THE letter from Ian W. Thomson (February 12) relates to a personal
experience following a brief loss of electricity supply.
I believe that it is not appreciated fully that without a reliable supply
of electricity the structure of society as we currently know it would fail
instantly. This is not an exaggerated statement as all of the following
would cease to operate; banking and cash dispensers, internet and mobile
phones, almost all tills in shops, traffic control systems, medical
services, domestic and public lighting and cooking, petrol pumps and fuel
supplies, water and sewage systems requiring pumping. This list is far from
exhaustive and it is easy to see that a prolonged large scale disruption
would, almost certainly, give rise to social disorder.
The vast expenditure on wind generation is very definitely not the answer
to this problem. Statistics show that there is no wind on at least two days
each year, normally in the winter, and currently there is no means of
storing excess levels of wind generated electrical energy. Indeed wind farm
operators are paid not to produce energy if the output is to exceed current
demand. This is because electricity cannot be stored and generation must
always exactly equal demand.
There is a further technical problem in that the National Grid requires the
presence of large turbo-generators, which provide considerable mechanical
inertia, to allow for system stability.
It is for these reasons that it is essential to construct new conventional
power stations now, using by fuel with low emissions, if we are to avoid a
future catastrophe.
None of this should prohibit research and development into renewable energy
sources but the need is now and not 10 or 20 years ahead.
Geoffrey H. Robinson, Chartered Electrical Engineer
16 Hay Fleming Avenue
St Andrews
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