Alex's plan is a washout!

[vetran]

Alex Salmond's fantasy of a tidal-powered Scotland washed away ? The Register

One of Alex Salmond's ambitious dreams for an independent Scotland - that it would soon become rich by exporting clean green electricity pouring from tidal powerplants in the Pentland Firth - has been destroyed this week by new research showing that the Firth's potential output is far less than Salmond had thought.

The wild-eyed Scots politico, announcing early efforts in the Firth in 2008, went so far as to suggest that not only could Scotland power itself on Pentland 'leccy, but that it would be selling electricity in substantial amounts to less fortunate nations.

"The sort of power that potentially could come from this area is not some hundreds of megawatts, it's not just like one conventional power station, its 20 gigawatts and more than that, that's like 20 conventional power stations," he enthused back in 2008.

"We have to get in a position where we have a supergrid, not just to England but across to Europe to sell that energy to people who need it," added the would-be premier of an independent Scotland.

pity

[shaunbhoy]

To be honest, many of his plans are washouts!

[d000hg]

pity

Yeah, tidal/wave seems the one really sensible avenue for green energy in our part of the world, and nobody appears able to crack it.

[Mich the Tester]

That, along with his oil plans. He really does seem to believe in the concept of money growing on trees, or actually growing under the sea.

[amcdonald]

That, along with his oil plans. He really does seem to believe in the concept of money growing on trees, or actually growing under the sea.

Which makes him just like any other socialist, great at spending other peoples money till it runs out

[darmstadt]

The wild-eyed Scots politico

Any relation to a 'swivel-eyed loon'?

[gingerjedi]

Yeah, tidal/wave seems the one really sensible avenue for green energy in our part of the world, and nobody appears able to crack it.

It's more to do with the initial cost rather than cracking the solution. One day (in the not so distant future) barrages and tidal pools will look cheap.

[Mich the Tester]

All of Alex Salmond's economic ideas seem to be based on using the Scotland's natural resources, which often doesn't sit well with democracy. I think he had some mad plan with Donald Trump to turn half the country into a golf course until those pesky citizens started saying 'well actually we quite like our countryside as it is now'.

[pjclarke]

Rather more sober reporting from Reuters:-

Pentland Firth could still generate power equivalent to almost half of Scotland's annual electricity consumption, which amounted to 37 terrawatt hours in 2011, Adcock added.

And Scotland already generates more than a third of its elec from renewables. Not too shabby.

Scotland beats 2011 green energy target

[shaunbhoy]

Rather more sober reporting from Reuters:-



And Scotland already generates more than a third of its elec from renewables. Not too shabby.

Scotland beats 2011 green energy target

So if they can just generate something from the hot air of its politicians, everything will be cushty!! And if that can be emulated across the world we'll all be laughing.