Gas boilers

[IT Minion]

A wind turbine produced 5 MWatts of electricity ( that eventually ends up as heat )

If the wind turbine was not there what would the wind do with the 5 MWatts that was not taken by a wind turbine. Does it also end up eventually as heat ( warmer air ) when the wind stops blowing. ?

Yes.

 

[ReganAndCarter]

I agree,

Essex has declared a climate emergency, however have still passed planning and licensing to an incinerator that isn't wanted or even needed and goes against the net zero targets.

It's all a bit ruddy stupid.

Politicians paying lip service to it all imo.

As usual, politicians say one thing and do another. We're all supposed to use less energy, water and other resources in UK, but they seem intent on expanding the population here by millions. So why should we use less if they're defeating any savings we make? All a load of balls!

 

[sxturbo]

As usual, politicians say one thing and do another. We're all supposed to use less energy, water and other resources in UK, but they seem intent on expanding the population here by millions. So why should we use less if they're defeating any savings we make? All a load of balls!

Lip service

 

[bernardgreen]

Does it also end up eventually as heat ( warmer air ) when the wind stops blowing. ?

Yes.

So "green" energy from wind power does not reduce global warming other than by reducing CO2 emissions from non green sources of electrical power.

 

[Ihavenojob]

So "green" energy from wind power does not reduce global warming other than by reducing CO2 emissions from non green sources of electrical power.

Taking into account the carbon footprint of manufacturing, installing and maintaining the turbines, are they of much benefit to the environment ?

 

[IT Minion]

So "green" energy from wind power does not reduce global warming other than by reducing CO2 emissions from non green sources of electrical power.

Avoiding putting more CO2 (or methane etc.) in the air is more or less the only way to reduce global warming.

But if you're going down that route, with fossil fuels or nuclear power you're releasing heat that would otherwise not have been released until the sun swells up and swallows the earth.

Fossil fuels can be much worse if they produce soot, which results in more light energy being captured by the earth and not reflected into space, or a bit better if they reflect more energy in the atmosphere. Of course the stuff that reflects the light also happens to cause acid rain, so best not.

 

[IT Minion]

Taking into account the carbon footprint of manufacturing, installing and maintaining the turbines, are they of much benefit to the environment ?

Yes. Wind turbines have something like an 18:1 return on energy, probably higher now as they're bigger and more efficient. People have run the numbers and Solar and Wind save far more CO2 than any fossil fuel alternative.