kimerajamm
Joined: 28 Nov 2010
Posts: 785
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 Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 2:49 pm Post subject: Potential Energy |
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a. ^ Note on 'installed capacity' and 'potential energy'. The former is an estimate of the maximum productive output of a given technology or individual generation station at a single point in time. The latter takes into account the likely intermittency of energy supply and is a measure of output over a period of time. Thus, for example, individual wind turbines may have a 'capacity factor' of between 15% and 45% depending on their location, with a higher capacity factor giving a greater potential energy output for a given installed capacity. The 'potential energy' column is thus an estimate based on a variety of assumptions including the installed capacity. Although 'potential energy' is in some ways a more useful method of comparing the current output and future potential of different technologies, using it would require cumbersome explanations of all the assumptions involved in each example, so installed capacity figures are generally used.
b. Table notes and sources:
Total capacity from all sources in 2006 was estimated at 10.3 GW[4] and 9.8 GW.[3] It is estimated by RSPB Scotland et al. (February 2006)[2] that electricity output would decline from the current total of 50 TWh per annum to about a third of this figure by 2020 due to decommissioning of existing non-renewable capacity if no new capacity was installed. In 2006 total energy demand was 177.8 TWh.[160] Electricity makes up 20% of total energy use, but about 15 TWh are exported or lost in transmission.[2]
All figures above are from RSPB Scotland et al. (February 2006)[2] except as otherwise identified below. The main source assumes grid capacity is available. Without this the potential drops significantly to circa 33 TWh.
Current renewable capacity source for Hydro, Wind, Tidal and Wave (May 2010 figures):[161]
Current renewable capacity source for Wood (2008 figures):[146]
Current renewable capacity source for Wave and Landfill gas (2006 figure):[8]
The tidal potential of the Pentland Firth alone is estimated elsewhere at over 10 GW.[50]
Potential hydro production source: extrapolated from 2004 data in[58]
Potential wood production source:[74]
Potential geothermal energy source:[98]
Potential biomass energy is also estimated at 13.5 TWh[98]
Potential solar energy source:[98]
Potential Energy: '?' indicates an unsourced estimate based on potential capacity. Conversely, geothermal potential capacity is estimated from potential output.
Micro generation (including solar) is estimated as having the potential of producing up to 40% of current electrical demand by 2050 i.e. circa 14 TWh.[14] The above figures assume 12% by 2020.
Blank entries mean no data is available. In the cases of the current capacity of biomass, biodiesel and geothermal these will have been very small. Toshiba LAPTOP batteries
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