An Ill Wind?

I've recently come across an interesting report which provides some analysis of wind intermittency, volatility and average load factor. It's been produced for a pressure group seeking to protect wild land so has to be taken with something of a pinch of salt but it does purport to show that average load factors are lower than sometimes claimed, and that geographical smoothing of volatility doesn't always occur. I don't have the time to undertake a reanalysis to check on the conclusions - has anyone out there done anything like this? If nothing else it reinforces my belief that development of good storage technology is paramount if we are to increase the proportion of wind on the grid.

How Inconsiderate Is That?

Or that?

Grrrr!

Zero Carbon Homes - Watering Down but Common Sense

The announcement that the definition of a zero carbon home now excludes emissions from the likes of cooking appliances , entertainment systems etc. has enraged many but actually, there's a deal of pragmatism tucked in here. Was it ever realistic to expect builders and developers to second guess home-owners' behaviour. I think not. Of course, this does now put the pressure back on educators, opinion formers, appliance manufacturers etc. but so be it.

King Report - A Useful Angle

The recent report from David King is a very timely call to arms to consider the totality of the UK's potential nuclear future. There is widespread agreement on the need to decarbonise the country's electricity supply and although there are many voices that would not agree with me (see the quotes from Doug Parr in a recent Grauniad, for instance), I cannot see how that is to be done without new nuclear capacity. As King points out, that entails good management of the fuel fuel production/storage/reprocessing system. Indeed - it's more than good management - it's actually re-engineering and refocussing that's required. I've not seen much from Chris Huhne and the massed ranks of DECC on this aspect but it is vital if we are not to stagger from one botched muddle to another. King's called for a holistic approach to new nuclear is one that HMG should not ignore.

Yet Another Statement of the Bleedin' Obvious!

A few more trees have disappeared to produce "Global Report on Human Settlements 2011 - Cities and Climate Change" a 250 page document from the UN telling us (apparently - I refuse to pay $58 for this) that cities are a hot bed of climate changing emissions. Well, golly gosh! We know this! We know where the emissions arise. The issue is mitigation and adaptation - as much of the former as possible and as much of the latter as necessary. There is absolutely no need for another fat report whose only value is to prop up a wonky desk leg (do people still do that?). Welcome to grumpy old man land.