Two news reports this week highlight the battle over the choice of low carbon energy supply that is giving the UK government a headache. They also demonstrate the continued preference for established energy sources over greener alternatives. But are government energy policies that aim to tackle climate change based on false information? 10 November sees the publication of the World Energy Outlook 2009, a guide published annually by the International Energy Agency (IEA) which has gained a reputation as the most authoritative source of energy analysis and forecasts. The figures it presents, for example on oil supply levels and greenhouse gas emissions, are used worldwide in policy-making and business projections by governments and the energy industry.
Crucially, the climate change talks at Bangkok in October featured predictions on expected peaks in fossil fuel and carbon emissions based on statistics provided by the IEA, which they hope will impact on the climate change agreement at Copenhagen. However, several sources at the IEA have voiced concerns that the figures do not accurately represent the decline of oil supplies, which it claims will not peak before 2030. This is in contrast to a report by the UK Energy Research Council (UKERC) that states oil supplies could go into decline before 2020. One source at the IEA alleged that the ‘distorted’ figures were a result of US influence and an attempt to prevent panic buying of oil if it was thought that stocks were low.
The revelation brings in to question the validity of using the World Energy Outlook as a reliable source of information and may have a detrimental effect on the climate change talks at Copenhagen. At the same time, the warning by other external reports that falling oil production is much closer than 2030 should prompt a swifter response by the UK government in considering other options and sources for generating energy.
So what have they come up with? Nuclear energy, announced this week by the Energy and Climate Secretary, Ed Miliband, will contribute one third of UK energy supplies, together with renewables and clean fossil fuels, and 10 possible sites are being considered for the next generation of nuclear power plants. Nuclear energy may tick the low carbon emission box but the government’s plans overlook the facts that construction of such power plants is expensive, not least in relation to the amount of energy they will generate, and then there is the problem of disposing radioactive waste, an alarming prospect given that there remain considerable difficulties decomissioning the first generation of nuclear power plants. The government maintains that the new sites will boost the local economy and create new jobs and, although construction of the plants is still a long way off, local objections have already been made. To find out more about environmental and anti-nuclear groups around the designated sites, check out the following websites.
Last Updated (Thursday, 12 November 2009 12:35)
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Have a look at this petition on the YouGen site. They claim the government's plans for a feed-in tariff discriminates against early adopters of small-scale microgeneration, some of whom will be worse off as a result of the Clean Energy Cashback (feed-in tariff) proposals. They will receive just 9p per kWh whatever size installation compared with a maximum rate of 36.5p for new small solar PV installations.
Last Updated (Friday, 30 October 2009 18:14)
I'm not sure if this is the result of lateral thinking and an evil genius, but the humble fridge has the capability of replacing our coal power stations.
You have to give British engineers and boffins credit when it comes to many innovative ideas. New Energy Focus reports that researchers at Imperial College are testing the use of intelligent fridges to cope with the intermittancy of wind energy, in a Dynamic Demand system, effectively replacing coal power stations connected to the grid. For more information take a look at the New Energy Focus article .
The Guardian
Wind Energy Myths and Facts
RLtec
Last Updated (Tuesday, 09 December 2008 11:43)
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Another American startup brings a new design of wind turbine to the UK for the BWEA30 conference, reports MarketWatch . The revolutionary Broadstar AeroCam moves away from the standard horizontal axis turbine (large propellor blades) design and replaces it with what looks like a 'paddle wheel'. The company claim it actually produces more energy in less space. One main advantage of the system is the low height of the turbine, this could be useful in areas where there are concerns about the visual impact turbines have on the landscape.
Wind Energy - Facts and Myths
Last Updated (Wednesday, 15 October 2008 11:26)
A Portsmouth University design student has successfully built a wind turbine out of scrap materials. Max Robson designed the turbine from 100% scrap materials and it could be built in developing nations. Max has been awarded a first class honours degree in Product Design and Modern Materials.
Link
Wind Energy - Facts and Myths
Last Updated (Friday, 05 September 2008 10:11)
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Thursday, 12 November 2009 12:03 | 
Written by Miss Christabel | 
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