Winds of change for energy needs
Blowin’ in the wind was a song much loved by my generation. What the blowing wind was an answer to then was unclear, intangible as the wind itself, metaphysical, one might say, a thing of the spirit. Now, an organisation called spiritofireland.org tells us that the wind is the answer to Ireland’s economic malaise.
Wind and water, that old duet, will, they say, together provide clean energy for ourselves, plus a huge surplus marketable overseas. Harnessed in team, they will create thousands of jobs, energy independence in five years, a saving of €30 billion spent on fossil fuel imports, a slashing of carbon emissions and a potential €50bn to add to our economy: all this is claimed for the wind-and-water projects put forward by spiritofireland.org. It is to be hoped that our embattled government will not waste a day in investigating the potential and facilitating the project if it is worthwhile.
The group proposes establishing a small number of hydro-storage reservoirs along the west coast. The energy production system, as I understand it, is simple. Wind power is used to pump sea water to an elevated reservoir created in a glacial valley. Later released, this water rushes back down to the sea and en route spins turbines which produce electricity. The water is released on demand; power supply does not rely on the wind, which is variable. For those without computers to hand, I will paraphrase the advantages as stated on the website www. spiritofireland.org.
For the proposed project, Ireland has a unique combination of necessary requirements. The first is the availability of glacial valleys. More than 50 potentially suitable valleys have been identified. They are U-shaped and are facing the ocean, typically 1-2 km away. Each is like a giant dish elevated above the sea level by some 100-150 m. By lucky coincidence, these valleys are located in areas with some of the best wind conditions in the world, the west of Ireland.
The valleys are located in areas of seismic stability. Most of the rock is of low water permeability. Many valleys are remote, located in areas of low population density and marginal farming land.
The valleys gradually slope towards the ocean and are not separated from it by hills. The construction costs are, as a result, reduced enormously and are commercially predictable. Furthermore, the amount of rock removed to dig a narrow “canal” at the end of which the hydro-electric plant is sited some 0.5 to 1.5km from the sea would be roughly the same amount of rock required to build the dam.
While this “big energy” picture deserves serious attention by government and media, small is beautiful and the Zephyrs help those who help themselves.
An Australian businessman, Bill Liao, recently retired to west Cork, has installed a 9m tall windmill with rotor blades of under 12m at his coastal home, the maximum height and span allowed without planning permission. Pinned down to a block of concrete weighing 14 tons it is, he says, simplicity itself in engineering terms. Manufactured in Shetland and carrying only three bearings, it can be tipped for maintenance purposes once per year and has an inbuilt system which folds the blades when the wind blows too strongly while, at the same time, allowing them to continue to produce electricity. It provides sufficient power to run his large, high-tech home, plus a surplus to sell to the national grid. The cost of installation was €20,000. With potential ESB income rather than outgoings the investment should pay its way over 10 years.
I was shocked to see that sea eagles have been poisoned in Kerry, bringing the total killed to 34 over two years. In Scotland, tourists bring business worth millions to remote coastal areas where they may be seen. If you don’t agree with poisoning sea eagles, etc., go to http://www.goldeneagle.ie/portal.php?z=197 where you will find a petition you can sign if minded to do so.
