Research today for tomorrow's power. [Geothermal, solar, wave, wind and tidal possibilities]

Journal Article · Thu Jun 24 00:00:00 EDT 1976 · Engineer (London); (United States)

OSTI ID:7259972

Beatson, C

Much R and D will be required for solar, tidal, wave, wind, and geothermal energy to be exploited on a large scale in the UK. Wind energy is widely available but irregular and variable, the basic problem being storage. Tidal and wave power are of practical interest only to large electricity supply organizations; wave power is more of a conventional base-load energy source for which storage is needed if the full potential is to be realized; an expanded tidal scheme could provide this storage because it is complementary to any primary source. Estuaries like the Severn provide suitable conditions--pumping at night combined with an intermittent tidal input can give steady daytime output to meet up to 30 percent of the present maximum excess of daytime over night load; no other storage is needed for either source. This would reduce by 40 percent the amount of thermal plant operating by day and would lower total thermal generating capacity by 10 percent. Technical and economic constraints are present for geothermal energy, but the total heat content under Britain is enough to supply all her energy needs at present consumption rates, for 20,000 years. Solar energy is by far the most versatile of the renewable sources. Thermal applications for space heating, hot water heating, and electricity generation through solar thermal power cycles are well known. Solar cells are potentially an attractive means of generating electricity for all sectors (except transportation) because they have no running costs or moving parts and no waste products. The present capital cost is too high to be competitive. The economics of the development of all the alternative sources is summarized. (MCW)

• OSTI ID: 7259972
• Journal Information: Engineer (London); (United States), Vol. 242:6275
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
14 SOLAR ENERGY
15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER
17 WIND ENERGY
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
EXPLOITATION
SOLAR ENERGY
TIDAL POWER
UNITED KINGDOM
ENERGY SOURCES
WAVE POWER
WIND POWER
AVAILABILITY
COST
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY STORAGE
ENGINEERING
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
ENERGY
EUROPE
POWER
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
STORAGE
299000* - Energy Planning & Policy- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation
140000 - Solar Energy
150000 - Geothermal Energy
160000 - Tidal & Wave Power
170000 - Wind Energy