Will more wind farms solve the UK's energy crisis?

Sky's Paul Kelso looks at what the government is doing to solve the UK's energy crisis - will building more wind farms alleviate the problem?
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[@cryengine62]

When these wind farms first started to appear we were told free or cheap electricity for everyone but instead it's done nothing but go up in price..so what went wrong then???

[@josephcosta1446]

Nuclear power is the way to go. And yes wind power is needed to. Even if they don't bring down the bills in the sort term ... In the long learn in 10 or so years it will be a huge deal.

[@public.public]

"Will more wind farms solve the UK's energy crisis?" YES.

[@gerrygeko9712]

Coal will solve the problem

[@alexanderwhite3337]

yep. and forest ))) just start burning wood like in 17th century

[@liam6345]

I personally think wind farms are the way forward for the UK.

[@coolcat6103]

But they use a fossil fuel motor to spin!

[@coolcat6103]

And they kill thousands of birds and flying insects including bees They’re not green

[@Mike-ox8sq]

@@coolcat6103 No, they harness the energy in the wind by the dynamics contained in aerodynamics to drive a shaft in a electricity generator thus producing energy. That same electricity can be used to also produce hydrogen that are made with electricity and water. In this manner long term storage of energy can achieved and compensate for times with no wind or larger needs, such as during winter.

[@public.public]

@@Mike-ox8sq Excellent reply. Well said.

[@icarus877]

No, completely the opposite more windfarms will only increase the dependency on particularly gas but also oil. When the wind does not blow we need to rely on instant replacements they can only be provided by fossil fuel.

[@AmerBoyo]

If we spent the money earmarked for nuclear on grid-scale batteries, we wouldn’t need half the amount of extra installations. Not to mention, solar on every roof with home battery storage would remove at least 30-40% of demand.

[@simonmorgan225]

Why is there even a crisis? Why wasnt this started 10 years ago. This just proves how useless our politicians are.

[@evelynmcgregor5817]

because the fossil fuel lobby is hugely powerful and funds politics

[@Generalphoenix8438]

We do need to invest in renewables but we also need to look at other eco friendly systems to ensure we can break the gap to remove all non sustainable methods and make a greener future.

[@olestokke]

Nuclear energy! The safest, most area-effective and the lowest Carbon-emissions

[@jozefgalinski1638]

Grow up

[@jozefgalinski1638]

Grow up

[@neilthompson8668]

@@olestokke Three mie island, Chernoble, Zaporhrhitia Fukushima

[@olestokke]

@@neilthompson8668 9/11, MA370, MA17. Therefor, airplanes should be be forbidden to use for travel.

[@lilzenothan7005]

The UK is Literally changing over to free energy but still charging people cause the electrical companies have dodgy deals with politicians and our politians are extra greedy and corrupt over here.

[@johnmuthan286]

"renewable" when they can not deal with the blades recycling?

[@AORD72]

The amount of waste vs the amount of energy generated is still vastly superior to coal, nuclear etc. Also the blades could be burned for energy in plasma furnaces, the glass extracted and recycled.

[@anglosaxonmike8325]

Blades cannot be recycled, full of toxic glues etc. The huge amounts of balsa comes from the rain forests. It all ends up in landfill. The enormous amount of concrete and steel is left in the ground. A wind turbine can never save as much carbon as it takes to make it. Today, the UK demand is 38GW, quite low. The output from the entire UK wind industry is 1GW. Explain how this is a/ usefull, b/ viable.

[@johngammon963]

They can't because its not meant to be the answer. It's based on lies.

[@MrxxVENUSxx]

@@johngammon963 Okay, what is then?

[@public.public]

The private sector would pay more for the installation of this if they paid the same as all the rest of us for the electricity they use.

[@josef596]

Let’s get them built.

[@merlynscave]

I really hate Boris. He is not the sort of person that will make any difference.

[@jebbo-c1l]

just a pathological liar, will literally say and get away with anything to stay in power

[@glenwillson5073]

No oil production means no life saving medical equipment just for starters.

[@illuminate4622]

That's a tiny part of it, 90% is for energy and will be replaced. Also recycling, biomaterials, air capture carbon materials are a possibility.

[@leroyharder4491]

To be honest, the technologies available now were not available 6 years ago. The trends were for greater energy independence and perhaps Putin saw his leverage slipping away so wanted to attack now when he still had some. Meanwhile as individuals we can start down the road of reducing dependence now. Our families focus is solar (installed last year), energy efficiency and transition to electric cars/trucks. Consider investing in your home rather than the stock market.

[@nickryder9669]

Hi Leroy how can the millions using food banks invest they can’t even buy food ? How’s about the chancellor invests for them Lots of pensioners would love free solar ?

[@lecturesfromleeds614]

The private sector could be doing a lot more, considering how much money they have made over the years!

[@fatfat1877]

They could, if the government stopped purposely causing energy crisis through its policies.

[@yellowbirdruf1234]

Tidal has consistency if harnessed

[@juliethompson7749]

Yes

[@rentisme]

To be honest, I wouldn't care if the energy bills went up as long as they keep investing in low carbon power sources.

[@markszczepanski5293]

I don't use heating in winter done that for 9 years people think I'm nuts 😍

[@mohammedmannan754]

So much energy authorities waste and no one take any notice

[@Jon-zi5mu]

But, what about the cancer and the poor birds?

[@broncokonco]

Energy return on energy invested is very low for wind turbines. And that’s with us putting them in the best locations first. As those locations get used up around the world, and commodities become more scarce, we will hit a zero net energy gain on wind power. Nuclear must be heavily considered.

[@Mike-ox8sq]

That is simply not true. Off shore mega windmills are the most competitive energy investment. Right now we even dont have a free market but a market that absurdly are subsidizing fossil fuels. There are something completely wrong and dark energy and dark money seem to be more than interconnected. Man left Africa and began colonizing the planet 65.000 years ago. It is more than reckless and stupid to consider nuclear energy leaving deadly waste for a periode 6 times longer than we have existed so far. Short sigthed people are in abundance.

[@v_cpt-phasma_v689]

nuclear is more than being considered, they are building an additional 8 reactors and countless smaller modular reactors, personally i want more but its a good start

[@public.public]

Wind turbines are fast to install and in the long run costiing way less than nuclear which costs everyone way more in every conceivable way forever. And everyone who advocates nuclear energy should be put on a list of liquidators to clean up the inevitable catastrophic failure which IS inevitable.

[@AORD72]

Levelized studies show offshore wind is very cost effective.

[@contrarian604]

@@AORD72 Wind power requires a massive amount of copper for the cabling to connect them to the power-grid. Wind is a lower-density power source, barely better than solar. One would need to cover the ocean between the UK and Greenland to even achieve a fraction of the UK's power needs.

[@coraltown1]

The world needs either to harness nuclear energy or cook the planet beyond livability, and it needs to start doing that yesterday.

[@public.public]

everyone who advocates nuclear energy should be put on a list of liquidators to clean up the inevitable catastrophic failure which IS inevitable.

[@contrarian604]

@@public.public Incorrect. Modern nuclear power is safe and proven, with SMR (small modular reactor technology). Even better, Thorium reactor technology generates barely any waste, uses its own waste as a partial fuel-source, and is impossible to experience reactor meltdown or overload. it is the anti-Nuclear nutcases that have hijacked the green agenda, at the detriment of the populace.

[@jacobsukovaty520]

​​@@public.publicyou do realize that is safer then wind right but no stay delusional to that fact not to mention your precious solar panels are poisoning your soil and food when they break

[@pennytopfield5713]

Yes but not for 12 to 15 years. We need to frack gas immediately

[@glenwillson5073]

It's going to get real interesting real fast, if we try to defend our selves with wind & solar powered ships, tanks & planes.

[@lukesalvidge118]

Nah, they will still use either current fuels or hydrogen fuel cells

[@Balance2097]

Yes.

[@icarus877]

No, completely the opposite more windfarms will only increase the dependency on particularly gas but also oil.

[@suburbia2050]

Would love to hear your logic on that comment

[@lolathescruff]

Maybe with every new build put solar panels on the roofs. But they have an excuse for why they can't and won't want to do that.

[@lukesalvidge118]

No, nuclear fission and fusion will though

[@jakel8627]

We're a very cramped country, where are we meant to store the waste without harming anyone? People who just say nuclear is the solution without answering this question are just reckless and irresponsible.

[@lukesalvidge118]

@@jakel8627 1. Fission creates the waste, so this was more a cursory look at a solution 2. Fusion is virtually the safest bet, so all the money being spent with renewables should be pumped into developing fusion

[@thenbenagcz3931]

Invest in atom wind is not varible and not constant !!

[@markszczepanski5293]

Every one needs to cut back on energy use

[@heatherjoy479]

How can we trees in the way now can't move suppler ithra not possible every where plus counil properties I can't afford it 😫 😢

[@anissah161]

NO Next question?

[@Madmen604]

Multiple source energy especially solar power, hdro electric, geothermal.

[@vtechead1]

They are expensive to maintain and no use when the wind doesn’t blow. They have their use, but are not the answer. For a reliable source of electricity, nuclear is the way to go

[@Sophiedorian0535]

@angrykulla True that is.

[@coolcat6103]

They’re run by motors inside, not wind

[@vtechead1]

@@coolcat6103 😂and what makes the motor turn ? Surprise surprise- wind Duuuuhhhhh

[@coolcat6103]

@@vtechead1 fossil fuel

[@coolcat6103]

@@vtechead1 lmfao Google it says YES they exploit the wind but are a pure embodiment of fossil fuel! Try again!

[@markszczepanski5293]

It won't stop the gas crisis

[@aarononeal9830]

Shy news needs to talk about Ecosia they are a search engine that plants tress

[@President_NotSure]

took me 35 years to grow a forest got knocked down in an afternoon

[@anglosaxonmike8325]

During the last six weeks, the UK total turbine output has barely produced 2% of our electrcity. It's a fools paradise, but it's a money maker for some.

[@v_cpt-phasma_v689]

they dont need to bring down bills short term via extra energy production, they need to invest for longterm aka nuclear and wind farms as they are doing but then subsidise energy bills right now, the debt they will incur from this will easily be repaid when energy bills eventually fall drastically when the new energy producers are built in a few years time giving people more money to spend in the economy which will find its way into the govs pockets.

[@public.public]

Dead planet means no bills to pay because?... no people. AND everyone who advocates nuclear energy should be put on a list of liquidators to clean up the inevitable catastrophic failure which IS inevitable.

[@husseinasrasalah7348]

Great products

[@alllifematters7080]

I'll sort the wind out just feed me more baked beans 🙂

[@tinkertailor7385]

No.

[@jebbo-c1l]

best way to decrease gas consumption is for the government to provide incentives to rapidly insulate all of the UKs buildings. The insulation in this country is one of the worst in Europe and it will save bills for ordinary Brits

[@ajc2265]

Hillarious

[@sermodur]

The reporter in this video is wrong, there is sufficient wind energy to power the entire UK even if there is no wind because by installing surplus of wind turbines and storing the electricity will make possible to deploy the electricity from storage during windless days

[@Mark.Taylor.]

No

[@Robert-cu9bm]

So green, they use fossil fuel boats to keep them going.

[@jasonwoods3711]

Solar panels on every South facing roof will be more than enough to power this country ! They last at least 10 yrs longer, are 1 tenth the price of a turbine, and prevent harmful moss growing on roof tiles... they are win win win yet the government would prefer to contaminate the seas with more raw materials ! I have solar , I'm off grid and havnt had an electric bill in 17 years. I started off with just one panel because one's better than none !!

[@tessjuel]

Every single nation in this world can in theory fullfill all its energy needs with only a tiny fraction of the sun power it receives. The big problem is that the sun doesn't always shine. And the problem with wind energy is of course that the wind doesn't always blow. But combine the two and add some hydorelectric, geothermic and biomass fueled power plants to cover the slack when there's neither enough sun nor wind and we should have a viable solution. I wouldn't actually completely rule out nuclear power either. I am sceptical but there have been some recent development in technology that may make them much safer and, perhaps most important, not nearly as devastating even if they fail. --- Of course, there is another huge "problem". The big fossil fuel producers don't want to loose their profits and they have a *lot* of power and influence in the world. This is by far the biggest reason why the development of alternative energy sources is so slow.

[@jasonwoods3711]

@@tessjuel I personally wouldn't want nuclear power when their are plenty of alternatives ! Solar alone fulfills all my power requirements... People need to just think outside the box and not rely on governments to make it right.. My home runs off a 12volt system. I have 430 watts of solar that comfortably powers my lifestyle all year round except in summer when I have excess power. My set up cost me 1200 pounds and I've had it for 17 years having only replaced my power storage unit once which cost 300 pounds. I live in the heart of the UK.

[@photobyTaps]

Windmills and electric cars are zero sum gain solutions

[@alejandrosotomartin9720]

Good job Britain.

[@ydnallah1541]

Ha ha ha, no it won’t

[@brendasg155]

By the time they build enough of em the energy crisis will be old news

[@v_cpt-phasma_v689]

thats not how it works buddy

[@davidhenryandthemysterons3220]

NO

[@richardmaclean4519]

How much energy does it require to create these wind machines? Include upkeep. Do the math.

[@hhheello]

How much energy does it take to install pipelines under the sea to transport gas; build coal power plants, dig out the coal, transport it via rail etc? Do the math

[@GardenandGreen]

Renewable energy is a virtuous circle, as the more that is made, the more it used when manufacturing things like wind turbines.

[@PNWAffliction]

@@hhheello does a pipeline under the sea randomly self destruct cuz they used cheapass chinese parts that are unrecyclable?

[@SlowhandGreg]

@@GardenandGreen it's a fraction of the price of current energy mix but hey stick to your fossil manifesto

[@glenwillson5073]

@@SlowhandGreg Well, I for one, am sticking to my fossil fuel manifesto, because I'm pretty keen on our ships, tanks & planes actually being able to defend us. They say there are no atheists in a fox hole - I'm betting there are no renewable energy advocates either.

[@steveparker8065]

That's a misleading question. Wind farms will solve our reliance on Russian gas within 2 years, but we need all renewables to be increased (Hydro, Solar, Biomass, Wind, Geothermal) as well as insulation and energy-saving technologies combined. There is no reason we can't be 100% self-sufficient in energy needs and every reason in the modern world to make it a top priority.

[@richardmaclean4519]

How much energy does it require to create these wind machines? Include upkeep. Do the math.

[@GardenandGreen]

there is one reason.... over population. Population Matters, once known as Optimum Population Trust worked out that the max population for Britain in a fossil free world, is just 30 million. That was a while ago, and technology advances, which might increase that total, but the point remains valid. Keep adding millions to the population makes energy independence much harder to achieve.

[@jeffboitard5914]

The more wind farms the more gaz.

[@steveparker8065]

@@GardenandGreen Overpopulation? lol Britain already supplies 46% of its energy via renewables and that's while nuclear and oil are using lobbyists to corrupt and manipulate politicians for profit motivations. We could easily support all 67 million Brits with renewables if the Tories hadn't cut funding for energy-saving technology and renewable energy construction. As for overpopulation in general, we have multimillionaires using the same resources as a small country on a daily basis, the problem is not overpopulation but greed and logistics...

[@SlowhandGreg]

@@richardmaclean4519 not as much as you'd think

[@jozefgalinski1638]

Right for a start get everyone stop paying your energy bills! The world melting under the pressure of this living crisis stop paying it eat food if they shut the power off the country will rise up! Stop shipping foreign aid and sort this mess out keep the problems in house!

[@mvp2526]

imagine it they done this at 2014,uk energy prices would be low right now.No more oil from russia and putin says i gonna keep it for russia.

[@robtaylor2549]

The taxpayer is being lied to , WE ARE IN A WIND DROUGHT, with the lowest annual wind speeds since 1979 😂 The largest NEGATIVE WIND SPEED occurred over the UK, MORE TAXPAYERS MONEY will be needed for less power

[@praveensekarc]

Answer : noo

[@nickbagnall]

They are talking bollocks and they know it…

[@gardenkitty]

Imagine how beautiful the view will be with thousands of wind turbines slaughtering birds on the coastline 🤣

[@richardmaclean4519]

How much energy does it require to create these wind machines? Include upkeep. Do the math.

[@kaya051285]

Only need 3,000 offshore wind turbines to produce 75% of UK electricity 3,000 sounds like a lot But across the while UK seas is mot much at all

[@PNWAffliction]

when they're replaced with EV birds, they can program the robo-birds to not fly into the towers. ;/

[@SlowhandGreg]

@@PNWAffliction millions of birds die flying into buildings and get eaten by cats stop spewing fossil industry crap

[@Sophiedorian0535]

‘Nothing will bring down bills in the short term’ … Boo hoo hoo. There’s a war on. Have the rich protect the poor, and tough this out.

[@sirmikemurray]

the clowns raise the price cap, then give a utility loan. they are all in it together. the plan is to wreck the world economy.

[@c.s.8634]

No future for this govenment !

[@joeclooney1997]

Nope it won't

[@BoogieKnight1976]

Total non consideration for the wildlife, a totally unnatural surrounding .

[@tristantopambudi3186]

Bring back the nuclear power ASAP

[@andrewr.5909]

The best solution is a good mix of coal, gas, wind, water, solar. No nuclear. I'm against nuclear in any way, shape or form.

[@below_average_student]

What a dumb question.

[@Sitting_Bull]

I was born in a straw hut with no electricity and no running water 🚽🧻🛁🚿🏡💡🚰 protected by the one above but the one above all my father sun my mother nature 🦅🌵🌎 🛢️ 🥇 🥈 🌞 I am the Aztec eagle

[@Jason-Scott]

Clown 🤡

[@unterhandler8382]

😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣

[@marcsappington419]

It will kill a ton of water fowl.. so good job destroying all those birds 👍🙄

[@steveparker8065]

Onshore wind farms are nowhere near the water... They don't have to be on the coast.

[@haydnbrewer7426]

Please read your comment and have a word with yourself birds fly everywhere

[@glynnwright1699]

Cats kill 100 times more birds than wind turbines.

[@marcsappington419]

@@haydnbrewer7426 gfy thanks👌🏻✌🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@CurieBohr]

bitcoin will solve the energy crisis. what would otherwise cost too much (hydro, nuclear, etc) will now be offset by mining crypto and bring power to people that cannot otherwise afford it.

[@andyjohnson3790]

Wow! I have been on the internet for many years but now I truly have seen the absolute dumbest comment ever.

[@jebbo-c1l]

lol gtfo of here

[@Mike-ox8sq]

The amount of fossil fuel currently burned to produce one´s and zero´s are idiotic and counterproductive in relation to any goal that makes sense for mankind to pursue! Cryptocurrency production currently use more energy than many smaller but industrialized nations. It should be banned. Your stance are equal to being an enemy of humanity. Your stance threatens the very habitat that brought us forward as a species!

[@jeffboitard5914]

Hi boss, I cant comme to the office because of my electric car. Dont worry, computers doesnt work neither when there is no wind.

[@SlowhandGreg]

If I made the effort with a semi detached house an ev with solar I could be energy independent with v2g tech Just park it with the stupid comments

[@ballansalomon7902]

Hi Sky news , Ballan entreprises c.a.-Venezuela , Renewable Energies , new work renewable energies for new entrepreneurs . God bless the U.K.

[@christopherhall3260]

No