When the wind don't blow...

[klondike]

Well obviously we get a lot more tourists from France come over in their dinghies but apart from that we get to see just how beneficial our wind turbines are.

This grid watch has little dials that show how much power we are using and where it is coming from.
https://www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk/

The other day wind was running at close to 30%. As I look at it right now all those hectares of expensive wind turbines are producing just 0.86% and that is unlikely to change much for the next few days.

If we had 100 times as many they still wouldn't be keeping up with current demand.

[Michael Rolls]

can't say that I am surprised. Still, it gives the tree huggers a sense of satisfaction provided that nobody confuses them with the facts.

[klondike]

It has skyrocketed to 1.60% only a bit behind solar at 1.74% on this bright and sunny day I assume everybody apart from me is getting.

[Ashy]

According to the Met Office (I've never met one but still)
Vast swathes of Britain are engulfed in fog today. It's also one of the shortest days of the year. This is the second consecutive day with zero wind and zero sun, imagine the size of the battery we should need to power everything off windmills and parasols. We need proper power stations.

[JBR]

Well obviously we get a lot more tourists from France come over in their dinghies but apart from that we get to see just how beneficial our wind turbines are.

This grid watch has little dials that show how much power we are using and where it is coming from.
https://www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk/

The other day wind was running at close to 30%. As I look at it right now all those hectares of expensive wind turbines are producing just 0.86% and that is unlikely to change much for the next few days.

If we had 100 times as many they still wouldn't be keeping up with current demand.

Very interesting.

CCGT (gas) seems to produce the most, nuclear a half-decent amount, and quite a bit from other countries: Norway, Holland and even France.
On the other hand, a pitiful amount from wind and solar.

When will our leaders wake up.
All Boris talked about was windmills, fool that he is.

In the short term, we should be burning more coal and in addition opening more mines.  I think one producing site is in Cumbria, but we have coal reserves underground all over the place.

Can we now accept that we are responsible for a tiny fraction of atmospheric influence compared to China and others, before we all return to the Stone Age and burn anything we can find in our back gardens?

[Cassandra]

Very interesting.

CCGT (gas) seems to produce the most, nuclear a half-decent amount, and quite a bit from other countries: Norway, Holland and even France.
On the other hand, a pitiful amount from wind and solar.

When will our leaders wake up.
All Boris talked about was windmills, fool that he is.

In the short term, we should be burning more coal and in addition opening more mines.  I think one producing site is in Cumbria, but we have coal reserves underground all over the place.

Can we now accept that we are responsible for a tiny fraction of atmospheric influence compared to China and others, before we all return to the Stone Age and burn anything we can find in our back gardens?

Unsupported non-factual Ideology v Pragmatic reality, what that prize idiot Johnson specialises in. Lets hope he joins his father, a lifetime berk, tipping off this rubbish in the media for squillions, keeps out of politics for good and keeps his trousers up!

[Ashy]

Today, 22nd January 2025 is the first day I can ever remember seeing wind generated electricity at approximately zero*. It may actually be negative as the machines have to be kept warm. It's also a bit foggy this morning across the British Isles, so there is no solar generation either but the panels will get dirty; atomic energy is also much lower than it was a couple of years ago, now under 4GW and therefore way below our base load; to cap it all, it's cold, and at only the start of the working day, demand is about 42 GW which is quite high for the time of day.

[klondike]

Odd. I saw a forecast earlier in the week that predicted a huge low pressure area coming our way accompanied by gales. I wondered if they were all shut down because the wind was too high but no it just seems that the prediction was way out. They need a new bit of seaweed.

[Ashy]

Worth having a look at the pressure charts. We have an area of low pressure but not much air wants to rush in and fill it at present. There's very little wind across western Europe. Check out Greece and Italy!

[klondike]

I think it was likely the second low right over to the left of that chart. They said something about it being whipped up by the jetstream above it. It might still come. If it does from the look of those isobars we'll be getting gales somewhere and they'll probably have to shut some turbines down.

[Mups]

There are weather warnings for this Friday and Saturday. 
They have said maybe 80-90 mph gusts over parts of the UK.

I believe America has got it at the mo,  with snow as well.
Storm Eowyn its called.

Quote: 

What should I expect?

• Some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs, could happen
• Power cuts are likely to occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage
• Road, rail, air and ferry services are likely to be affected, with longer journey times and cancellations possible. Some roads and bridges may close.
• Injuries and danger to life could occur from flying debris, as well as large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties

[Ashy]

We'll just go round the wind turbines and check the brake linings.

[dextrous63]

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[Ashy]

Weather systems being what they are, we now expect to see the wind change direction and drop over the next 24 hours. That's the one big thing that the politicians have not, in my opinion, understood, that wind and sun do not respond to demand for electricity. Today for example, it's cold in the British Isles, demand is high at 42GW. Solar is having a good day but the sun only shies effectively for about five hours out of the 24. As the sun sets and the wind drops, we reach peak demand. 

[klondike]

Don't tell Red Ed