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Power In Scotland From Tides and Whiskey

tsamsoniw writes "Singapore-based Atlantis Resources Corporation, which brings to the table tidal-turbine technology, is partnering with Scotland-based datacenter developer Internet Villages International) to construct a tidal-powered 150MW 'Blue Datacenter,' InfoWorld reports. If all goes to plan, the facility will eventually be powered entirely by clean energy produced by tidal-current turbines in the Pentland Firth, the stretch of water between the far north Scottish mainland and Orkney. The firth's currents could generate 700 megawatts of electricity by 2020." And reader Mike writes "Here's something to raise a glass to: recently the Rothes consortium of whiskey and scotch distillers announced that they have partnered with Helius Energy to install a power plant fueled entirely by whiskey by-products. The completed plant will use biomass cogeneration to convert draff and pot ale from the distillery into 7.2 MW of electricity — enough to power 9,000 homes."

170 comments

  1. Reclassification needed! by Bud · · Score: 5, Funny

    It seems that in some cases, whiskey can now be called an energy drink.

    --Bud

    1. Re:Reclassification needed! by MindKata · · Score: 1, Offtopic

      "energy drink"

      It'll be fun watching them trying to tell the Scottish they plan to burn their "energy drink"!

      For example, William Wallace: "tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our Whiskey!"

      --
      There are 10 kinds of people in the world... those who understand binary and those who don't.
    2. Re:Reclassification needed! by thewiz · · Score: 0, Redundant

      I'll lift a glass to that!

      --
      If "disco" means "I learn" in Latin, does "discothèque" mean "I learn technology"?
    3. Re:Reclassification needed! by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 1

      > Power In Scotland From Tides and Whiskey

      And, unlike wind power, these are regular, predictable, reliable sources of energy.

      --
      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
    4. Re:Reclassification needed! by HardCase · · Score: 1

      Truly, it is the water of life!

    5. Re:Reclassification needed! by coleblak · · Score: 3, Informative

      if it's from Scotland, it's whisky, not whiskey.

      --
      77 HITS
      Really Long Off Topic Combo
    6. Re:Reclassification needed! by Spatial · · Score: 1

      Sure, why not. Energy drinks hardly have any energy in them at all - just stimulants. Your typical energy drink has the same energy content as a normal soft drink. The only exception I've seen is Lucozade, which has far more.

    7. Re:Reclassification needed! by aliquis · · Score: 1

      I'd say the opposite, they have lots of energy (sugar) but little stimulants (less than coffee.)

      Soft drinks also has lots of refined carbs :D

      Let's just agree on that energy drinks suck :D

    8. Re:Reclassification needed! by robthebloke · · Score: 1

      It's the By-Products, not the whisky itself. Also of note, there is no 'e' in Scotch Whisky. The 'e' only applies to irish & american whiskeys...

      There is however and 'e' in Pee, which I'm assuming is the By-Product they are reffering too.

    9. Re:Reclassification needed! by Ihmhi · · Score: 1

      Gas siphoning crime wave continues in Scotland, film at 11.

    10. Re:Reclassification needed! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If it's from Scotland, it's one that got away.

    11. Re:Reclassification needed! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Y whisky is that which is distilled twice.

  2. Whisky by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    Of course in Scotland we call it Whisky...

    1. Re:Whisky by FTWinston · · Score: 5, Informative

      Yeah, Whiskey is Irish, Whisky is Scottish.
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisky

      They're very different drinks. Although speaking as a Scot, the only Whisk(e)y i actually like is Jack Daniels, and being american, thats Whiskey too. Meh.

    2. Re:Whisky by Canazza · · Score: 3, Funny

      What about Spanish Whisk(e)y? is that an E or not?

      To be fair it probably was just coloured fermented olive oil...

      --
      It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for being subtle.
    3. Re:Whisky by Harold+Halloway · · Score: 3, Informative

      Dunno about Spanish whisk(e)y but Welsh whisk(e)y is 'wisgi'.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisky

    4. Re:Whisky by beelsebob · · Score: 2, Informative

      and being american, thats Whiskey too
      No it's not, it's bourbon.

    5. Re:Whisky by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      No it's not, it's bourbon.

      Jack Daniels is definitely not bourbon.
      It is a Tennesee Whiskey.

    6. Re:Whisky by shawb · · Score: 3, Funny

      That's actually not an error. Whiskey is perfectly good stuff... for turning into power to make real Whisky with.

      --
      I'll never make that mistake again, reading the experts' opinions. - Feynman
    7. Re:Whisky by Ngwenya · · Score: 1

      Although, Maker's Mark, another American product is spelled "Whisky". Something to do with the founder being Scots, IIRC.

      Jack Daniels. Pfft. A drink for schoolgirls. Talisker FTW. :-)

      --Ng

    8. Re:Whisky by Dupple · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I'm not a big fan of Talisker at all, a nice 18 year old famous grouse or 12 year old Oban - lovely

      --
      Watch those corners
    9. Re:Whisky by BobisOnlyBob · · Score: 1

      Yes, and you're also the only country in the world that would look at an egg and go "Y'know wha' tha' needs? Meat, an' batter."

      Only the Scots would Scotch an egg. Bloody jocks.

    10. Re:Whisky by Gordonjcp · · Score: 1

      Yes, and you're also the only country in the world that would look at an egg and go "Y'know wha' tha' needs? Meat, an' batter."

      Yes, and your point is? We were right, weren't we?

    11. Re:Whisky by cthulu_mt · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Ardbeg 10 year. It'll take the enamel off your teeth.

      --
      Virginia is for lovers. EVE is for griefers.
    12. Re:Whisky by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      Actually Bourbon is a type of whiskey. It was named bourbon, because it was originally made in Bourbon county, Kentucky

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourbon_whiskey

      Sincerely,

      Anonymous Alcoholic

    13. Re:Whisky by Funk_dat69 · · Score: 1

      Maker's is actually a Jim Beam brand. The spelling is probably just a marketing thing, but who knows.

      I love Whiskey/Whisky/Bourbon debates, though!

      I lot of people I know prefer American Whiskey/Bourbon (I'm American), because they're not used to the smokey/peaty taste, but I like all kinds.

      I agree about Talisker - very good. It's *really* smokey/peaty. I got to visit the Talisker Distillery last year. The tour guide lady was very interesting - we asked her what her preference was and she said that after Talisker, she liked some American Bourbons. She also said that any Scotch aged more the 12 years is too woody - which I agree with.

      Drink on!

      --
      FUNK!
    14. Re:Whisky by Ngwenya · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Famous Grouse? That blended shite? Barely good enough for alkies and Englishmen. ;-)

      Oban? Nah, bit weedy for me.

      --Ng

    15. Re:Whisky by Ngwenya · · Score: 2, Informative

      Ardbeg 10 year. It'll take the enamel off your teeth.

      Not bad. Although the 25 year old Laphroaig is smoother than the other Islay malts I've tried (most of them - never tried Port Askaig). And now the Yanks know why British teeth are so awful - no enamel!

      If you can find Ledaig, that's nice too - made in Mull, but the good stuff is rarer than rocking horse shit (the Whisky Shop in Edinburgh's Victoria Street is where I got mine).

      --Ng

    16. Re:Whisky by overlordofmu · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      No it's not, it's bourbon.

      Jack Daniels is definitely not bourbon. It is a Tennesee Whiskey.

      Bourbon is made is barley, corn and water and Jack Daniels is indeed made with corn. Jack Daniels is Bourbon Whiskey. Whiskey is barley and water (note, no corn). Corn is for Americans. I live in Iowa. We have plenty of corn. Now, Jack Daniels is good but nothing, IMHO, beats a good Irish Whiskey. FLAMEBAIT: Scotch Whisky is inherently inferior to Irish Whiskey. Scotch is for stuck up Americans that don't know what good whiskey is supposed to taste like. DOUBLE FLAMEBAIT: Whiskey should be consumed in a glass at room temperature. No ice. No water. Sipped or gulped as you prefer.

    17. Re:Whisky by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      DOUBLE FLAMEBAIT: Whiskey should be consumed in a glass at room temperature. No ice. No water. Sipped or gulped as you prefer.

      You are indeed correct. Ice cubes just serve to remove the taste and water out the Whiskey.

    18. Re:Whisky by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You should try some Canadian rye whisky.
      e.g. Alberta Springs (10 yr), Alberta Premium (5 yr)

    19. Re:Whisky by auldnic · · Score: 1

      FLAMEBITTEN: Good Scotch is also for us Scottish people who know what good whisky is like. Americans are not the only people who drink.

    20. Re:Whisky by wesborgmandvm · · Score: 1

      Tennessee whiskey, of which Jack Daniel's is the leading example. During distillation, it is identical to bourbon in almost every important respect. The most recognizable difference is that Tennessee whiskey is filtered through sugar maple charcoal, giving it a unique flavor and aroma. The Government of the United States of America officially recognized Tennessee whiskey as a separate style in 1941.

    21. Re:Whisky by Gilmoure · · Score: 1

      Hmmm... Highland Park Whisky, Black Bush Whiskey, and Bulleit Bourbon Whiskey.

      All good!

      --
      I drank what? -- Socrates
    22. Re:Whisky by Funk_dat69 · · Score: 1

      It's funny how you call people stuck up for drinking Scotch, then go on to blab about stuck up ways to drink.

      People can drink it however they like.

      I was at a Bourbon tasting with Fred Noe (current CEO and decedent of Jim Beam) and he likes to drink with a small amount of water (enough to fit in a straw with your finger over the end) - the water opens the bouquet. He also said that anyone that tells your the "correct" way to drink is drinking for the wrong reasons. I tend to agree.

      --
      FUNK!
    23. Re:Whisky by Funk_dat69 · · Score: 2, Informative

      As long as we're being specific, for whiskey to be called 'Bourbon', it must be made with at least a 50% corn sour mash and must be aged at least 3 years in a new oak barrel.

      --
      FUNK!
    24. Re:Whisky by Spatial · · Score: 1

      Bolly! A Welsh word with less occurances of the letter 'Y' than the English equivalent. Astounding.

      Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to watch the evening newyddion.

    25. Re:Whisky by Abreu · · Score: 1

      TRIPLE FLAMEBAIT: If you are feeling mischievous and really want to drive a snob up a wall, ask for this refreshing drink:

      Calimocho
      In a tall glass with one or two ice cubes, fill half with coca-cola, half with red wine

      The coke softens the acidic tang of the red wine and the wine dilutes the oversweetness of the coke. Its like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!

      --
      No sig for the moment.
    26. Re:Whisky by AstroWeenie · · Score: 1

      Not bad. Although the 25 year old Laphroaig is smoother than the other Islay malts I've tried (most of them - never tried Port Askaig).

      Try Lagavulin for another really good Islay. The 16-year-old is about $60 (US) per bottle and is excellent. The more expensive varieties are even better.

    27. Re:Whisky by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I enjoy both Ardbeg and Laphroaig, but my favorite is Lagavulin... None more peat-y

    28. Re:Whisky by Dark_Gravity · · Score: 1

      No it's not, it's bourbon.

      Jack Daniels is definitely not bourbon. It is a Tennesee Whiskey.

      Bourbon is made is barley, corn and water and Jack Daniels is indeed made with corn. Jack Daniels is Bourbon Whiskey. Whiskey is barley and water (note, no corn).

      You are incorrect. http://www.straightbourbon.com/faq.html#6

    29. Re:Whisky by moosesocks · · Score: 1

      I don't have a source for this, but IIRC, Jack Daniels is the best-selling Whisk(e)y in Scotland.

      At the very least, it certainly seemed that way when I used to live out near Dundee....

      --
      -- If you try to fail and succeed, which have you done? - Uli's moose
    30. Re:Whisky by Dark_Gravity · · Score: 2, Informative

      Maker's is actually a Jim Beam brand. The spelling is probably just a marketing thing, but who knows.

      It appears that is correct now, but that has only been the case since a late 2005 acquisition.

    31. Re:Whisky by monktus · · Score: 1

      Hmm, Grouse. There are worse blends around, but I think it needs enough water to make it a Vaguely Familiar Grouse.

      --
      Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It's what separates us from the animals... except the weasel."
    32. Re:Whisky by quanticle · · Score: 1

      I don't have a source for this, but IIRC, Jack Daniels is the best-selling Whisk(e)y in Scotland.

      Well, sure. Just like Budweiser is the best selling beer in the 'States. Just because its the best selling doesn't mean its the best. More likely, its what people buy to drink while they save their money for the real good stuff :)

      --
      We all know what to do, but we don't know how to get re-elected once we have done it
    33. Re:Whisky by robthebloke · · Score: 1

      Brain Hemorrhage
      1 Pint of Guiness + shot of Baileys.

      The baileys curdles into an un-pleasant looking 'BRRRAAAAIAIIIIIINNNSSS' like horror at the bottom of your pint.

    34. Re:Whisky by robthebloke · · Score: 1

      You should try Laugavulin... One of the tastiest scotch's imho.

    35. Re:Whisky by robthebloke · · Score: 1

      You sir have bet on the right horse. Lagavulin for the win.

    36. Re:Whisky by moosesocks · · Score: 1

      It's notable, not because Jack Daniels is good, but because a country widely-known for its Whisky actually favors cheap shit imported from America.

      It's not surprising that Bud is the best-selling beer in the US. It's a domestic brand, cheap, widely available, and heavily marketed.

      It would be surprising, however, if Tennents or Carling were the most popular beers in the US, given that (despite their overseas popularity) they're fairly unremarkable, and would be comparatively expensive, once import tariffs are added.

      Import tariffs aren't exactly cheap, which makes it even more surprising.

      --
      -- If you try to fail and succeed, which have you done? - Uli's moose
    37. Re:Whisky by robthebloke · · Score: 1

      There are a few decent blends out there. Monkey Shoulder for example...

    38. Re:Whisky by robthebloke · · Score: 1

      She also said that any Scotch aged more the 12 years is too woody

      Glenfiddich 18
      Lagavulin 16

    39. Re:Whisky by jaavaaguru · · Score: 1

      Totally :-)

      Now if only I could find somewhere in California that sells them...

    40. Re:Whisky by robthebloke · · Score: 1

      Not anymore. The latest figure indicate that it's been beaten into second place by this tipple...

    41. Re:Whisky by idontgno · · Score: 1

      Really, any recommendation about an Islay should include a warning that what you're recommending isn't your usual mild and tender dram (like a Speyside). Islays have teeth and texture. You kinda have to commit to drinking an Islay. If you get taken by surprise, you'll react badly, confusing your sup with medicine or even creosote. If you know what you're getting into, it's wonderful, but among the many acquired tastes of whisky, Islay takes the most acquiring IMHO.

      --
      Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
    42. Re:Whisky by Fear+the+Clam · · Score: 1

      Jack Daniels is definitely not bourbon.
      It is a Tennesee Whiskey.

      Is that like a special olympics?

    43. Re:Whisky by idontgno · · Score: 1

      Macallan 18. Yum Glenmorangie 10. Hey, it was good enough for Connor MacLeod. I'm down with you on Lagavulin though.

      --
      Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
    44. Re:Whisky by Maelwryth · · Score: 1

      Beware the Tullamore Dew!

      --
      I reserve the write to mangle english.
    45. Re:Whisky by commodoresloat · · Score: 1

      You need to get yourself to the Cat & Fiddle in Hollywood; it's a British Pub but they do a mean Scotch egg. Ye Olde King's Head in Santa Monica also serves them and I've heard they're good. I've also heard that you can get them at Molly Malone's. Why the hell do I know this stuff?

    46. Re:Whisky by Fweeky · · Score: 1

      I love Talisker, nice and peaty. Balvenie is awesome if you like something sweeter and more drinkable.

    47. Re:Whisky by initialE · · Score: 1

      we're not getting into a gin and tonics argument here are we?</douglas adams>

      --
      Starbucks, Harbuckle of Breath.
    48. Re:Whisky by retchdog · · Score: 1

      Wow, I've been making this drink for myself for years. Quite enjoyable as you say, although I wouldn't use anything but three buck chuck, or box wine. I didn't know it had a name.

      --
      "They were pure niggers." – Noam Chomsky
  3. If they keep doing this, the Moon will be affected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    They will stop the moon, because everyone knoes that the Moon pushes the tides, and against these contraptions the moon will have to push harder, so it will lose speed and this giant Italian spy-satellite that we call the "moon" will crash into America and contaminate our base-ball parks and churches with its nefarious blasphemy. Obama has pledged to wage war against the terrorists, but "Barack" (his middle name is actually Giuseppe!) could be an agent of the sinister Italian infiltrators! Alert America! Alert!

  4. Hoots mon! by Canazza · · Score: 1

    I can see the Moray firth becoming more popular for the traditional New Year skinny dip, mainly to drink the run-off from the Power plant.

    --
    It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for being subtle.
    1. Re:Hoots mon! by FTWinston · · Score: 1

      And if Virgin Galactic build their proposed spaceport there, could we have booze-powered spaceships? Please?

    2. Re:Hoots mon! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Acould we have booze-powered spaceships? Please?

      The Russians have had those for years, now.

    3. Re:Hoots mon! by Canazza · · Score: 1

      no no no... the astronauts were perfectly sober...
      it was the ground control team that were sozzled.

      --
      It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for being subtle.
  5. 7.2MW for 9000 homes? by AceJohnny · · Score: 4, Informative

    That's 800W per home. That's very little. A fridge, a microwave, and you're quickly over it.

    What is, actually, the average power draw of a home in Scotland?

    --
    Misleading titles? Inflammatory blurbs? Keep in mind that Slashdot is a tabloid.
    1. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by stranger_to_himself · · Score: 2, Insightful

      That's 800W per home. That's very little. A fridge, a microwave, and you're quickly over it.

      What is, actually, the average power draw of a home in Scotland?

      I was thinking that 9000 homes sounds like it should cover the whole of the Highlands.

    2. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by borizz · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I bet 800W is the average power draw of a Scottish home. I bet it's also about the average power draw of a Dutch home. I think they also use natural gas for heating and (mostly?) for cooking, like we do. Your microwave might use 1100 Watts, but you're not running it 24/7. Your fridge only uses a lot of power when it runs its compressor. You're not running your washing machine constantly.

      The trick with these calculations is is that they're on average. Yes, during the day the plant will probably not be able to supply them all. But you should look at it this way: The plant generates x terajoules per year, and 9000 homes use x terajoules per year. In reality, sometimes the plant will only feed 1000 homes, sometimes it'll feed 18000 homes.

    3. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      That's 800W per home. That's very little. A fridge, a microwave, and you're quickly over it.

      What is, actually, the average power draw of a home in Scotland?

      you keep your microwave running all day?

    4. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by Canazza · · Score: 2, Informative

      The higlands need energy for three things:
      Lighting, Milking and if they're lucky, Cooking
      that is, if they're near the national grid. If not then they'll be using Diesel generators and will only get their milking and cooking done in darkness. Unless they have a Gas stove.

      --
      It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for being subtle.
    5. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

      The average Uk home uses 4700kWh of electricity per year.
      http://www.renew-reuse-recycle.com/showarticle.pl?id=311

      4700/(365*24)=0.536

      So only 536W average load

    6. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by MadMidnightBomber · · Score: 1

      Winter or summer?

      Never mind, summer doesn't really happen north of Berwick.

      --
      "It doesn't cost enough, and it makes too much sense."
    7. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't forget that it won't be the only power station on the grid. Because you have such a massive number of total houses, you can just use the average to calculate these numbers.

      Of course, the 800W per home is probably not based on the 8am or 6pm peaks, those are quite a bit higher.

    8. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      summer doesn't really happen north of Berwick.

      Yes it does! Thats when the snow turns to rain. :P

    9. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by Canazza · · Score: 2, Informative

      the funny thing is, Winter in Glasgow, atleast, is generally drier than summer (in which the rain is usually torrential) - no idea why that is, but it's rained about 3 times in the last month here.

      --
      It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for being subtle.
    10. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by Planar · · Score: 1

      The trick with these calculations is is that they're on average. Yes, during the day the plant will probably not be able to supply them all. But you should look at it this way: The plant generates x terajoules per year, and 9000 homes use x terajoules per year. In reality, sometimes the plant will only feed 1000 homes, sometimes it'll feed 18000 homes.

      Counting only the average is a recipe for disaster. You have to build your plant to deal with the maximum, not the average. Or you have to come up with a way to store massive amounts of electricity.

    11. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by owlnation · · Score: 1

      What is, actually, the average power draw of a home in Scotland?

      Fairly low compared to most of Northern Europe and North America. Scotland gets the Gulf stream in the winter, it's rarely below 0 degree Celsius, and it's never hot enough in Summer (that's a Tuesday in July) to warrant air conditioning. It has a very mild climate compared with most of the Northern Latitudes (though this doesn't stop Scots moaning about the weather, but most never live anywhere else to realize how tame the climate really is.)

      Large numbers of homes in Glasgow also get their electricity by stealing it from street lighting, and are usually too drunk to notice the temperature. But that's another story...

      So, I guess Whisky has always provided energy to many Scots!

    12. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by DocDJ · · Score: 2, Informative

      You don't need to store massive amounts of electricity, just massive amounts of energy, in whatever form. That's what pumped-storage hydroelectric power stations do - they pump water uphill overnight using the cheap electricity produced by the coal and nuclear power stations that can't be turned off, and then let it fall during the day, driving the turbines.

    13. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by Canazza · · Score: 1

      I resent that, we in the West end are perfectly civilised. We recycle and everything. Our energy comes from turbines built into catflaps.

      --
      It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for being subtle.
    14. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by xaxa · · Score: 1

      Counting only the average is a recipe for disaster. You have to build your plant to deal with the maximum, not the average. Or you have to come up with a way to store massive amounts of electricity.

      Or just transmit the required power from elsewhere in the UK: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Grid_(UK)

    15. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Or you have to come up with a way to store massive amounts of electricity.

      We already have that. Thanks to our extensive hydro-electric infrastructure, we're able to use surplus production at times of low demand to pump water into elevated reservoirs which feed the hydro plants at peak demand. We've done it with surplus coal power for many years now.

    16. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by denzacar · · Score: 1

      About 1.6 gallons of whisky per household member?

      --
      Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
    17. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by borizz · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Don't worry, they have that covered.

      This is just a Discovery Channel unit. How much is 7.2MW? About enough to power 9000 homes. How heavy is the space shuttle? About 400 Volkswagen Beetles. It's only done to give someone without a feel for how much a Watt is (there's loads of those people) an example of how much power this will generate.

    18. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by dunkelfalke · · Score: 1

      base load powerplants are for average, peak load powerplants are for delta between average und maximum.

      --
      "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
    19. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Thank you for reminding me why I hardly ever come to /. anymore. The sheer stupidity and arrogance you show in this post is astounding.

      Clearly you can do the job of designing the electrical grid better than the professionals who have been doing it for decades.
      You're forgetting about the existence of the local and national grid.
      You're forgetting they have nearly a century of data on electrical load trends.
      You really don't know what you're talking about and should shut up.

    20. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by Gordonjcp · · Score: 1

      I think they also use natural gas for heating and (mostly?) for cooking

      Up north we use gas, although oil and solid-fuel boilers are pretty common too. Quite often houses will have a big oil tank for heating and a couple of propane bottles for cooking. Mains gas would be uneconomic, given the runs of pipes involved. An ever-growing number of modern homes use solid-fuel heating (either an oldskool Rayburn, or a modern pellet- or chip-fed boiler) in conjunction with ground-source heat pumps.

    21. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by necro81 · · Score: 1

      Look at it another way. 800 Watts times 24 hours is 19.2 kWh of energy consumption in a day. The typical home in the US uses about 30 kWh/day, my own uses less than 8 (and, yes, I have a fridge, and a microwave, and everything else you'd expect). So, 19.2 kWh/day for a Scottish home is probably not all that out of line.

    22. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by NatasRevol · · Score: 1

      Is that per day or per hour?

      --
      There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
    23. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      About 1 pint/day, lad.

      Three pints if you mean bitters.

    24. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by sjames · · Score: 1

      Actually, you build a base load plant to handle the continuous need and you use other plants to handle the peak load. It's been a long time since a house received power from THE power plant. It's all interconnected now.

      When 'home' is used as a unit of measure for a power plant, it's just an effort to put things in a scale that average readers will understand, kind of like libraries of congress per second.

    25. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by Mr.+Slippery · · Score: 1

      You have to build your plant to deal with the maximum, not the average.

      Only if it's the only power plant around. There's this idea of a "grid", you see.

      --
      Tom Swiss | the infamous tms | my blog
      You cannot wash away blood with blood
    26. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by Rogerborg · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Don't forget the inner glow of our burning, seething hatred for the English. And the Welsh. And the Japanese. And other Scots. Damn Scots, they ruined Scotland.

      --
      If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
    27. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by gbjbaanb · · Score: 1

      Well, just imagine if they found a way to generate electricity from rainfall - Scotland would become a energy exporter to, well, everyone :-)

    28. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by moosesocks · · Score: 1

      The Highland council is reported to have a population of 217,000.

      I tend to doubt that there are 24 people per household.....

      --
      -- If you try to fail and succeed, which have you done? - Uli's moose
    29. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by blackest_k · · Score: 1

      I was surprised to find my fridge freezer needs 100 watts when running the compressor 12 watts for the light and 0 for most of the time. If yours is using much more perhaps its time to invest in a newer fridge.

    30. Re:7.2MW for 9000 homes? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The problem isn't that we think we get extremes of weather; it's that it's so dark, damp and depressing for so much of the time, with the sky often being a solid slab of grey without a hint of blue for days. Rain isn't a refreshing respite from the sun, but a drizzle that lasts all day. Winter isn't a time of snow, ice and crisp, bright days, but a soggy, overcast affair that's just a wetter, darker version of the other seasons with more mud and less greenery.

      This winter has been drier, colder and brighter than the average for the past 5 years or so, but some of the recent winters have been extremely miserable and depressing, with rain almost every day, nearly constant heavy cloud cover and freakishly high temperatures.

  6. Tight? Just careful! by Hognoxious · · Score: 4, Funny

    What is, actually, the average power draw of a home in Scotland?

    Not much.

    What do Scots use for heating when it's cold? A 40 watt lightbulb.

    What do they do when it's very cold? Switch it on.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    1. Re:Tight? Just careful! by __aayejd672 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Its only English that say Scots are tight - thats coz we dont give them the time of day :p

    2. Re:Tight? Just careful! by RotateLeftByte · · Score: 1

      Funny that. My ex (who hails from Old Reekie) used to say that about people from Dundee (where her Father came from) especially around the time of her Birthday...

      --
      I'd rather be riding my '63 Triumph T120.
    3. Re:Tight? Just careful! by u38cg · · Score: 1

      Heh. Not only that, they don't wash themselves.

      --
      [FUCK BETA]
    4. Re:Tight? Just careful! by brackishboy · · Score: 1
      Ah yes;

      "Thank you for flying Air Edinburgh. You'll have had your tea..."

  7. whisky vs whiskey by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    fyi- if it's made in Scotland, you spell it "whisky" (no 'e'), if it's anywhere else, it's "whiskey" (with an 'e').

    a couple of charlatans in other countries do spell it without an 'e', but we've sent our finest drunken brawlers to deal with them asap.

    1. Re:whisky vs whiskey by conureman · · Score: 1

      My mother's family is straight up Scotch-Irish from SE Kentucky, and from them I learned it as Whusky. Is that an older form or an affectation?

      --
      The cost of that cleanup, of course, will be borne by taxpayers, not industry.
    2. Re:whisky vs whiskey by PartickThistle · · Score: 2, Funny

      No, it's because they're pissed-drunk.

    3. Re:whisky vs whiskey by Missing_dc · · Score: 1

      Affectation likely caused by too much on the breath.
      I've heard it said that way at bars in Virginia.

      --
      How amazed would you be to suddenly find that you just forgot what I wrote and you needed to reread my post.... again.
    4. Re:whisky vs whiskey by value_added · · Score: 1

      fyi- if it's made in Scotland, you spell it "whisky" (no 'e'), if it's anywhere else, it's "whiskey" (with an 'e').

      No matter how it's spelled, if it's pronounced by a true Scotsman, it'll require subtitles in the US.

    5. Re:whisky vs whiskey by robthebloke · · Score: 1

      I imagine that if your mothers family is half scotch, it might just be the liquidity in the gene's that prevents them putting a floating dot over the i. If they were half scottish however, they'd spell it whisky.

    6. Re:whisky vs whiskey by robthebloke · · Score: 1

      It's ok, i think they'll understand a Glaswegian kiss when they see one....

    7. Re:whisky vs whiskey by conureman · · Score: 1

      We Americans don't actually spell it Scots-Irish, you are referring to Scotsmen, perhaps? I googled whusky, it may be that my grandfather got that spelling from his old drinking buddy, Tim Spencer. Shoulda asked him about that.

      --
      The cost of that cleanup, of course, will be borne by taxpayers, not industry.
  8. the Scots are leading by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Scotland's First Minister came and gave a speech at National Geographic Headquarters a few months ago in which he announced a $15M prize for whomever could come up with a way to harness the sea's energy around Scotland. I'm wondering if this will be one of the entries. Either way, Scotland seems to be located in a prime spot to be leading the charge with this type of renewable energy.

    --
    This guy's the limit!
  9. Know your drinks! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There's no 'e' in whisky in Scotland!

  10. Whiskey Byproducts by Randy+Savage · · Score: 4, Funny

    Powered by Glaswegian headbutts, and horrendous hangovers.

    1. Re:Whiskey Byproducts by Threni · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      And bitterness towards the English, for reasons only the Scots have bothered to remember.

    2. Re:Whiskey Byproducts by Dark_Matter88 · · Score: 1

      I'm a scot, and i agree.

    3. Re:Whiskey Byproducts by Mr.+No+Skills · · Score: 1

      I was thinking "vomit and pregnancy", but same joke I guess...

      --
      Sleep is for the Weak
  11. What's a hiskey by-product? by InsaneCreator · · Score: 1

    Helius Energy to install a power plant fueled entirely by whiskey by-products.

    That's an excellent idea. Raging drunks do have a lot of energy.

  12. As long as they don't burn my whisky... by ltning · · Score: 1

    ...as I still need that to keep myself warm.

    --
    Love over Gold.
    1. Re:As long as they don't burn my whisky... by Spatial · · Score: 1

      I remember reading that although it makes you feel warm, it actually lowers your body temperature. As a result it's dangerous to drink it for comfort if you're trapped in very cold conditions. Is that true?

  13. Waves and Whiskey by MightyDrunken · · Score: 1

    This gives me a great idea!
    Fix small wave powered generators to Whiskey drinkers and the resulting swaying motion from the inebriated could power Scotland.

  14. Go To Scotland In January by aquatone282 · · Score: 1

    . . . and you'll understand why they invented wool AND whiskey.

    --
    What?
    1. Re:Go To Scotland In January by mrbene · · Score: 1

      Gosh, glad the Scots invented wool - the sheep must have been cold before that.

    2. Re:Go To Scotland In January by Canazza · · Score: 1

      actually, last night i was walking round in just jeans and a t-shirt... considering the forcast was a snowstorm heading in from Siberia it was rather mild

      --
      It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for being subtle.
    3. Re:Go To Scotland In January by hoover · · Score: 2, Informative

      No wonder if you're a Scot. We travelled Edinburgh a few years ago in early May and as soon as the sun came out, the locals were donning shorts, T-shirts, Kilts and the lassies in short skirts... all at around 5 degs Celsius, brrr ;-)

      --
      Ever wondered whats wrong with the world? http://www.ishmael.org/
    4. Re:Go To Scotland In January by PartickThistle · · Score: 1

      The Icelanders are sending woolly jumpers to people in Hull, England because it's -3.

      How we laughed!

      If it's -3 in Scotland we get the Hawaiian shirts and hulas on and have a barbecue next to the River Clyde whilst downing pints of 25 year old Auchentoshan mixed with Tennents Lager.

  15. It's actually TWO huge data centers by 1sockchuck · · Score: 3, Informative

    The Scottish tidal power project actually involves two huge data center projects. Atlantis is working with Morgan Stanley on a large data center near its planned tidal power generation site in the Pentland Firth. Internet Villages is planning a large data center campus near Dumfries that could eventually include 3 million SF of data center facilities. The alliance will split the responsibiltiies, with Atlantis handling power generation at its own site and a second location nearer the Dumfires project, while IVI will handles the marketing and be responsible for finding customers for both facilities.

  16. 800 should be enough for everyone by spectrokid · · Score: 1

    You leave your microwave on constantly, do you? When averaged out over a large population, 800 W is not bad. A fridge will use about 40 Watt, add another 40 for clocks, standby crap and other always-on stuff. This means that in the 8 hours you are at work, your house only uses 10% of that average value.

    --

    10 ?"Hello World" life was simple then

  17. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  18. Firth by haggisbrain · · Score: 1

    For those of you not familiar with the term Firth:

    "usually a large sea bay, which may be part of an estuary, or just an inlet, or even a strait"

  19. Re:If they keep doing this, the Moon will be affec by 32771 · · Score: 1

    The moon will move outward slightly faster than it already does. As a result the total eclipses we are able to watch now will become a ring at some point. I know you were trying to be funny but I just had to ... .

    --
    Je me souviens.
  20. Hmmm... Numbers??? by BazilBBrush · · Score: 1

    150MW Data Center...

    If a 7.2MW plant can power 9,000 homes, then a 150MW data center would use the equivalent of nearly 200,000 homes...

    Didn't seem right so a bit of research found...

    "5MW - the power consumption of a large data center today, according to Subodh Bapat, who runs Sun's energy efforts. 50MW - that's the average large datacenter in 2020, he said."

    from some greentech mob

    So we either have typical media numbers spin, or that's one mother of a data center they plan to build.

  21. Getting Lit by whisper_jeff · · Score: 1

    This takes the phrase "getting lit" to a whole new level.

    Seriously speaking though, this is very cool. I hope lots of other companies/industries that churn out biomass take a lesson from this.

    1. Re:Getting Lit by Pictish+Prince · · Score: 1

      This takes the phrase "getting lit" to a whole new level. Seriously speaking though, this is very cool. I hope lots of other companies/industries that churn out biomass take a lesson from this.

      "Biomass"? Just remember, if it's nae Scottish it's "crap"!

      --
      Only his tendency toward a dazed stupor prevented him from screaming aloud.
  22. Ther is no 'e' by BlindRobin · · Score: 1

    in whisky....

  23. This is good news considering UK energy strikes... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    which are.... just starting, so 3 day week anyone?

    So long Slashdot and thanks for all the fish!

  24. Jack Daniels is not bourbon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Jack Daniels absolutely IS NOT bourbon, it's Tennessee Whiskey.

  25. Re:If they keep doing this, the Moon will be affec by kerohazel · · Score: 1, Redundant

    So what you're telling me is... that's no moon?

    (couldn't resist)

    --
    Skype is too convoluted... Now I'm reverse-engineering the Kyoto Protocol.
  26. I don't get it by Dunbal · · Score: 1

    a power plant fueled entirely by whiskey by-products.

    How they're planning on fueling a plant with drunkards without breaking the law is beyond me...

    PS: It's a JOKE (for the humor impaired).

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    1. Re:I don't get it by o'reor · · Score: 1

      Reminds me of a good one, to the tune of "The Greenland Whale Fisheries":

      D A7
      'Twas in nineteen hundred and sixty-five
      D A7
      And of June the thirteenth day
      D G
      That we weighed our anchors to our bow

      D A7 D
      And for Greenland bore away, brave boys,
      A7 D
      And for Greenland bore away.

      Bold Stanley was our captain's name
      And our ship the DIMOS bold,
      And we poor souls our anchors weighed
      To face the storms and cold, brave boys,
      To face the storms and cold.

      And when we arrived in that cold countree
      The icecap to explore
      We wished ourselves at the Evans Area
      On New Jersey's sunlit shore, brave boys,
      On New Jersey's sunlit shore.

      "Then at it, boys," our captain said.
      "To the tunnel let us go."
      And we spread our mats in the gloom and the dark
      To melt those tons of snow, brave boys,
      To melt those tons of snow.

      And when our labors all were done
      And our backs did ache full sore
      The mats went to gallant Louie Alvarez
      And we went to the bar, brave boys,
      And we went to the bar.

      And when we returned to our homes so dear
      Louie told a dreadful tale:
      His postdocs got drunk and they fell in the machine
      And the whole experiment failed, brave boys,
      And the whole experiment failed.

      Now the losing of those young postdocs
      It grieves my heart full sore,
      But the losing of that Nobel Prize
      It grieves me ten times more, brave boys,
      It grieves me ten times more.

      Now Greenland is a dreadful place,
      A land that's never green,
      Where there's ice and there's snow and the physicists all go
      And daylight's seldom seen, brave boys,
      And daylight's seldom seen.

      --
      In Soviet Russia, our new overlords are belong to all your base.
  27. Burning food... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...in this case animal food, which is what usually happens to the solids left over from whisky making. But it's good publicity - who cares if it makes sense or not...

  28. Re:If they keep doing this, the Moon will be affec by NatasRevol · · Score: 1

    Some point? Like now? or 17 years ago!

    http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap090125.html

    --
    There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
  29. Obligatory by PeeAitchPee · · Score: 1

    "Now, here's a fellow attempting to ride a bicycle. But he's having some trouble, isn't he? And do you know why? Because he's a Scot!!" -- Buzz Killington

  30. Wont someone think of the cows? by MadMcMan · · Score: 1

    And reader Mike writes "Here's something to raise a glass to: recently the Rothes consortium of whiskey and scotch distillers announced that they have partnered with Helius Energy to install a power plant fueled entirely by whiskey by-products. The completed plant will use biomass cogeneration to convert draff and pot ale from the distillery into 7.2 MW of electricity -- enough to power 9,000 homes."

    but they generally use the draff for cattle feed! poor cows wont be getting any lovely whisky food!

  31. Whisky by-products? by digitig · · Score: 0, Redundant

    fueled entirely by whiskey by-products

    They can get power from urine now?

    --
    Quidnam Latine loqui modo coepi?
  32. Re:If they keep doing this, the Moon will be affec by Funk_dat69 · · Score: 1

    Isn't it a bit early to be hitting the Scotch? I guess it's 5 o'clock somewhere...

    --
    FUNK!
  33. One small problems with this.. by LingNoi · · Score: 1

    The completed plant will use biomass cogeneration to convert draff and pot ale from the distillery into 7.2 MW of electricity â" enough to power 9,000 homes

    and how much electricity does it take to power the distillery in the first place? Sounds like they're focusing on the benefits without realising that it's not actually helpful at all, side from the fact that the distillery would be running anyway.

    1. Re:One small problems with this.. by The+Dancing+Panda · · Score: 1

      Amazing...another pessimistic slashdotter suggesting that instead of trying to find new ways to efficiently power the world, we just shut off everything that takes power.

    2. Re:One small problems with this.. by LingNoi · · Score: 1

      I'm just suggesting that it uses more power then it produces in the first place, thus the 9,000 homes figure isn't accurate.

    3. Re:One small problems with this.. by gbjbaanb · · Score: 1

      except that you've forgotten the distillery will be working regardless of whether if can generate electricity from the left-overs, or if they were the equivalent of nuclear waste. This is 9000 homes worth of additional energy that we didn't have before.

    4. Re:One small problems with this.. by LingNoi · · Score: 1

      No I didn't actually, instead of tell you to read my first post i'll repost it..

      Sounds like they're focusing on the benefits without realising that it's not actually helpful at all, side from the fact that the distillery would be running anyway.

      Sorry I don't go for political bullshit statistics. It's not 9000 additional homes of enegry if it's a net loss. All you're doing is hiding the facts to make it sound better then it really is.

  34. not to rain on the parade by circletimessquare · · Score: 2, Insightful

    but we have these in new york city in the east river, and one effect of tidal turbines is they increase silting because they slow the tides, possibly requiring the city to dredge at some point

    not that the pentland firth is as shallow or has as many ships as the east river, but what it does have that the east river doesn't (because we killed it) is an ecosystem. slower water speeds changes the balance of natural flora and fauna that depend upon the tides to work at a speed they have worked for eons (filtration, transport, reproductive timing, etc.)

    point being: there is no such thing as truly green energy. any energy source has a negative impact on the environment in one way or another

    there is no such thing as a free lunch

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
  35. Re:If they keep doing this, the Moon will be affec by xaxa · · Score: 1

    Isn't it a bit early to be hitting the Scotch? I guess it's 5 o'clock somewhere...

    11 o'clock UK time is late enough to hit the Scotch -- but only on a Friday.

    Monday-Thursday it's best to wait until lunchtime.

  36. Re:If they keep doing this, the Moon will be affec by Sloppy · · Score: 1

    I am getting so tired of liberals mislabelling Orbit Change as "Moon Slowing" and implying that we know it's caused by man.

    --
    As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.
  37. Error in Title and elsewhere by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If it's from Scotland, it should *always* be "Whisky", not "Whiskey" (whether the person writing is from Scotland, the US or where ever).
    This is *very* important.

    See the wikipedia article for more details.

  38. mod parent up by Sloppy · · Score: 1

    Yay, someone gets it! It's about energy, not power.

    --
    As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.
  39. New Belgium Beer Power by Colonel+Korn · · Score: 2, Informative

    New Belgium, the best large scale beer producer in North America, produced a substantial fraction of its operating electricity through methane collection (and burning) from its waste products. They have a few other nifty energy tricks, too. For instance, most of the time they don't run interior lighting because instead they have reflective light pipes bringing in sunlight from the roof through all the floors of their buildings.

    If you know their flagship beer, it also shouldn't surprise you that a lot of the employees bike to work. Thanks to being in Colorado, that's comfortable more than 300 days a year.

    --
    "I zero-index my hamsters" - Willtor (147206)
  40. So Scottish grid now... by ctrl-alt-canc · · Score: 1

    ...is powered by Whisky and soda ?!?

  41. oh sure when I brought this months ago it was dumb by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    so who did timmy blow?

  42. Re:If they keep doing this, the Moon will be affec by robthebloke · · Score: 1

    Yeah, the lady sitting next to me on the bus this morning was on it at about 8.30...

  43. Queue the Scotty jokes by onemorechip · · Score: 1

    I can't get no power, Captain. Send down more whiskey!

    --
    But, I wanted socialized health insurance!
  44. Drink your medicne by rumblin'rabbit · · Score: 1

    Never took to those seaside malts. Too ... medicinal. I'll get my iodine from table salt, thanks.

    Give me those highland malts, with their hints of heather and peat and sheep dung. I can hear the pipes now, and see the kilts flapping in the breeze.

    Accchhh. Cancel that last bit.

  45. Getting Away From the Whiskey for a Moment by Cormophyte · · Score: 1

    I don't know much about tide-powered generators, but doesn't this sort of thing have the potential to screw with the natural order of things a bit? Like shredding sharks, or providing a barrier so little baby walri can't get to shore and drown?

    1. Re:Getting Away From the Whiskey for a Moment by 6Yankee · · Score: 1

      If the baby walri are stupid enough to come ashore to drown they deserve it.

  46. Just image what Ireland could have done by fataugie · · Score: 1

    ...if they thought of it.
    Assuming they could sober up long enough to think clearly...they could have led the world in power generation.

    "I kid...I kid...."

    --

    WTF? Over?

  47. He can't be William Wallace by visible.frylock · · Score: 1

    Wimpy: William Wallace is sevuhn feet tahl.

    WW: Aye, soh uv hurd. Ahnd uf e wer here, he'd powuhr ahl uf Scotland wth fyrhbahlls frum is eyes, ahnd bolts of lyhtning frum is arse!

    Soldiers, in unison: Haw haw haw haw!!

    WW: I ahm William Wallace!

    --
    Billy Brown rides on. Yolanda Green bypasses Gary White.
  48. By-products? by Slicebo · · Score: 1

    ". . .to install a power plant fueled entirely by whiskey by-products."

    How cool. . . a power plan fueled by vomit!

  49. Re:If they keep doing this, the Moon will be affec by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Plus, it's a double-whammy for the moon. Whiskey is basically the same thing as moonshine, so not only are they using up the moon's gravitational pull, they're using its shine as well!