Emeritus Prof Christopher May1d ago

The madness of the UK's energy system is summed up in the £55m paid to wind farm operators in the last couple of months to cease generation (temporarily) because the energy interconnection (distribution) system was unable to handle the electricity transfer from generation to use; at the same time £217m was paid (mainly to gas-based generators) to make up the shortfall in renewable energy the congested network caused.

The network build-out needs to be accelerated!

#energy
h/t Observer

Show threadEarth Notes1d ago

@ChrisMayLA6 Transmission rather than distribution in the main, I think.

This shows it very nicely in real time with the "Curtailment Filter" on:

https://renewables-map.robinhawkes.com/

GB Renewables Map

Live map showing realtime renewable energy generation in Great Britain

Show threadHavoc BSc MSc 💚1d ago
@EarthOrgUK @ChrisMayLA6 many Scottish wind farms in curtailment, due to the lack of infrastructure to get the energy south I presume. And yet, there are proposals to build a nuclear plant in... Scotland 🙄
Show threadGabriel Pettier1d ago
@Havoc_online @EarthOrgUK @ChrisMayLA6 i wish we knew how to build a nuclear power plant overnight, but 10 years is probably optimistic, so there is plenty of time to upgrade the network.
Show threadMud Road1d ago
@tshirtman @Havoc_online @EarthOrgUK @ChrisMayLA6 Don't nuclear power plants need transmission lines?
Show threadGabriel Pettier1d ago
@fredb @Havoc_online @EarthOrgUK @ChrisMayLA6 yes, but the plant won't be up before a long time, if you have plans for one, you have plans for the lines too.
Show threadMud Road1d ago
@tshirtman @Havoc_online @EarthOrgUK @ChrisMayLA6 Yes, so NIMBY folks don't actually have a problem with transmissions lines.
Show threadGabriel Pettier21h ago
@fredb @Havoc_online @EarthOrgUK @ChrisMayLA6 oh, i'm pro solar and pro wind just as much as i'm pro nuclear, maybe even more at this point, given the delivery time and economics, i wasn't defending NIMBism.
Show threadMud Road
@tshirtman @Havoc_online @EarthOrgUK @ChrisMayLA6 Sorry, didn't think you were really. At this point, a lot of nuclear proposals are just a way to keep fossil fuels in play longer as far as I can work out.
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