Atlantic Array scuppered

[biffvernon]

Stupid government: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/ ... ne-project

Britain's green ambitions have been dealt a blow as a big six energy company has pulled the plug on one of the world's largest offshore windfarms, with the political storm enveloping the industry threatening the multibillion-pound investments needed to meet emissions targets and head off a looming capacity crunch.

Weeks after warning that the government was treating environmental subsidies as a "political football", the German-owned RWE npower is pulling out of the £4bn Atlantic Array project in the Bristol Channel because the economics do not stack up.

[adam2]

When the lights go out, for want of natural gas to generate electricity then I will qoute this descision and say "what a victory for the NIMBYS"

Wind power helps very considerably with the somewhat perilous natural gas supply situation. Every GWH from wind is less electricity to be generated from other sources, typicly gas.

The pro/anti wind power arguments foccus largely on the cost per KWH of wind power compared to other sources. They ignore the fact that more wind power reduces the need for extra, and very expensive, natural gas storage.

If we had twice the present wind power capacity, that would largely eliminate gas burning for baseload electricity generation.
Gas would still be burnt for peak demand and calm weather, but not for baseload.
Our existing gas storage would then last for longer in the event of supply disruptions.

[kenneal - lagger]

We don't need wind power now that we have new nukes and fracking on the way. And they come with free ionising radiation and ground water pollution to add to GDP with the clean up costs.

Power and added GDP!! What more could you ask for?

[RenewableCandy]

Call me an optimistic Physicist but my guess is that RWE are waiting to see if the floating-turbine thing's a goer, and then if it is will redesign Atlantic with floating turbines 'cause it'll be cheaper. Oh and did anyone else notice the associated phrase A Raft Of Measures?

NPower built the 1st-ever offshore array (North Hoyle) and got their fingers burned in the process, so perhaps they're kind-of cautious now.

[biffvernon]

Argyll Array cancelled.

(UK gives up on future.)

[kenneal - lagger]

A lot of this is to put political and economic pressure on the government over subsidies. If future nukes can double the current price of electricity and get guaranteed usage then why not wind!