Renewable Energy Sources - Qualitative Assessment


Which Renewable Energy sources are suitable?

Many forms of renewable energy exist but not all are suitable for our purposes.  In order to select the best options to look at in more detail, we assessed each one against 3 criteria:

1. Functional Fit:  how well do the characteristics of the energy source match to the demands of a data centre: high, steady supply of electricity 24 hours a day
2. Scale of resource:  how much of the resource exists in N Scotland
3. Technology:  how well proven is the technology to exploit the resource


Selected options:

Nothing falls into the top right hand corner of the chart, which is the optimum position: a source of renewable energy that has constant power output and is available in abundance.  The options selected for analysis therefore fall into two categories:

 

Assessment of resources

 

References used in this page:

(1) Biomass Action Plan for Scotland: Forestry Commissioon & Scottish Executive 2007
(2) Scottish Hydropower Resoucre Study for: Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland     : Nick Forrrest Associates, SIS Tech and Black & Veatch, August 2008
(3) Turning the Tide - Tidal Power in the UK: Sustainable Development Commission 2007
(4) DECC wind speed database for UK:  http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/windspeed/default.aspx
(5) DTI: Atlas of UK Marine Renewable Resources, September 2004