Letter to the Editor: Power Cuts

Dear Editor

The writings on the wall

Knowledgeable and sensible folk are fully aware that a 1000 watt (1kW) or indeed a 2,000,000 watt (2MW) wind generator require backup to enable the user to have a guaranteed supply of electricity. Obviously the greater number of generators the need for more backup. The UK currently has a peak demand in the order of 47GW, therefore if wind were the only source of generation, then an alternative source of 47GW would be needed for backup to guarantee a fully secure supply if the wind should fail – such as under a high pressure system. By adopting such an energy strategy you do not have be the sharpest pencil in the box to realise what this will do for future electricity prices – my electricity bill has more than doubled recently – the same reasoning applies to solar farms.

   Yet the governments foolish strategy is to plough on with more and more weather dependent wind and solar farms (please excuse the pun), which also manifests in the Grid becoming much more difficult to control. Indeed, recently in west Wales, we have been experiencing very short power failures of up to about a few seconds, which are very annoying having to reset electric alarm, microwave and oven clocks and re-booting computer (unless there is battery backup). Is this the writing on the wall for more and longer power failures due to the vagaries of the weather – if these farms become the dominant sources of power, then unfortunately the answer is going to be a resounding YES!

   For more verifiable insights my recent book, All Smoke and Mirrors, and available on Amazon, or on order from most large book shops, will help answer these questions. To be sure, learn how there are other viable methods to generate environmentally acceptable electricity and how save at least 4000kWh per year on electricity, which is nothing to be sniffed at with today’s electricity prices – the paperback costs less than a round of drinks – and you will discover the book to be very informative and a worthwhile investment.

Dave Haskell

Brithdir

Penparc

Cardigan

Ceredigion

SA43 1ER

Tel: 01239 614671