How many wind turbines would it take to power the UK?

Question

This isn't a joke, despite how the question is worded ;)

To power the whole of the UK solely on wind generated power using the kinetic energy produced alone, how many of those huge turbines would we need to have?

Also, do you think is a feasible solution to the energy crisis?

Answer 1

Great question.

I came across 30,000 as the figure. They cost approx £2M each. That's £60B. We could do that in 5 years with 1p on income tax or NI. Site them out at sea where no one can see them.

Couple that with a small turbine on every house and solar - give local grants for this and we'd be pretty much energy independent within 5 years and carbon free.

This sounds too easy - what's the problem?

Backup and intermittency - Use nuclear, hydro-electric and bio-mass burning energy plants - all oil and coal fired power stations closed. Get some tidal energy systems installed - tidal is much more consistent that wind. Have battery storage at home (some safety issues here but not insurmountable and really no different than gaving a gas supply). That would sort those issues out.

Job losses - Yes but these would be offset by jobs in these new power sectors.

Impact on oil prices and the UKCS Oil industry - Probably a price drop in oil but as these are diminishing resourses there would be upward price pressure from market forces supply and demand therefore - probably overall no change.

We could export our surpluses giving us a tidy way of clearing the costs of converting to wind, tidal solar etc. The Oil industry would be unchanged - it's in decline anyway.

Unhooking ourselves from gas - Micro generation fuel cells using hydrogen from local hydrolosis using clean wind energy would sort that out.

We'd be energy independent and carbon free with a significant new export revenue source. Surely this is do-able. I think I'll write to my MP about this - what about you?

Answer 2

Hypothetically, the wind turbine is more reliable because there is more overall units globally today. There have been multiple reliabilty issues of wind turbines, but they are being addressed and improved on a continual basis. At the same time, the units are being developed with much higher output and efficiency of generation, But right now this cost is prohibitive without government subsity, Hopefully the investment will eventually allow this source to stand on its own. If wind turbines are put in places with reliable wind density, they generate (rotate) much more often. In some locations people have installed them, but they really are not in the best areas (ie get the tax dollars). Althought the idea is not new, tital power is really emerging technology, As new units are tested and put into use, I would not be surprised to see reliability issues of the magniude or greater than those that have challanged wind. Afterall you are dealing with salt water, which is nasty for machinery, electronics, not to mention the installation and serviceability that must be considered.

Answer 3

This depends on what size turbine you are talking about. A larger turbine produces more power than a small one, but also requires more wind to power it, and therefore it can be used less often. You should instead study the geothermal successes of Iceland, if seeking to power an island country with non-polluting energies.

Answer 4

Wind turbines are only capable of supplying a small part of this country's energy requirements.

Unfortunately, at the present time, the only form of energy production open to us which will not increase the greenhouse effect unduly is nuclear power.

That, of course, will leave a legacy of atomic waste for countless future generations to have to deal with, but it's better than the alternative.

Answer 5

It's going to take a whole lot more than the wind turbine farm planned for the North Sea. In fact, I don't know if you COULD provide 100% of the energy used by the U.K.

Answer 6

Roughly 70,000 if they were roughly equivalent in size to the approx 1,800 already in operation. It has to be remembered that the wind does not blow all the time and there is no way wind could generate 100% requirements all the time. There would need to be large backup capability probably with gas powered turbine generators kept spinning and ready to take up load as required.

Answer 7

Wind has a place in solving global warming, but it can't do the whole job.

Right now the feasible alternative to fossil fuels is nuclear power. Solar and biofuels can play an increasing role. In many years maybe alternatives can be developed enough to retire nuclear.

Answer 8

F*kin thousands. There is not enough room in the country to site them all.

Answer 9

Only 68200 to go then!