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Wind Energy Potential in the UK and the Reduction in Electrical Appliances.
Theory
This essay proposes that the UK cannot achieve a balanced use of wind energy because of its geographic location on the Earth. At best it can only use wind energy at varying levels of input and output.
Therefore wind energy; at its current energy level in the UK; will never replace fossil fuels.
This is turn changes the current use of electrical appliances after fossil fuels are phased out.
Definitions
Wind Speed
‘the rate at which air is moving in a particular area.’
Source: Google Search
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_speed
Suitability for Wind Generation
‘In summary, any site that has an annual average wind speed of 7 m/s or more would be considered excellent for farm wind turbines, and in fact many sites with as little as 5.5 m/s can still be viable when using some of the ‘oversized rotor’ wind turbines now available. If you have less than 5 m/s it almost certainly wouldn’t be economically viable to install a farm wind turbine.’
Source: https://www.renewablesfirst.co.uk/windpower/windpower-learning-centre/how-windy-does-it-have-to-be/
Wind Energy Able to be Stored Per Hour
This is calculated from REUK.co.uk - Wind Turbine Output Calculator.
The rotor diameter is chosen as the minimal domestic type to allow for the majority of installation types.
The assumptions for the type of wind turbine are.
Rotor Diameter: 1m
Mean Wind Speed: As averaged per area of the UK.
Cut in Speed: 1m/s
Cut-Out-Speed: 1m/s
Turbine Efficiency: 10%
Weibull Shape Parameter (Probability Distribution): 2
Source: http://www.reuk.co.uk/wordpress/wind/calculate-kwh-generated-by-wind-turbine/
Wind Availability
Out of 1 year of 365 days. 8760 hours. 4380 hours. 50% are night conditions. However wind energy generation can be used during the day and night. This allows for 100% of the year to use wind energy.
Annual Average UK Wind Speed
The UK's annual wind speed is in the range of 8.6 knots to 8.4 knots.
Source: https://www.statista.com/.../quarterly-wind-speed-average-in-the-united-kingdom-uk/
Strongest Wind Speed in the UK
‘The strongest ever winds in the UK have been recorded on mountains, the strongest ever gust was 150.3 knots (173 mph) recorded at Cairngorm Summit on 20 March 1986. However, some very strong gusts have been recorded at low levels too - these mostly along exposed coastal areas.’
Source: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/wind/windiest-place-in-uk
Method
The potential for wind energy and battery storage can be related to each part of the UK.
In this essay each area of the UK is examined in terms of its annual wind speed, highest wind speed, lowest wind speed, average wind speed, suitability for wind energy generation, the amount of wind energy able to be stored per hour, the number of wind generators, the energy lost to discharge over time and the number of batteries to store the energy.
Conclusions are then drawn.
Scotland
Windiest Location : Coastal Areas.
Least Windiest Location: Inland Areas.
Highest mean wind speed location. Shetland Area; averaging at 14.7kn; 27.22km/h; 16.91mph; 7.56m/s.
Lowest mean wind speed is taken as the average annual wind speed of 11 to 13kn; 20.37km/h; 12.65mph; 6 to 7 m/s
Source: www.esru.strath.ac.uk/EandE/Web_sites/01-02/RE_info/wind.htm
Source: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/wind/windiest-place-in-uk
Average Wind Speed Scotland 14.7kn + 11kn / 2 = 12.85kn; 23.79km/h; 14.78mph; 6.6m/s
Suitability: Scotland has a wind speed above the 5.5m/s to 7m/s and so is suitable for energy generation from wind turbines.
Wind energy able to be stored: 219KWh/yr, 219,000Wh/yr, on average to be collected and stored per hour. 219,000Wh/yr / 365 = 600Wh/day
Source: http://www.reuk.co.uk/wordpress/wind/calculate-kwh-generated-by-wind-turbine/
Number of wind turbines: 1
Assume a 12v, 110Ah leisure battery as storage. Storing 1200Wh.
Assume a 50% discharge. Storing 600 Wh.
This energy input would require 600Wh / 600Wh = 1 x 12v, 110Ah leisure battery as storage each day.
Wales
Windiest Location : Coastal Areas.
Least Windiest Location: Inland Areas.
Highest mean wind speed location. Caernarvonshire; averaging at 12.9kn; 23.89km/h; 14.84mph; 6.63m/s
Source: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/wind/windiest-place-in-uk
Lowest mean wind speed is taken as the average annual wind speed of 11 to 13kn; 20.37 to 24km/h; 12.65mph; 6 to 7m/s
Average Wind Speed Wales 12.9kn + 11kn / 2 = 11.95kn; 22.13km/h; 13.75mph; 6.14m/s
Suitability: Wales has a wind speed just above the 5.5m/s to 7m/s and so is suitable for energy generation from wind turbines.
Wind energy able to be stored: 182KWh/yr, 182,000Wh/yr on average to be collected and stored per hour. 182,000Wh/yr / 365 = 498 Wh/day
Source: http://www.reuk.co.uk/wordpress/wind/calculate-kwh-generated-by-wind-turbine/
Number of wind turbines: 1
Assume a 12v, 110Ah leisure battery as storage. Storing 1200 Wh.
Assume a 50% discharge. Storing 600 Wh.
This energy input would require 498Wh / 600Wh = 1 x12v, 110Ah leisure battery as storage each day.
N.Ireland
Windiest Location : Coastal Areas.
Least Windiest Location: Inland Areas.
Highest mean wind speed location. Malin Head, County Donegal; averaging at 16.3kn; 30.2km/h; 18.8mph; 8m/s
Lowest mean wind speed is Kilkenny, County Kilkenny; averaging at 6.5kn; 12.0km/h; 7.5mph; 3.3m/s
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Ireland#Wind
Average Wind Speed N.Ireland 16.3kn + 6.5kn / 2 = 11.4kn; 21.11km/h; 13.11mph; 5.86m/s
Suitability: N. Ireland has a wind speed just above the 5.5m/s to 7m/s only at specific locations and so is only partially suitable for energy generation from wind turbines.
Wind energy able to be stored: 160KWh/yr, 160,000Wh/yr on average to be collected and stored per hour. 160,000Wh/yr / 365 = 438 Wh/day
Source: http://www.reuk.co.uk/wordpress/wind/calculate-kwh-generated-by-wind-turbine/
Number of wind turbines: 1
Assume a 12v, 110Ah leisure battery as storage. Storing 1200 Wh.
Assume a 50% discharge. Storing 600 Wh.
This energy input would require 438Wh / 600Wh = 1 x12v, 110Ah leisure battery as storage each day.
England
Windiest Location : Coastal Areas.
Least Windiest Location: Inland Areas.
Highest mean wind speed location is taken as the average annual wind speed of 11 to 13kn; 20.37 to 24 km/h; 12.65mph; 6 to 7m/s
Lowest mean wind speed is taken as the UK's annual wind speed is in the range of 8.6 knots to 8.4kn; 15.92 to 15.55km/h; 9.8 to 9.66mph; 4.42 to 4.32m/s
Source: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/wind/windiest-place-in-uk
Average Wind Speed England 8.4kn + 11kn / 2 = 9.7kn; 17.96km/h; 11.16mph; 4.99m/s
Suitability: England has a wind speed just below the 5.5m/s to 7m/s and so is the least suitable location for energy generation from wind turbines.
Wind energy able to be stored: 102KWh/yr,102,000Wh/yr on average to be collected and stored per hour. 102,000Wh/yr / 365 = 279 Wh/day
Source: http://www.reuk.co.uk/wordpress/wind/calculate-kwh-generated-by-wind-turbine/
Number of wind turbines: 1
Assume a 12v, 110Ah leisure battery as storage. Storing 1200 Wh.
Assume a 50% discharge. Storing 600 Wh.
This energy input would require 279Wh / 600Wh = 1 x12v, 110Ah leisure battery as storage each day.
Conclusions
The best locations for wind turbines in the UK is along coastal regions and not inland.
The best location for wind turbines in the UK; by country; is in Scotland, then, Wales, N. Ireland and finally England.
The highest wind speeds are in the North of Scotland in the Shetlands, then, Caernarvonshire, Malin Head, County Donegal and finally coastal England.
In terms of suitability to generate energy from wind using turbines Scotland is the most suitable location, then, Wales, N. Ireland and finally England.
In terms of wind energy able to be stored using turbines Scotland is the most suitable location, then, Wales, N. Ireland and finally England.
Assuming a loss of wind energy; particularly in the England area; the necessity to provide backup storage of all energy generated from wind is created. The number of 12v, 110Ah leisure battery as storage suggests a cheap form of energy storage can be achieved in all locations of the UK. Losing all of the energy is not an option since this is as wasteful; as was fossil fuel technology; and so not renewable
The whole UK is naturally stratified into different wind energy potential energy bands and so different energy storage potential and energy output.
The further North you move in the UK, the more wind energy, the more energy potential, the more efficient a wind turbine becomes, the more energy that can be stored in batteries, the more energy that can be released for use.
Those in the South of the UK will have less wind energy potential and less wind energy use potential.
The number of electrical appliances reflects this natural constraint.
The number of electrical appliances and the time each can be used increases the further North you move in the UK.
The effects of this; post the end of fossil fuel use; in relation to domestic spaces, appliance use, watts per appliance, hours use of appliance per day, watt hours per day, wind energy in Scotland, Wales, N. Ireland and England are shown in the attached excel spreadsheet.
References
Source: https://www.frequencycast.co.uk/howmanywatts.html
Source: https://www.cse.org.uk/advice/advice-and-support/how-much-electricity-am-i-using
The average electricity usage per household in the UK is 4648 kWh per year.
Source: http://www.onaverage.co.uk/consumption-averages/average-electricity-usage
3 or 4 bedroom house an electricity usage of 3100kWh.
5+ bedrooms house an electricity usage of 4600kWh.
Source: https://www.ukpower.co.uk/home_energy/average-energy-bill
3940kWh annual energy usage.
Source: https://www.electriciancourses4u.co.uk/useful-resources/how-much-electricity-does-your-home-use/
An average of 3940kWh per home.
Source: https://www.ovoenergy.com/guides/energy-guides/how-much-electricity-does-a-home-use.html
Ofgem suggest the following for yearly energy consumption by user group.
Low energy user 2000kWh electricity
Medium energy user 3100kWh electricity
High energy user 4600kWh electricity
Source: https://www.ukpower.co.uk/home_energy/property-type-user-type
Average from above kWh per house/ yr. 3741kWh/yr
Ian K Whittaker
Websites:
https://sites.google.com/site/architecturearticles
Email: iankwhittaker@gmail.com
08/02/2018
14/10/2020
1533 words over 4 pages
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