Those of us in Texas remember the storm in February, 2021, that left large numbers of homes without power due to the windmills freezing up. In August of 2023 Texas Monthly reported on the vast numbers of windmill blades piling up in Sweetwater. https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/sweetwater-wind-turbine-blades-dump/
There does not seem to be a way to recycle them, and government tax regulations cause wind farm operators to scrap them early for tax credit. As recently as last summer we were warned that rolling blackouts might be required at night when the wind died down. Although wind and solar power are treated as a technological solution, it's clear that there are many factors that have not been considered. The UK government has made so many "green" commitments without considering the consequences that it is seriously harming the populace.
Renewable energy is an admirable goal, but like many things mandated by government, the route between conception and implementation is generally lacking. We found this out in Texas a few years ago when our power grid was sorely lacking during an unexpected ice storm. Our grid was relying on solar and wind too heavily, and maintenance on the existing infrastructure was neglected (why update it when you’re trying to eliminate it?). The result was hundreds of thousands of citizens were left with no power & no heat. In my mostly rural area, 76 hours without services meant no water, no toilets, no electricity, no grocery stores, no gas, etc. The public outcry was immense after the fact, there were people who lost their lives and many, in my area, had major damage to pipes, well heads and livestock. We learned from this experience, and are now more prepared, both from a personal standpoint & from a grid standpoint. It’s a tough way to learn a lesson but hopefully, Ireland will see the light.
Heat pumps are beautiful technology. They just use simple physics to transfer heat from one place to another. The technology dates back to 1748 when William Cullen demonstrated it first.
There are three main problems:
Firstly, our electrical generation and transmission systems are completely outdated and poorly maintained.
The second problem is that the push for renewable energy has been subverted by the profiteers who have just sucked all the money out of the system without any real accountability or providing the goods.
The third problem is that the currently available renewable technologies are geared towards intermittent production when we need constant supplies to meet the current needs. Additionally, the environmental impact that they have which is worse in some ways over what they are supposed to replace. Wind and solar are great, as long as you only need them when they are available. To use them effectively, you need storage which is far behind in its availability and capacity.
Hydro power is great except for the limited lifetime of the facility because the reservoirs fill up with sediment, the distance from the production of the power to the use points, and the dependence on current weather patterns. It has its own environmental impacts as well.
The only viable alternative to fossil fuels we have at present to meet our current needs, let alone our future needs, is nuclear power.
We had sailed seven years when the measles broke out
And the ship lost its way in the fog
And the whale of a crew was reduced down to two
Just meself and the Captain's old dog
Then the ship struck a rock, oh Lord! What a shock
Tumbled and turned right over
Turned nine times around and the poor old dog was drowned
The last of The Irish Rover
Just ask Nikola Tesla about energy, but be careful ! The Rothschilds/ Morgan's etc... just may hunt you down. Some say conspiracy theory, some not.
The push away from fossil fuels will speed up the return to burning peat and coal in these island nations.
Those of us in Texas remember the storm in February, 2021, that left large numbers of homes without power due to the windmills freezing up. In August of 2023 Texas Monthly reported on the vast numbers of windmill blades piling up in Sweetwater. https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/sweetwater-wind-turbine-blades-dump/
There does not seem to be a way to recycle them, and government tax regulations cause wind farm operators to scrap them early for tax credit. As recently as last summer we were warned that rolling blackouts might be required at night when the wind died down. Although wind and solar power are treated as a technological solution, it's clear that there are many factors that have not been considered. The UK government has made so many "green" commitments without considering the consequences that it is seriously harming the populace.
Renewable energy is an admirable goal, but like many things mandated by government, the route between conception and implementation is generally lacking. We found this out in Texas a few years ago when our power grid was sorely lacking during an unexpected ice storm. Our grid was relying on solar and wind too heavily, and maintenance on the existing infrastructure was neglected (why update it when you’re trying to eliminate it?). The result was hundreds of thousands of citizens were left with no power & no heat. In my mostly rural area, 76 hours without services meant no water, no toilets, no electricity, no grocery stores, no gas, etc. The public outcry was immense after the fact, there were people who lost their lives and many, in my area, had major damage to pipes, well heads and livestock. We learned from this experience, and are now more prepared, both from a personal standpoint & from a grid standpoint. It’s a tough way to learn a lesson but hopefully, Ireland will see the light.
Heat pumps are beautiful technology. They just use simple physics to transfer heat from one place to another. The technology dates back to 1748 when William Cullen demonstrated it first.
There are three main problems:
Firstly, our electrical generation and transmission systems are completely outdated and poorly maintained.
The second problem is that the push for renewable energy has been subverted by the profiteers who have just sucked all the money out of the system without any real accountability or providing the goods.
The third problem is that the currently available renewable technologies are geared towards intermittent production when we need constant supplies to meet the current needs. Additionally, the environmental impact that they have which is worse in some ways over what they are supposed to replace. Wind and solar are great, as long as you only need them when they are available. To use them effectively, you need storage which is far behind in its availability and capacity.
Hydro power is great except for the limited lifetime of the facility because the reservoirs fill up with sediment, the distance from the production of the power to the use points, and the dependence on current weather patterns. It has its own environmental impacts as well.
The only viable alternative to fossil fuels we have at present to meet our current needs, let alone our future needs, is nuclear power.
You nailed it!