Wind Energy: to the nearest whole number - Josh 156

I thought a handy illustration of a few facts about Wind Turbines and Wind Energy might be helpful.
(Higher res version for printing here)

Especially as there has been a bit of a Twitter storm over Matt Ridley's superb piece in The Spectator on Wind Energy, see at his blog here.  

Mark Lynas claimed that the article had no facts in it. Mark then asked for references, which Matt duly provided (all in the blog article). Mark either didn't like the references or is still busy reading them. We are still waiting for an apology from Mark for his completely unfounded Tweet.

Could be any time soon...

Cartoons by Josh

Comments

[mydogsgotnonose]

Last year the CEO of the NGC warned that after 2020, domestic customers should pan their own generation capacity.

The EU wants the vulnerable to die in their millions to save the planet.

[David]

mydogsgotnonose...

Yep -bought a 3.6kw generator last year from that strangest of all supermarkets - Aldi - and when the fertiliser starts hitting the fan (or windmill - ha!) then I shall have a changeover switch installed and power up the genny....

On the windturbines-kill-bats thing - how on earth could they have ben made 'exempt' from the fine/prison/confiscation situation under the law..? Can someone explain..?

[Don Pablo de la Sierra]

David

You missed the "Green is Good" exemption that applies to all environmental laws. IF something is "Good for Green" -- in the eyes of the Greens -- then it is exempt.

My favorite is mercury. Good forbid that you have a mercury thermostat because it could be damaged in a Richter 7.5 earthquake and spill into the environment. Yet you MUST buy CFL light bulbs and even though each and every one has a drop of mercury inside, they are exempt.

So what if a few thousand eagles, owls and other large birds are killed -- wind turbines are good. Or at least that is the Green Mantra.

[James P]

"Solar delivers the most energy right when it’s needed" (Lynas)

Well, maybe in Arizona, although I expect they still need some at night.

Don Pablo

I think dentists have an exemption as well. Mercury in people's mouths - no problem (allegedly).

[David]

As I write, wind is providing 0.4% of UK electricity demand - or 4.5% of installed capacity, whatever that represents in terms of £billions/kw....

[Radiant Barrier]

This is excellent news...

[Breath of Fresh Air]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/9143028/Heritage-in-danger-from-wind-farms-warns-National-Trust.html

More madness

[Ellis]

Very good article, renewable energy are very important, wind and solar energy are the future.
Thanks