Wind Energy and renewable energy blog

Smart Electricity Meters

I first saw an electricity display device at the sustainable housing development Bedzed in Sutton, England around 5 years ago. The display meters monitor electricity consumption in real time. The benefit is that the consumer can see precisely what their electricity consumption is.

A more advanced smart meter is currently being developed which would monitor both consumption and production.

Wind Turbine Efficiency

According to David Rosser- director of CBI Wales the wind only blows strongly enough 10% of the time for a wind energy project to work. According to James May from Top Gear on his latest TV show, wind turbines only work 30% of the time . Why do people who are anti-wind energy keep using this against wind when they are so easily proven wrong? People with responsibility for disseminating information should check their facts.

To try and help stop the confusion, here are the facts:

University of Oklahoma to Pay Premium for Renewable Energy

The University of Oklahoma has recently signed a contract with Oklahoma Gas and Electric, committing the University to paying above standard tariff rates for green electricity. These rates, paid in increasing amounts up to 2013 will form wind energy credits which in turn will help provide funds for a new “OU Spirit Wind Farm” wind energy project near Woodward.

In the past there has been a perception that people are not prepared to pay more for green electricity. This has changed recently along with the realisation that dealing with the effects of climate change is important for future generations.

Renewable Energy Growth Slows in US but Steady in the UK

President Barack Obama has been in the press over the last few days for putting together the greenest energy team in US history. He has plugged “green collar” jobs heavily as part of the economic recovery strategy.

Renewable energy projects such as wind farms are, along with other energy projects expensive to build but cheap to run.

Campaign for the Protection of Rural England Against Renewable Energy but not Open Cast Coal Mining

Green correpondant George Monbiot recently took apart Shaun Spiers in an interview trying to establish why the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) regularly opposes wind energy projects but not open cast mining.

Obama’s New Renewable Energy Man

Obama has identified his right hand energy man as Steven Chu, Director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and also founder of Helious Solar Energy Research Centre. The new Department of Energy head will have the job of delivering a $150 billion investment package for alternative energy technologies.

Scottish North Sea Mooted to Accomodate Carbon From Polluting Power Stations

Leader of the Scottish National Party Alex Salmond has a clear remit when it comes to fossil fuels and climate change issues. Salmond and the European Commission support proposals to develop carbon capture and storage from coal fired power stations in the North Sea.

Although innovative, this technology is a sticking plaster for our use of finite fossil fuels.

Top Gear – The Wind Car Cynics

Jeremy Clarkson is not known for his green credentials and has even happily flown across to the arctic to drive his 4×4 through the melting snow.

The Top Gear team recently spotted Dale Vince’s wind energy powered car and took the opportunity to have a good laugh at it.

Sainsbury’s to Buy Renewable Electricity Direct From Scottish Wind Farm

Sainsbury’s has signed a deal with small Scottish company – A7 Lochhead, to take the electricity from a 3 wind turbine energy project near Glasgow which has already been granted planning consent.

Sainsbury’s, advised by Utilix says that the wind energy project would provide for the equivalent of 1 percent of the retailer’s electricity requirements.

Wind Energy Questions – What is Infrasound and Low Frequency Noise?

Noise and sound are acoustic waves carried on oscillating particles in the air. The frequency of sound (Hz) is defined by the number of oscillations per second and how we perceive noise is partly dependant on what the frequency is. High frequency noise has more oscillations per second whereas low frequency noise has fewer.

Coal Mining on the Rise

The number of coal fired power stations and planning applications for opencast coal mines in the UK have increased significantly according to report recently published by a climate change and energy research charity.

The Public Interest Research Centre (PRIC) reported that 58 coal mining applications for either coal mine extensions or new mines have been submitted over the last 18 months. The mines are generally in southern Scotland and Northern England.