Britain is facing a very different future, from the point of energy consumption, according to Steve Holliday, CEO of National Grid:
Because of a six-fold increase in wind generation, which won’t be available when the wind doesn’t blow, “The grid is going to be a very different system in 2020, 2030,” he told BBC’s Radio 4. “We keep thinking that we want it to be there and provide power when we need it. It’s going to be much smarter than that.
“We are going to change our own behaviour and consume it when it is available and available cheaply.”
The more of your electricity that is produced from wind power, the more there will be very noticeable peaks and valleys in available electricity. Not only do you need more sources, you need over-capacity in some areas to generate sufficient power to supply to areas which are becalmed.
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.
Perhaps it’s just the libertarian in me that finds the term “highest social purpose” to be very disturbing: just who the hell is going to be making that determination? And on what basis will the new high priests of the lightnings be making that call?
Smart grids are being developed by utilities worldwide to allow the government to control electricity use in the home, down to the individual appliance. Smart grids would monitor the consumption of each appliance and be capable of turning them off if the power is needed elsewhere.
Like the idea that someone at your local electrical board can decide that you don’t really need to run that TV set or that toaster right now? If the control freaks at the utilities manage to foist this off on us, we’ll be techno-peasants who are only allowed to run electrical devices that meet “social purpose” guidelines.
With that much control, what will happen if someone hacks into the system and turns off the whole grid?
Also, will this mean that I will not be able to have a cup of tea unless it is during an appointed time of day?
Comment by Da Wife — March 7, 2011 @ 13:49
An excellent, timely, insightful question. I’m glad you asked that question. Are there any more questions?
Precisely. I anticipate a lot of people going back to non-electric sources of heat and a matching climb in the number of domestic fires and explosions as people forget that a candle, lantern, or other open flame can’t be treated as casually as an electric kettle, microwave, or toaster.
And really, wouldn’t you agree that your mid-day cup of tea has less chance of meeting the “highest social purpose” than the essential web-browse-for-porn-on-government-time of a mid-level functionary in the department of power allocation?
Comment by Nicholas — March 7, 2011 @ 16:59
Should people ever manage to come to their senses over there, the revolution is going to be particularly bloody. And you know what? At this point, I’m sort of looking forward to it.
Comment by Lickmuffin — March 8, 2011 @ 11:28