Tuesday 21 August 2012

Half year results

What an amazing Summer!!  I refuse to listen to all you Southern moaners - we have had, and continue to have - the most stunning summer.  It started about April, briefly interrupted by some snow, and then day after day of clear bright dry days kept tingling fresh by light easterly breezes.  At the end of July the pattern changed  - the incessant sun was broken by the odd day of heavy downpour.  Very welcome rain.  The wind direction, or I should say breeze direction has shifted to being more in the west and south and this has made August a hot hot month, sultry, smouldering, sticky and midgey!   Thunderstorms are becoming a regular late afternoon feature.

But once the storm is over the midges re-apear - invigorated and hungrier than ever!  Despite the midges - which aren't that bad compared with other places I've been - the summer has been utterly magnificent.

Unless you happen to own a wind turbine of course.  Bloody rubbish.  Where's the soddin wind?

As a result of the gorgeous summer, overall cumulative yield has dropped from 104% at the end of March (roughly when 'summer' started), to 65% now.  35% down is an awful lot to make up in the coming half year.  The projected date for the party has disappeared into a quagmire of fog* cos the calculations become hugely complicated if production fails to average more than household consumption, which is unfortunately where we are at.


But I have faith.  One day it will be windy again.  And then I'll be complaining about having to die down wheelie bins and sheds and hapless goats and daughters and ........


* Sorry - that is an appalling metaphor - a quagmire of fog!?  Get a grip!
PS - once upon a time I found a spreadsheet where turbine owners could record their yield on a monthly basis for all to see - I can't find it again - if you know where it is please paste the link into comments or email me.  Thanks.