I have always supported sourcing more of our energy from offshore wind. Offshore wind farms don't trash beautiful landscapes as onshore wind farms do. I thought the costs involved would fall over time. But I did not expect the rate at which the costs would fall to deliver the cfd (Contracts for Difference) prices announced yesterday. They were a real game changer. Worth looking at in detail.
The current market price of energy is around £53.50 per MWh (megawatt hour). Just 2yrs ago, offshore developers needed a guaranteed £117.14 per MWh to build offshore wind farms. Yesterday massive new projects in the North Sea were agreed at just £57.50 per MWh. Truly astonishing. And it's expected that prices will fall further. We expect battery technology to deliver more efficiency and lower costs, through reducing the negative impact of inconsistent generation. Development of non time-critical electricity users (electric cars) will also reduce costs.
Important to understand that no Government subsidy is involved. It's users of electricity that pay to guarantee the price. Yesterday's cfd auction prices are great news for electricity buyers into the furure.
I have no doubt that onshore wind farm generation will be lower than the current £52.50 per MWh price. And I've no doubt that some onshore development will happen, especially in Scotland, where opposition to trashing the landscape is less than elsewhere. Certainly a lot less than in Mid Wales. I did my utmost to stop the appalling Mid Wales Connection Project from going ahead - and will continue as long as I have breath in my body. The implications of this delelopment in Mid Wales are horrendous. Like pouring a bucket of tar on a painting by Sir Kyffin Williams. It would be utter madness when cost of offshore wind is dropping like a stone.
3 comments:
Hi Glyn.
I dipped into your facebook page again. First time for a long while.
I notice it's still very much the Linda B and Jo Weller show!
How do you cope with these over opinionated, foul mouthed beings? Answers on a postcard please.
Regards
Steve.
I work in a car parts factory in Welshpool. We would be able to upgrade old equipment and expand if we had a more stronger grid network. With all these new houses being built on Newtown due to Powys county councils development plan having expired, giving planners free reign to build anywhere, how long before national grid turn to the UK government and say, mid Wales needs to have pylons to get enough power in?
It maynot be in your life time but it will be in mine.
I don't have an issue with onshore wind. I think the turbines look majestic and Powys county council along with the Welsh Government have a sensible policy of allowing consent for wind farms which sit within the landscape.
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