What happens when the wind doesn blow?
When the wind stops blowing, electricity continues to be provided by other forms of generation, such as gas, coal, nuclear. Our electricity system is mostly made up of large power stations, and the system is already able to cope if the largest of these plants had to shut down immediately. It is possible to have at least 20% of the country’s needs met by intermittent energy sources such as wind energy, without having to make any significant changes to the way the system operates. A recent Oxford University study “Wind Power and the UK Wind Resource” has found that there would never be a situation across the UK where the wind does not blow enough for any installed wind turbines to generate electricity. Wind energy is a form of distributed generation where electricity is produced in more locations across the country, closer to where it is consumed. This can reduce the electricity that is wasted by transporting energy from large power stations to homes and businesses in other parts of the
When the wind stops blowing, electricity continues to be provided by other forms of generation, such as gas, coal and nuclear. Our electricity system is mostly made up of large power stations, and the system is already able to cope if the largest of these plants had to shut down immediately. It is possible to have at least 20% of the country’s needs met by intermittent energy sources such as wind energy, without having to make any significant changes to the way the system operates. The National Grid has recently stated “there is no immediate technical reason why a large portfolio of wind generation cannot be managed”. Wind energy is a form of distributed generation where electricity is produced in more locations across the country, closer to where it is consumed. This can reduce the electricity that is wasted through transmission to other parts of the country. An Oxford University study “Wind Power and the UK Wind Resource” has found that there would never be a situation across the UK
