One big paradox we've noticed from day one is that although end-users get hammered with a constant drumbeat of rising energy scares, the actual supply of the stuff, be it oil, gas, electricity or solar is growing more and more and prices are reacting as one would expect in a supply and demand situation.
One of the things that the anti-green brigade consistently pull out is the alleged unreliablity of wind, something we've shared a few doubtful stories about. News here that wind is actually far more reliable than thought. Maybe they'r wrong, but on a debate between Harvard and Jeremy Clarkson we know who is entertainment and who is reliable fact:
Global wind energy potential is considerably higher than previous estimates by both wind industry groups and government agencies, according to ..Harvard University
Using data from thousands of meteorological stations, the Harvard team estimated the world wind power potential to be 40 times greater than total current power consumption. A previous study cited in the paper put that multiple at about 7 times.
The Harvard study pointed out that there are real gains to be made in high-emission nations, especially China, which has been rapidly constructing coal plants. “Large-scale development of wind power in China could allow for an 18-fold increase in electricity supply relative to consumption reported for 2005,”
The authors based their calculations on the deployment of 2.5- to 3-megawatt wind turbines situated either in accessible rural areas that are neither frozen nor forested, or relatively shallow offshore locations. They also used a conservative 20 percent estimate for capacity factor, a measure of how much energy a given turbine actually produces.
In an example of how renewable energy potential can be a moving target, Mr. Goggin explained that the growth in the forecasts can be attributed to the increasingly common use of very large turbines that rise to almost 100 meters.
Wind speeds are greater at higher elevations. Previous wind studies were based on the deployment of 50- to 80-meter turbines.
Yet another good news story that will get buried if publshed at all in the UK Mainstream Media.
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