PowerSwitch

[Andy Hunt]

There's a study currently being put together around the potential for distributed/low carbon/renewable energy generation in the Greater Manchester city region.

It isn't finished yet, but I attended a presentation the other day where some very interesting facts were floated.

Such as: in order to achieve the national target of 15% of energy to come from renewables by 2020, Greater Manchester would have to have:-

- Seven more wind farm sites the size of Scout Moor (which is just outside Bury where I live);

- A third of all the houses in the conurbation covered with solar panels

- 30 biomass CHP plants supplying heat and power

Now I really wonder what is the chance of this happening - especially in view of the current economic situation.

Scout Moor wind farm:-

http://www.scoutmoorwindfarm.co.uk/keyfacts.html

Scout Moor Wind Farm Key Facts

The Wind Farm consists of 26 wind turbines, each with a generating capacity of 2.5MW.
The Wind Farm therefore has a total capacity of 65MW of electricity, which is enough power to supply the average needs of 40,000 homes.
Turbine details:
Tower Height: 60m
Blade Length: 40m
Total Max Height: 100m
Manufacturer: Nordex
Model: N80
Electricity will be exported to the National Grid via a newly built dedicated substation south of the A680, and near to Ashworth Moor Reservoir.
There are 12km of new access tracks constructed on the moor.
Scout Moor Wind Farm Environmental Benefits
Electricity Generated per annum: 154,000MWh
Total Carbon Dioxide (Co2) displaced per annum: 160,000 tonnes
Total Sulphur Dioxide (So2) displaced per annum: 2,000 tonnes
Total Nitrogen Oxides (Nox) displaced per annum: 570 tonnes
According to a survey conducted by MORI, on behalf of Peel, 70% of the residents of Bury, Rossendale and Rochdale said YES to Scout Moor Wind Farm.



What do people think - any chance of this all happening in the next 11 years?
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Andy Hunt
http://greencottage.burysolarclub.net

[Eternal Sunshine]

I think the only way things like this would happen if there was some crisis, that everyone felt the effects of, like the Special Period in Cuba. The government and 'normal' people will only want to take such drastic measures if they see no alternative.

At the moment, unfortunately, they are all continuing to sleep walk into the future.
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Set The Fire To The Third Bar

http://www.srtt.co.uk/

[kenneal - lagger]

If you knock off the 40% of the electricity supply that we are soon to lose thanks to the government's procrastination, the task will be a lot easier.

Perhaps the procrastination is deliberate?
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It is very, very, very serious indeed. This is the big one!" Professor Tim Lang, APPGOPO, 25/03/08. And he was talking about food, not oil or the economy!

[Andy Hunt]

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