Fossil fuel energy will still be needed
TERRY Riordan (Letters, September 4) is right about one thing, which is that the UK’s electricity grid is a fascinating case study in renewable energy transition.
Indeed, and I wonder if he realises that the more wind and solar farms, the more pylon routes, which will expose the Grid to more terrestrial storm damage.
The Carrington Event of 1859 exposed telegraph workers to electric shocks, and if we have a repeat of such a storm it will be devastating for the Grid and our electricity-dependent technological society.
Additionally, and on a lesser scale, where will the electricity will come from on a cold, windless winter night, recognising UK peak demand is of the order of 47GW? I assume Terry recognises the magnitude of a GW?
To put wind generation into context, this would require something like 24,000 2MW wind generators all working at maximum output.
Reality has shown that on-shore wind generators have an efficiency of 23% and therefore the actual number of wind generators necessary would be an astounding 102,173. Reality also shows the average daily UK wind generation for 2023 was 7.192 GW and the minimum was 0.071 GW. (These figures can be verified from graphs at www.gridwatch.co.uk).
Regarding terrestrial solar generation, I have roof-fitted solar panels with a total capacity of 4kW, and these generate on average 4,000kWh per year.
Obviously, when the roof panels are not generating any power, such as during sunless days and at night, I can (thankfully) fall back on the fossil fuel electricity network.
Therefore you do not have to be an electrical engineering genius to realise that large-scale weatherdependent generation is a fantasy and will never offer energy security. Fossil fuel generation such as the modern and efficient gas-fired power station of the CCGT variety should dominate until realistic environmentally acceptable generation is available.
Readers should also recognise the challenges relating to the very significant increase in power demand for electrical vehicles and the imposition of domestic heat pump systems – this would mean doubling the current generation, at the very least.
Dave Haskell Oswestry, Shropshire