Smart grids

Smart grids are a bit of a buzzword at the moment - and a bit scary.

The idea is that you use your electricity meter to tell you how much electricity you are using, and what the price is.
Sounds good - but mine is in the cupboard outside and I never go near it. I suppose that some people will though, which does make it worthwhile.

The second idea is that you can sell electricity back to the grid.

Well, that's a bit scary.

I'm not an electrical engineer but I know a few people who are worried by this. Remember that electrical production and consumption have to be ballanced - if they are not the grid speeds up or slows down from 50Hz, and damages electrical equipment.

It's going to be difficult with wind, wave and tidal - difficult, but manageable. Now put a wind turbine on every house in britain, and change the windspeed - what's electrical production going to do - how can you ballance that?

Yes, hypothetical, but valid - there needs to be a limit on how much electricity can be supplied to the grid, and a simple statement of "the grid must buy from anyone" is going to cause problems.

...so nice try Cameron, but no.