In message , The Natural Philosopher
writes:
J G Miller wrote:
On Sun, 27 Sep 2009 23:06:32 +0100, dennis@home wrote:

You can not supply enough hydro electric power in the UK for it to
solve
our energy problems.
Nobody has claimed that hydro electric power generation *alone* can
provide
the total electrical energy requirements of the UKofGB&NI.

Ah the old chestnut, 'if it cant do it all, that doesn't make it not
worth doing'

Calling it an old chestnut doesn't make it an invalid point.

True enough IF, and its a very big IF, its not promoted as being THE
answer, it is sufficiently cheap to compete fairly with other

Agreed on those two points ...

technologies, and it does not have huge implications in terms of
environmental impact.

.... but not on that one, because it is so subjective. They _all_ have
enviro impact - hydro with dams, tidal changes flows, solar covers the
area with cells or mirrors, nuclear irradiates (or risks doing so), wind
needs lots of windmills/turbines, and carbon-based warm the planet.

IF you have the right geography, the second condition can be met by
hydro power. There will always be arguments about the third,
drastically modifying the natural landscape to create artificial dams.

In the case of windpower, it cannot even compete on cost grounds, let
alone environmental impact. Except in a very few cases where to install
other technology by dint of geography is even MORE expensive.

(My points above are general, not specific to any one "solution".)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
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