People in the UK will soon have an exciting new game to play at home. It’s called “Powerless” and promises to be fun for the whole family.
As Britain embraces the future of renewable energy, notably wind and solar, the boring old days of flipping a switch and being rewarded with instant, reliable energy are over. The wind doesn’t blow all the time and solar power only works in, well, sunlight. This means green energy generation is unreliable:
…blackouts could become a feature of power systems that replace reliable coal plants with wind turbines in order to meet greenhouse gas targets.
That’s a quote from Steve Holliday, CEO of the UK National Grid. But don’t worry, because the government has a plan:
Under the so-called “smart grid” that the UK is developing, the government-regulated utility will be able to decide when and where power should be delivered, to ensure that it meets the highest social purpose. Governments may, for example, decide that the needs of key industries take precedence over others, or that the needs of industry trump that of residential consumers. Governments would also be able to price power prohibitively if it is used for non-essential purposes.
In the near future, Brits enjoying their favorite TV show in front of the electric fire when the power goes out will be able to take solace in the knowledge that somewhere there is a higher social purpose that needs the precious power more than they do. They can make a nice cup of tea and wait, unless a kettle is needed. Oops.
Families can look forward to exciting games like ‘what’s in that sandwich Mom made in the dark?’ and ‘where’s the remote, oh wait it doesn’t matter we’ve got no bloody power again.’ British people did so well during the Blitz years of WWII that there will be no problems adjusting to the new reality of living in the occasional stone age.
The green dark age might test even the stiffest of upper lips, but there is no alternative if Gaia is to be saved. Oh wait, nuclear power you say? No emissions and clean, reliable and affordable energy for all, on demand. What a remarkable idea. Not quite as remarkable as the notion of a government determining what counts as a non-essential use of electricity, but close.
Britain’s future is green. Miserable, cold and much like the 19th century without the excuses, but green.
UPDATE: From the Unintended Consequences desk: Blackouts cause baby booms. Sit back, get popcorn and enjoy watching the population-control hippies try to square that circle.
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“Blackouts cause baby booms”: This seems to be a pure urban myth, going back to the New York blackouts of 1965 and 1977 and only lacking any statistical evidence whatsoever. But if true, one would expect a baby-booming effect among those who are likely to believe in sharia law. Well, they have a long tradition of making do without reliable power - and accountable governments -, so all should work out for the best.
“Blackouts cause baby booms”: This seems to be a pure urban myth, going back to the New York blackouts of 1965 and 1977 and only lacking any statistical evidence whatsoever. But if true, one would expect a baby-booming effect among those who are likely to believe in sharia law. Well, they have a long tradition of making do without reliable power - and accountable governments -, so all should work out for the best.
If the CEO of national Grid wants to live in North Korea then let him go there. We want 24/7/365 power!
If the CEO of national Grid wants to live in North Korea then let him go there. We want 24/7/365 power!
Hmm…..I wonder how long before people start to riot?
You cant constantly screw people without them finally having enough and turning on you.
Is that why police look more like para-military units these days?
Hmm…..I wonder how long before people start to riot?
You cant constantly screw people without them finally having enough and turning on you.
Is that why police look more like para-military units these days?
well…when couples can’t do much else, they pretty much just go get their greak on out of boredom. it’s common sense
well…when couples can’t do much else, they pretty much just go get their greak on out of boredom. it’s common sense
It’s important that government control your life. Freedom is such a burden for the common man. Your betters should be responsible for the important decisions in your life.
It’s important that government control your life. Freedom is such a burden for the common man. Your betters should be responsible for the important decisions in your life.
For those (mostly Brits) who do not necessarily agree with the insane direction of UK energy and “environmental” policy. Hugh Sharman
For those (mostly Brits) who do not necessarily agree with the insane direction of UK energy and “environmental” policy. Hugh Sharman
http://www.DimWatt.eu is for those (mostly Brits) who do not necessarily agree with the insane direction of UK energy and “environmental” policy. Hugh Sharman
http://www.DimWatt.eu is for those (mostly Brits) who do not necessarily agree with the insane direction of UK energy and “environmental” policy. Hugh Sharman
But it is a SMART grid. If you don’t like it, that just shows you are DUMB! Imagine, actually wanting to live in a late 20th century manner! Why, this is the 21st century! We must listen and submit to our betters. That guy from America’s NPR said so! Save the planet! Humans are an infestation!
/usefulidiotstylerant
But it is a SMART grid. If you don’t like it, that just shows you are DUMB! Imagine, actually wanting to live in a late 20th century manner! Why, this is the 21st century! We must listen and submit to our betters. That guy from America’s NPR said so! Save the planet! Humans are an infestation!
/usefulidiotstylerant
Yes the SMART GRID! That means that when the time comes, the adults can ensure that the delusionals get power ONLY when the bird-shredders are actually turning!
Yes the SMART GRID! That means that when the time comes, the adults can ensure that the delusionals get power ONLY when the bird-shredders are actually turning!
“The wind doesn’t blow all the time and solar power only works in, well, sunlight.”
How horrible for the future. Someone should invent a device capable of storing electric power until it’s needed. If only we had this technology — which could also let us opperate our laptops and ipods without plugging them in — we would be saved. I think it should be called a “battery.” Those sure haven’t been invented yet.
“The wind doesn’t blow all the time and solar power only works in, well, sunlight.”
How horrible for the future. Someone should invent a device capable of storing electric power until it’s needed. If only we had this technology — which could also let us opperate our laptops and ipods without plugging them in — we would be saved. I think it should be called a “battery.” Those sure haven’t been invented yet.
@Matt Snarking aside, battery power has a long way to go to enable the all day every day, don’t have to think about it power resource we have now. Mining the metals and minerals for batteries is very dirty and destructive; nickel mining in Canada is nasty. Battery power that would allow me to get up in the morning, use appliances, lights, stove, heating/cooling, etc as I do today simply does not exist unless I want a basement full of batteries. And they are not the safest items to have around, either. The issue of the article tho is that a panel of our betters would decide that you simply have no need for power at some times, and they would just cut you off. Do you really want that? We are not in the extremis of a war or mass destruction like Japan. But that approach would become the norm. And if you want to know what it is like to have political control of day to day power generation, just look at towns in various nations where the populace displeases The Leader.
@Matt Snarking aside, battery power has a long way to go to enable the all day every day, don’t have to think about it power resource we have now. Mining the metals and minerals for batteries is very dirty and destructive; nickel mining in Canada is nasty. Battery power that would allow me to get up in the morning, use appliances, lights, stove, heating/cooling, etc as I do today simply does not exist unless I want a basement full of batteries. And they are not the safest items to have around, either. The issue of the article tho is that a panel of our betters would decide that you simply have no need for power at some times, and they would just cut you off. Do you really want that? We are not in the extremis of a war or mass destruction like Japan. But that approach would become the norm. And if you want to know what it is like to have political control of day to day power generation, just look at towns in various nations where the populace displeases The Leader.
Hilarious! Now stop being suckers all of you in the UK.
Hilarious! Now stop being suckers all of you in the UK.
“Oh wait, nuclear power you say? No emissions and clean, reliable and affordable energy for all, on demand.”
Oh, yes, very clean, affordable, and no emissions. Just turn on NHK and see nuclear in action. The meltdown caused $500 billion in market loss on the Nikkei in one day.
As for the government deciding who gets power - check out those rolling blackouts from the failure of… nuclear.
Have a nice day.
Truth,
The difference between the UK and Japan is that the former is building an energy network using unreliable sources that will require government to decide who gets power or not while the latter is suffering from a major disaster in both generation and infrastructure caused by an earthquake and tsunami.
Not the same thing at all.
I’ve got to i was a little leary of all the hype happening around solar. After thinking about many programs and get options my husband and I chose to take the plunge. We ended up getting solar without having money down and we all immediatly started spending less the very first month is was installed. I have to admit that this potential benefits to solar are real and I am very happy we made a decision to move forward with it.
Trudy, your name links to a solar rebates website. Are you in the solar power industry? Where did you install your solar power system? What brand? Where were they made? Were they certified to have been made following proper guidelines for disposing of the highly toxic waste by-products from thier manufacture?