East, were built at a capital cost of £2.77 billion and £2.75 billion per 1000 MW installed, respectively, which is more than FOUR times the cost of gas-burning Combined Cycle Gas Turbine power plants (CCGTs).
The maintenance expenses for offshore wind systems, never call them farms, are estimated as high as £200 million/y, per 1000 MW installed
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The intermittent nature of wind power presents a fundamental challenge
“Wind power is unpredictably intermittent and highly variable,”
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/06/11/green-energy-disaster-u...
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Unlike conventional generators, wind turbines cannot be relied upon to deliver energy on demand.
Furthermore, the capacity factor of wind farms in the UK has been far from optimal, operating at 33 percent in 2022 and a mere 29 percent in 2021.
These factors not only impact the reliability of the electricity supply but also increase the overall cost to consumers.
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Strain on the Grid
“As our electricity generating sites move further away from load centers, our grid transmission system has to be expanded and reinforced to connect the new wind systems.”
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/06/11/green-energy-disaster-u...
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The strain on the transmission grid system becomes significant, when wind turbines are located in remote or offshore locations.
The National Grid estimates, connecting these generators will cost £46 billion, or £1,533 per household, by 2030.
Additionally, wind power’s inability to provide grid inertia, coupled with the growing proportion of wind fed to the grid (on an annual basis), raises concerns about system instability and the increased risk of blackouts.
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Rising Costs for Consumers
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“A large fleet of quick-responding CCGTs, fueled, staffed, and kept in good working order, is required to counteract the ups and downs of wind and solar output, on a less than minute-by-minute basis, 24/7/365, year after year, plus fill in any deficiencies and absences, in case of: 1) less than 6 mph wind speed and too-high wind speed, and 2) snow and ice on solar panels, and night-time
That CCGT fleet and the operating services it provides, adds between $30/MWh and
$50/MWh (3 to 5 c/kWh) to the wholesale cost of wind.”
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/06/11/green-energy-disaster-u...
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These additional costs, combined with the high capital and maintenance expenses of offshore wind systems, significantly impact the price of electricity.
The overall cost to consumers for offshore wind ranges from £200/MWh to £220/MWh, (20 to 22 eurocent/kWh, much higher than the cost of CCGTs.
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Even if one wanted to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, to preserve petroleum as a resource for future generations, the energy transition is not the most prudent path.
Urgent attention should be given to the construction of new nuclear plants as a reliable, affordable, and practical means of achieving an energy mix, while ensuring secure energy supplies.
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The cautionary tale of Britain’s green energy disaster serves as a sobering reminder that an ambitious and rapid energy transition can have profound consequences.
The high costs, intermittency issues, strain on the grid, and limited storage capabilities associated with offshore wind power demand careful consideration.
Instead of rushing headlong into an untested energy landscape, policymakers must weigh the potential risks and costs against the desired benefits.
A balanced and pragmatic approach that embraces a mix of energy sources may prove to be a more reliable and cost-effective solution in the pursuit of a sane and reliable energy future.
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The world used a total of more than 175,000 TWh of primary energy, of which wind and solar were nearly invisible
Wind (orange) and solar (yellow) are minimal, on a worldwide basis, as shown by the graph
Dr Capell Aris PhD who has spent his career in the electricity generation sector. He is a former Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology
APPENDIX
BIDEN 30,000 MW OF OFFSHORE WIND BY 2030; AN EXPENSIVE FANTASY
https://www.windtaskforce.org/profiles/blogs/biden-30-000-mw-of-off...
HIGH COSTS OF WIND, SOLAR, AND BATTERY SYSTEMS IN NEW ENGLAND
https://www.windtaskforce.org/profiles/blogs/high-costs-of-wind-sol...
BATTERY SYSTEM CAPITAL COSTS, OPERATING COSTS, ENERGY LOSSES, AND AGING
https://www.windtaskforce.org/profiles/blogs/battery-system-capital...
DEEP-WATER FLOATING OFFSHORE WIND TURBINES IN MAINE
http://www.windtaskforce.org/profiles/blogs/deep-water-floating-off...
IRELAND FUEL AND CO2 REDUCTIONS DUE TO WIND ENERGY LESS THAN CLAIMED
https://www.windtaskforce.org/profiles/blogs/fuel-and-co2-reduction...
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