AS THE UK GOVERNMENT SEEKS A RAPID WAY OUT OF THE NATIONAL ENERGY CRISIS CAUSED BY THE PAST BELIEF THAT INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS WILL BE HONOURED AT ALL TIMES AND THAT INTERNATIONAL MARKETS WILL BE FAIR TO ALL.
THE UKRAINE WAR HAS HIGHLIGHTED CLEARLY TO EVERYONE THAT ONLY A TOTALLY INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ENERGY SUPPLY AND CONTROL WILL ANSWER.
THE UK AT PRESENT HAS A FAIRLY WIDE MIXTURE OF ENERGY RESOURCES, FEED INTO TWO DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS, THE NATIONAL GRIDS FOR BOTH GAS AND ELECTRICITY, BOTH PRIVATELY OWNED COMPANIES.
WHILE THE UK GOVERNMENT MAY WISH TO SEEK A RAPID EXPANSION OF ENERGY SUPPLY, IT HAS TO NEGOTIATE WITH THESE COMPANIES TO INCREASE OR CHANGE THE FORM OF SUPPLY, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER QUANGO'S WHO JEALOUSY GUARD THEIR POWERS SUCH AS CROWN ESTATES AND THE MMO.
THE PRESENT SEPTEMBER 2022 UK GOVERNMENT CHOICE IS TO INCREASE OFF -SHORE WIND AND SOLAR, START FRACKING FOR SHALE GAS AND TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS, BOTH LARGE AND PROPOSED SMALL SIZED UNITS WHICH WILL , IN THE FUTURE SUPPLY ALL OF THE UK ENERGY NEEDS.
LOOKING AT THIS IN DETAIL:
YES, OFF - SHORE WIND IS WELL ADVANCED AND CAN BE EXPANDED RAPIDLY , ON SHORE SOLAR FARMS AGAIN CAN BE RAPIDLY EXPANDED RAPIDLY, HOPEFULLY WITH A BETTER USE OF THE COVERED GROUND SPACE THESE PANELS USE.
NIGHT TIME AND OFTEN LONG PERIODS OF HIGH PRESSURE MEAN THESE TWO RENEWABLES RESOURCES CAN BE OFF GRID OR GREATLY REDUCED IN OUTPUT FOR LONG PERIODS, REQUIRING FULL COVERING BACK-UP SUPPLY OR SYSTEMS.
NORTH SEA GAS AND OIL, TOGETHER WITH POSSIBLE ON-SHORE FRACKING IS AT MAXIMUM A TWENTY YEAR HIGH CARBON ENERGY BRIDGE UNTIL THE REMAINING OIL AND GAS SOURCES BECOME TO EXPENSIVE OR DANGEROUS TO HARVEST.
THEN WE HAVE NUCLEAR.
THE PLAN FOR RAPID CONSTRUCTION OF MINI-SIZED NUCLEAR PLANTS, DESIGNED BY ROLLS ROYCE ( GIVING IT A PRESTIGE NAME DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN A PRESTIGE PRODUCT) AND THESE SMALL PLANTS ARE NOT OFF THE DRAWING BOARD YET. ALSO THESE SMALL UNITS IN PLANNED LOCATIONS THERE IS ANOTHER PROBLEM.
LOOK AT THE FRENCH NUCLEAR INDUSTRY THAT HAS MANY NUCLEAR POWER STATION COOLED FROM RIVER SYSTEMS AS THESE MINI -SIZED PLANTS WILL USE, SEVERAL FRENCH NUCLEAR PLANTS HAVE BEEN CLOSED DOWN AS THEY ARE HEATING THE RIVER WATER SO HIGH WHICH KILLS THE WILD LIFE.
WORSE STILL, OF THE FRENCH 56 NUCLEAR REACTORS, OVER 50% ARE CLOSED DOWN DUE TO SERIOUS CORROSION AND URGENT MAINTENANCE, FRANCE IS NOW IMPORTING ENERGY FROM THE EU AND UK.
ON TOP OF THIS, EDF THE MAIN COMPANY OPERATING THESE NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS IS ALMOST BANKRUPT AND IS LIKELY TO BE NATIONALIZED BY THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT.
STRANGELY, THE UK GOVERNMENT HAS JUST OFFERED EDF £750 MILLION GBP TO UNDERTAKE THE BUILDING OF THE NEW £20 BILLION GBP PLANNED SIZEWELL C NUCLEAR POWER STATION WHICH THEY HAD TO TURN DOWN.
THIS IS ON TOP OF THE ALREADY DE-COMMISSIONING PROBLEM WITH 17 (MINI-SIZED) NUCLEAR REACTORS IN OBSOLETE NUCLEAR SUBMARINE ROTTING IN PLYMOUTH OR ROSYTH DOCKYARDS.
IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED:
THAT ALL PARLIAMENTARY MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AND THE HOUSE OF LORDS, EACH YEAR, BE TAKEN TO CAMBER SANDS IN EAST SUSSEX AND BE INSTRUCTED TO STAND IN THE SEA-WATER UP TO THEIR WAIST AND FEEL THE POWER OF THE DANGEROUS RIP-TIDE THAT HAS TAKEN SO MANY LIVES, TO GET A LEAST A BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE POWER AND FORCES IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT THAT SURROUNDS THIS ISLAND, THEN AND ONLY THEN IT IS HOPED THEY START TO LISTEN TO THE MARINE ENGINEERS FIRST AND NOT THE ACADEMICS AND ACCOUNTANTS.
AT LEAST WITH TIDAL STREAM POWER, WHILE IT IS HIGH TIDE WITH STATIONARY FLOWS AT ONE LOCATION, FURTHER DOWN THE COAST IT CAN BE A FULL FLOW SO SUPPLY CAN BE BALANCED UP AND 24/7.
THIS IS A PERSONAL VIEW BY:
PAULHALES
CONSULTANT
HALES ENERGY
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