News Reading University to build a wind farm

[kev67]

It looks like Reading University (where I am currently studying an MSc in Renewable Energy) is going to build a wind farm on its grounds south of the M4 between junction 10 and 11. Woohoo!

University of Reading - Forward Looking University Explores Energy Options
Rushy Mead | A Carbon Trust Enterprise

[emz]

Will you have any involvement in the project Kev? It would be great experience to put your practical skills to work.

[forfi]

Should this thread be in the Biodiversity department ? White Elephant section

[Besoeker]

Originally Posted by kev67

It looks like Reading University (where I am currently studying an MSc in Renewable Energy) is going to build a wind farm on its grounds south of the M4 between junction 10 and 11. Woohoo!

University of Reading - Forward Looking University Explores Energy Options
Rushy Mead | A Carbon Trust Enterprise

How will it compare with the one machine to the north of the M4 in that general area?

[forfi]

Originally Posted by Besoeker

How will it compare with the one machine to the north of the M4 in that general area?

My crystal ball says that it will fail to make a return on its investment [unless heavily subsidised ] and will in a few short years become an embarrassment to those who proposed it in the first place.

[kev67]

No, I won't have anything to do with it. I will have left and be in gainful employment by then.

One of our field trips was to the wind turbine close to the Madjeski stadium north of the M4. Our lecturer said it wasn't actually in a very good position, because it's not particularly windy there. However, they were given the land free, and then they got lucky when the price of ROCs shot up. I'm not sure how productive that wind turbine is. When we looked at the electronic display, it said it was only producing 25 to 50kW, but the guide said there was a fault and it was actually producing much more than that. It was rated at 1MW.

[addict]

What's a ROC Kev?

[kev67]

Renewable Obligation Certificate. All energy producers in the UK are obliged to produce a certain percentage of their energy by renewable means. I can't remember what the exact percentage is, but it's quite hard to achieve. If the energy producers cannot produce this energy, they either have to pay a fine or buy some ROCs from a company that has produced an excess of them. The ROCs will go up and down in price according to demand, but would usually be cheaper than the fine. Any renewable energy company can sell both their energy and their ROCs.

[forfi]

Sorry to be a pest Kev,but these ROC's are worth more than gold and this where the financial scandal creeps in.Did I mention that the recent sale of Airtricity in Ireland generated 104 new millionaires? Not much electricity but lots of cash.Reminds me of the South Sea Bubble and the Tulip frenzy

[addict]

Aren't the price of these instruments dependant upon the energy produced though? I mean I can't imagine you get 'credits' simply for building a turbine, it has to produce x kwatts of energy doesn't it?