The Current National Grid
History of the Grid Britain had the beginnings of its national grid system in 1937, when a group of engineers connected a series of smaller electrical regional grids, in an effort to increase supply security and reduce overall electrical cost.…
The Smart Grid
The smart grid How can we use energy more effectively on a national scale? By creating a ‘smart grid’. A smart grid relies on data – not only about how much electricity is being produced, but also about demand at a…
Energy Companies and the Smart Grid
Energy companies and the smart grid Rolling out the smart grid should help keep the lights on in Britain, reducing the threat of blackouts while hopefully providing value for money for consumers. Aside from helping the country transition to a…
Consumers and the Smart Grid
The advantages and disadvantages of the smart grid system Rolling out the smart grid should help keep the lights on in Britain, reducing the threat of blackouts while hopefully providing value for money for the consumers. Aside from helping the…
The Autumn 2013 Energy Price Rises
SSE First to announce Autumn 2013 Energy Price Rises We all woke up to the news this morning that SSE has decided to put energy prices up by 8.2% from mid November. This is the first of the ‘Big 6’…
Electrical blackouts: are they fact or fiction?
Blackout – Fact or Fiction? A few weeks ago I watched ‘Blackout’, a Channel 4 series/drama documentary in which they hypothesised the impact of a prolonged blackout in the country. Now as I made myself comfortable in front of my…
The potential environmental effects of fracking and shale gas
What is Shale gas and fracking? Shale gas is natural gas found in shale rock formations underground. Due to the lack of permeability of the shale rock, the gas is trapped and cannot be extracted through a conventional well bore.…
My hope for Tidal energy!
New Tidal Energy Projects In late February, I came across the news that a £70m tidal project in Anglesey has been given the final go-ahead. I think this is fantastic news, since it is one of the few large-scale tidal…
Pros and Cons of Onshore Wind Turbines
UK Onshore Wind Turbines In this weeks blog we are going to look at the advantages of onshore wind turbines. In the UK, wind energy plays a significant role in our energy mix, providing enough electricity to power 4.5m homes…
Cheaper Offshore Wind Turbines on the Horizon?
State of Wind Power in the UK According to RenewableUK, there are now 370 wind farms in the UK, providing just under 20,000,000,000 KWh of electricity to the grid each year. Based on an average house using 4,500 of electricity…