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Power In Scotland From Tides and Whiskey

Posted by timothy on from the plus-the-spinning-corpse-of-william-wallace dept.

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."

11 of 170 comments (clear)

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

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

    --Bud

  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 Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      No it's not, it's bourbon.

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

    3. 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 It was named bourbon, because it was originally made in Bourbon county, Kentucky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

  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. 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 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.

    2. 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

  5. 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."
  6. Whiskey Byproducts by Randy+Savage · · Score: 4, Funny

    Powered by Glaswegian headbutts, and horrendous hangovers.