Shetland windfarm - Viking Energy

[ArabiaTerra]

^^^

From the Viking Energy site

Based on industry averages, the five turbines at Burradale displace electricity that would be otherwise be produced at a power station and so save over 6,200 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide emissions, 76 tonnes of Sulphur Dioxide emissions and 26 tonnes of Nitrous Oxide emissions every year.

From the same page:

 

"The 5 Burradale turbines produce a maximum output of 3.68 Megawatts (MW). Shetland's summer power demand is in the region of 20-25MW and winter demand in the region of 45-50MW. Burradale has the ability to power nearly 2,000 homes - 8-18% of Shetland's power requirements."

 

OK, 3.68 MW, x the magic 50% that Burradale is famous for = 1.84 MW actually produced on the average day there.

 

Now, 1.84 divided by the peak demand of 50MW is 3.7%

 

1.84 divided by minimal summer demand 20MW is 9.2%

 

Half the percentages which VE claim on the website.

 

My guess is that VE are using the 3.68MW figure to boast about how much CO2 they "save", so however much diesel you work out from the 6,200 tonnes of CO2, it is really only half that amount.

I don't think your conclusion here is justified. VE says Burradale has the ability to power 2000 homes. They do not say it does. What they are saying is that "When Burradale is running at maximum output it can power 2000 homes"

 

On the other hand, the amount of CO2 displaced is stated as a fact, as if derived from actual performance figures.

[Guest Anonymous]

So is everybody here happy to believe that the lerwick power station has been burning somewhere in the region of 2000 tonnes less of diesel on a yearly basis since the burradale windmills were erected .

Surely somebody out there can verify how effective they have been...?

[Muppet]

Is it as easy a calculation as you seem to be suggesting though? It would be interesting to hear the actual figure, as I don't really know enough about it to do more than guesswork, but I'd have thought the engines at Gremista were mostly still running, but under less load. How often would they actually be able to shut an engine down completely?

 

Also some of our electricity comes from the gas power station at Sullom Voe. How does that affect the figures?

 

That would still be the situation if it were all on a larger scale as well surely. They would still need to keep power stations running to even out the supply from windmills when the wind falls.

[ArabiaTerra]

^^^ Of course, until we get actual solid numbers from someone at the power station, it will always be an approximate figure, and it will depend on whether they always throttle down the engines at Gremista rather than the turbine at Sullom. Burning gas produces less CO2 than diesel, but then the Sullom power station switches to diesel if the gas supply is interrupted, which happens from time to time.

 

If you could get an exact count of the total kw/h used in a year, and the proportions produced for that year from Gremista, Sullom and Burradale you could work out a reasonably accurate figure.

That would still be the situation if it were all on a larger scale as well surely. They would still need to keep power stations running to even out the supply from windmills when the wind falls.

True, but the difference between having the engines ticking over and running flat out is huge as far as fuel consumption goes. Just watch the mpg meter in your car when you boot it.

[Malachy]

If you could get an exact count of the total kw/h used in a year, and the proportions produced for that year from Gremista, Sullom and Burradale you could work out a reasonably accurate figure.

 

I'd be very surprised if the level of co2 produced was directly proportionate to the energy being used from it. You might find that even when Burradale is taking a good chunk of the energy load, the power station is still chugging away, producing as much co2 as usual. That's certainly the problem with an ordinary, small electricity generator - it doesn't matter if you're using maximum energy output or none at all: if it's switched on it's pumping out the same amount of co2.

[crofter]

I don't think your conclusion here is justified. VE says Burradale has the ability to power 2000 homes. They do not say it does. What they are saying is that "When Burradale is running at maximum output it can power 2000 homes"

 

On the other hand, the amount of CO2 displaced is stated as a fact, as if derived from actual performance figures.

 

Perhaps not. But it is easy to work out the actual CO2 "saved" using the government ratio of 0.265kgCO2/kWh produced by burning gas oil.

 

Burradale (3.68MW/2)*24*365=16118.4MWH*1000=16118400kWh*0.265kg=4271376kgCO2

 

or 4271 tonnes of CO2.

 

Granted, it is not half the 6200 tonnes quoted by VE, only 2000 tonnes less, which I expect is because they used "industry averages" in their calculation.

[HonestJohnDoe]

Mention was made of the Wind Turbines possible detrimental impact to aviation in the North Mainland. Specifically as regard to overshoot/missed approach zones. The CAA were going to do an assessment to see if there would be any unfortunate effects such as curtailing flying activities. Is this still a problem? Have the CAA given the all clear?

[Ghostrider]

True, but the difference between having the engines ticking over and running flat out is huge as far as fuel consumption goes. Just watch the mpg meter in your car when you boot it.

 

The power station engines are almost never running flat out, its insanity to do so. Yes, it costs a fortune in fuel and it shortens the lifespan of the engine and associated machinery immensely. The only time we've ever come anywhere near to needing to run them beyond optimum performance load was back in the 70's.

 

Instead of talking about what happen when you "boot it", which just isn't happening or going to happen with the Gemista engines, talk about running up at a steady sedate pace to around a steady medium load for the difference between idling and operating conditions, as that is how they are used.

[sheepshagger]

Has anyone tried using that old fashioned thing called a telefone and called the power station asking for the figures. a lot simpler than speculation and for once we may even have an answer that is irrefutable.

[number 7]

jist 2 small questions for any one, firstly after 25 years who's picking up the tab for clearing up the mess and re-instating the hill land ( coz nothing stops whatever the company name might be in 24 years from going bankrupt and doing the shetland thing and let the joe tax payer pick up the tab , after all how many companys up here have done that! ) secondly the interconnector cable is this a copper cable ? if so when was the cost of this cable estimated?ooops thats 3 questions.

[Infiltrator]

^^ Not a supporter of the wind farm on any level - economic or environmental, but you'll find your answers if you follow the link. They expect SSE or the government to fund the cable to the mainland.

 

http://www.vikingenergy.co.uk/faqs.asp

[Grafter]

Here is an interesting idea, better than tearing the hills up!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8085551.stm?lsm

[pete bogg]

i have seen muppet(the one in your cartoon pic) at the viking energy meetings methinks!

[Muppet]

^^

 

Moi? Never been near em!

[Baron Farkoff]

^^^

MEEP! MEEP!