Solving the UK's energy problems.

[andrewsmith]

Been a f**kwit

Gravitational pull of ze moon causes the tides

[L3nny]

The main problem is it will take billions in investment and the benifits wont be reaped for 20-30 years.

Govenrments aren't interested in planning for the long term, all they are interested in are things that will make themselves look good as quickly as possible.

Additionally the oil rich countries invest a lot of money with british banks so the banks (who actually rule the country) don't want to upset them.

Not that I am synical or anything.

Severn Barrage from cardiff to weston super mare if built would provide 7% of the UK's power for at least 200 years. The problem is initial investment, who maintains it and how far do you go building it, do you incorporate a motorway, railway line too and plus the eco warrior idiots.

This country complains about the weather but the weather is going to be the best way to get us out of our predicament with power shortages and hopefully be another way to bring Africa out of poverty if someone with half ounce of sense finds a way to solar panel half the countries and generate power for them to use.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by andrewsmith

Been a f**kwit

Gravitational pull of ze moon causes the tides

If we're on about harnessing the gulf stream, I believe that's a massive convection current caused by solar heat.

Originally Posted by L3nny

Govenrments aren't interested in planning for the long term, all they are interested in are things that will make themselves look good as quickly as possible.

A huge project to create millions of pounds of engineering work which could be all British, to create a massive source of green energy at low cost. How good do they want to look!?

I reckon the turbines could be built fairly cheaply. Then again does any company in Britain still know how to do proper engineering like massive iron castings and stuff?

Sod it I'm going to build one in my shed to show em how!

Nar.

Put everyone who's in prison on a treadmill. They'd maybe pay for their keep then!

[andrewsmith]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Sod it I'm going to build one in my shed to show em how!

[yorkie_chris]

I mean come on, in 1866 Brunel laid a cable across the Atlantic. It can't be that a couple of glorified pond pumps are beyond us.

[punyXpress]

Originally Posted by Teejayexc

Why not excavate two large channels/pipelines across the middle of the country, say from Grimsby to Liverpool ?

Now taking the fact that high and low tides are at different times on the separate coasts, flow would run one way than back the other way, providing a constant flow for generating turbines etc, and because the water would be flowing in a 'managed' enviroment, t'would be easier to regulate.

Pie in the sky, I dunno, red wine helps with these thoughts.

First dibs the white water rafting & kayaking rights!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzxw1j-dzY4

Starter solar heat system

[yorkie_chris]

If you like ideas like that check out the half bakery

One idea suggested connecting a rack and pinion and a massive step up gearbox to 2 tectonic plates