March 22, 2006
Micro-generation
Friends of the Earth Scotland have an excellent page on micro-renewable energy - which means do-it-yourself clean electricity generation.
This includes a system for absorbing heat from the ground which I hadn’t heard of before. It is being used in the Orkneys.
www.foe-scotland.org.uk/nation/microrenewables.html
Posted by Simon Holledge at 12:25 PM | TrackBack
October 20, 2005
Powergen and Scottish Power biggest CO2 emitters
Friends of the Earth Scotland have published a table of figures on energy companies, showing where their electricity comes from, as well as the extent of their production of CO2 and nuclear waste. (This information is now available as a result of new EU rules.)
Powergen’s performance was the poorest with 56 percent of its energy from coal and only 0.5 percent from clean renewables. Scottish Power came next with 48 percent from coal and 6 percent from renewables. Only Good Energy had a completely clean sheet, although it is worth noting that the main suppliers offer different tariffs, some more green than others.
FoE Scotland also provide information about switching provider or tariff.
www.foe-scotland.org.uk/press/pr20051002b.html
Posted by Simon Holledge at 06:50 PM | TrackBack
September 09, 2005
CO2 producer Scottish Power threatened by takeover
Following a disastrous attempt to expand in America, Scottish Power is facing a takeover bid from the German company E.On, the owner of Powergen.
The account in the Scotsman is all about boardroom battles and the politicians (including Nicola Sturgeon for the SNP) are focussing on the possible loss of a major Scottish company to foreign (if European) ownership.
Nobody is apparently relating this to emissions policy. Scottish Power are the owners of Scotland’s two coal-fired power stations: Longannet (largest in the UK), and Cockenzie. These stations are the biggest emitters of CO2 in the country.
This is what Friends of the Earth say:
Scottish Power owns two of the most polluting coal power stations in the UK, both based in Scotland. The operation of these stations is contributing to Scotland’s failure to keep pace with England in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Neither of its stations have confirmed plans to fit sulphur controls which would cut acid rain causing emissions.
What would E.ON do with them? That’s the question.
news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1906742005
www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/pressforchange/carbon_dinosaurs/index.html
Posted by Simon Holledge at 12:30 AM | TrackBack
June 30, 2005
SUCCESS! CO2/Tree Planting Pledge fulfilled
My CO2 offset / Tree Planting campaign at the Pledge Bank has been successful.
We now have 100 signatories. We are asking everybody to go ahead and arrange tree planting to offset their 2005 carbon emissions.
The pledge is still open for more people to sign up.
www.pledgebank.com/treeplanting
Posted by Simon Holledge at 12:57 PM | TrackBack
June 28, 2005
Nuclear Fusion plant to be built in France
As expected, France is to build the first experimental nuclear fusion reactor (ITER) at a cost of 10 bilion euros, at Cadarache near Aix-en-Provence. The project is supported by the EU, Japan, the Russian Federation and the USA.
Offering potentially the holy grail of limitless clean energy, it will nevertheless be ten years before the reactor at Cadarache becomes operational and several decades after that before there is any possibility of the commercial development of nuclear fusion energy, assuming that technical problems have been overcome en route.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4629239.stm#
Posted by Simon Holledge at 10:52 PM | TrackBack
June 17, 2005
Carbon sequestration
The government is giving GBP 25 million to develop carbon sequestration technology - pumping CO2 from fossil fuel fired power stations underground, instead of allowing it to rise into the atmosphere.
The Norwegian company Statoil has been working on this technology since 1996, and according to the Guardian have stored more than 6 million tonnes of CO2.
politics.guardian.co.uk/green/story/0,9061,1506620,00.html
Posted by Simon Holledge at 12:04 AM | TrackBack
June 14, 2005
Climate Care website
Thanks to Jason Reich, I have found another excellent website with CO2 emission calculators.
Climate Care have some interesting overseas projects. In South Africa, where emissions are particularly heavy due to coal-fired power stations, they are distributing low energy light bulbs, and they are restoring rain forest in Uganda.
Posted by Simon Holledge at 04:05 PM | TrackBack
June 13, 2005
The Skakagrall CO2/Tree Planting Pledge
The Pledge Bank was launched this morning. I have registered this pledge:
I will have 10 trees planted to offset my total carbon dioxide emissions for 2005 but only if 99 other people will too.
I am delighted to say there has been a terrific response. In a matter of a few hours 33 people have already signed. (The deadline is officially 31 December 2005.)
www.pledgebank.com/treeplanting
UPDATE 29 June 2005
The pledge has been successful. This evening the last of the required 99 people signed up.
Posted by Simon Holledge at 04:36 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack
June 12, 2005
Calculating personal CO2 emissions
I have just estimated our annual CO2 emissions for the first time. I used the calculators on the Future Forests site (see 11 June) which are based on official figures published by DEFRA.
Here are the figures:
Air flight: 2.2 tonnes (one ticket Edinburgh/Tokyo return)
Car: 2 tonnes (1.1 litre engine/8,550 miles a year)
Home gas: 2.3 tonnes (11,900 KWh a year, at 0.19 kg CO2 per KWh)
Home electricity: 0 tonnes (green tariff, see 8 June. Non-green electricity works out at 0.43 kg CO2 per KWh)
Total: 6.5 tonnes
I was surprised to find that one long-distance flight produced more CO2 than a year’s use of the car. The good news is that planting nine or ten trees a year would neutralize the effect we are having on global warming.
Posted by Simon Holledge at 12:01 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
June 08, 2005
Switching to green energy
Earlier this year we switched both our gas and electricity supply from Scottish Gas (a.k.a. British Gas) to a green provider, the RSPB (Scottish Hydro Electric). We will be paying a little more for our electricity but much less for our gas. (British Gas have raised their prices and achieved an 83 per cent increase in profits recently, so it’s just common sense to move to a cheaper supplier.)
Switching enables us to eliminate emissions resulting from our use of electricity, which is worthwhile considering that the Scottish coal-fired power stations of Longannet and Cockenzie are by far the largest producers of CO2 in the country.
(There are a number of websites that help you change supplier. I think I used uSwitch but the others are similar.)
money.guardian.co.uk/utilities/story/0,11992,1424595,00.html?gusrc=rss
Posted by Simon Holledge at 09:12 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
May 22, 2005
Government back more wind turbines
Malcolm Wicks will pledge strong support for wind power in order to meet the government target of generating 10 per cent of Britain’s electricity from renewables by 2010.
observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1489792,00.html?gusrc=rss
Posted by Simon Holledge at 07:57 PM | TrackBack
May 18, 2005
Lewis wind farm update
Opposition is hardening to the 234-turbine Lewis wind farm, and experts are pointing out potential environmental damage that could be caused by the project. Fair enough! Lewis may be the wrong place for it.
Nevertheless I understand - and I am open to correction - that we would need a total of 6,850 turbines to replace the electricity currently produced by the two major carbon dioxide emitting coal-fired power stations at Longannet and Cockenzie, let alone the nuclear ones.
Can we afford development of this scale in Scotland, and if so, can we go through all the necessary planning procedures and build the farms fast enough to be effective in reducing emissions? At present we only have about 350 turbines in operation.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4557255.stm
Posted by Simon Holledge at 06:10 PM | TrackBack
April 04, 2005
Biodiesel now under production
Argent Energy have started producing biodiesel (made of used cooking oil and tallow) at their plant in Motherwell. They hope to produce 50 million litres a year, which will be mixed with mineral diesel for sale at filling stations. The resulting fuel will contain 5 per cent biodiesel to be marketed under the name Bio-plus.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4409369.stm
www.argentenergy.com/articles/news/article_31.shtml
Posted by Simon Holledge at 09:56 PM | TrackBack
Nuclear fusion - and fission
Nuclear energy from fusion (rather than fission) could eventually be the answer to our need for clean, waste-free energy. This was the message delivered by David King, the government’s chief scientific adviser, at the Edinburgh International Science Festival. He wants more investment to make nuclear fusion a reality.
We need energy sources that are inherently carbon-free. In the longer term I believe that fusion power stations are a reality. It is just a question of what timescale we are talking about. We need to be investing today in the development of fusion power so we have that additional power supply to come.
Significantly, he also pointed out that modern fission reactors remain an option in the fight against climate change.
We are part of the international community that is working on developing new, safer, more efficient fission power stations so that governments have that option. They also produce much less radioactive waste per unit of energy produced. So, if we were to replace all of our existing power stations in the UK with today’s technology of nuclear power stations and ran them for about 50 or 60 years we would add a total of 10 per cent to our radioactive waste stockpile.
news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=348962005
Posted by Simon Holledge at 02:19 PM | TrackBack
Nuclear fusion - and fission
Nuclear energy from fusion (rather than fission) could eventually be the answer to our need for clean, waste-free energy. This was the message delivered by David King, the government’s chief scientific adviser, at the Edinburgh International Science Festival. He wants more investment to make nuclear fusion a reality.
We need energy sources that are inherently carbon-free. In the longer term I believe that fusion power stations are a reality. It is just a question of what timescale we are talking about. We need to be investing today in the development of fusion power so we have that additional power supply to come.
Significantly, he also pointed out that modern fission reactors remain an option in the fight against climate change.
We are part of the international community that is working on developing new, safer, more efficient fission power stations so that governments have that option. They also produce much less radioactive waste per unit of energy produced. So, if we were to replace all of our existing power stations in the UK with today’s technology of nuclear power stations and ran them for about 50 or 60 years we would add a total of 10 per cent to our radioactive waste stockpile.
news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=348962005
Posted by Simon Holledge at 02:19 PM | TrackBack
April 03, 2005
Nuclear debate
The question of whether or not we should build new nuclear power stations is one of the most difficult we face. Arguably it is also the most important.
Time is running out. Climate change is accelerating. Carbon dioxide emissions have been rising, not falling, under the Labour government. We would all prefer to use clean renewable energy, and Scotland is ideally suited to developing wind and wave farms, however progress in bringing them on line has been too slow. Is the answer to build new nuclear power stations? One or more nuclear power station could be producing large quantities of clean energy within five years.
The Scotsman has made this the subject of their latest ‘debate’, argued in this case between Brian Wilson MP (Labour) and Alastair Carmichael MP (Liberal Democrat).
news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=342732005
Posted by Simon Holledge at 10:50 AM | TrackBack
March 23, 2005
New power stations for Scotland?
Building new power stations is a reserved matter and the Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster is looking at Scotland’s long-term energy requirements. This is related to the planned closure of the nuclear power stations Hunterston B and Torness, in 2011 and 2023. They provide about 35 per cent of Scotland’s electricity.
The committee doubt whether renewable energy will be sufficiently developed to supply a significant amount of electricity, and are looking at the feasibility of building more nuclear stations. This may be controversial but it is not surprising.
However the BBC report that they are also looking at “buttressing the role of coal”. This is an option that should be ruled out. We should be closing carbon dioxide emitting coal-fired power stations, not opening them. Coal may be cheap, but the cost to the environment is not!
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4373885.stm
UPDATE 24 March 05
Mike Weir, the SNP MP for Angus, who is a member of the Scottish Affairs Committee, has issued a robust denial of the need for Scotland to go nuclear.
” … I made clear the SNP’s opposition to nuclear power and took every opportunity to remove the nuclear option from the report… . there is an alternative – Scotland’s wealth of clean green energy… . On the government’s own estimates for energy prices in 2020, Nuclear power is far more expensive than either gas or offshore wind – costing as much as a third more.”
www.snp.org/snpnews/snppressrelease.2005-03-24.4141882531
UPDATE 24 March 05
Building new power stations may be a reserved matter, but planning permissions come under the Scottish Executive.
Following the report by the Scottish Affairs Committee, the Liberal Democrats, SNP and the Greens have renewed their opposition in principle to nuclear power.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4376391.stm
news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=313572005
Posted by Simon Holledge at 12:44 AM | TrackBack
CO2 emissions rising
Britain’s emissions of carbon dioxide rose from 153.9 MtC (million tonnes of carbon equivalent) in 1997, to 156.1 in 2003, although emissions of methane and nitrous oxide went down.
In 1997 Labour promised to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20% from 1990 levels by the year 2010. It is highly unlikely that this can now be achieved.
Friends of the Earth explain, “The big increases this decade are largely a result of power companies switching back to coal following rises in gas prices.”
For Scotland the message is simple: the Longannet and Cockenzie coal-fired power stations must be closed down as soon as possible!
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4371793.stm
www.foe.co.uk/resource/pressreleases/ukclimateprogressevenw21032005.htm
Posted by Simon Holledge at 12:10 AM | TrackBack
March 08, 2005
National Grid charges II
The SNP have focused on the issue of the charges to be paid by wind farms, and other renewable energy producers, for connecting to the national grid. This is important because they are likely to be much further away from population centres than conventional power stations (see 18 January).
London, in the form of Mike O’Brien the Energy Minister, have now responded with proposals to limit the charges, although Shiona Baird MSP for the Greens still regards government support as inadequate.
So far I can’t find any reaction from the SNP.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4327671.stm
news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=605&id=258942005
Posted by Simon Holledge at 11:29 AM | TrackBack
February 26, 2005
German wind report
A new German report questions the economics of wind farms, suggesting we should all concentrate on making our homes energy efficient rather than building huge numbers of wind turbines.
Germany currently gets more than 10 per cent of its energy from renewable sources. More than 15,000 turbines have been built. Britain currently has about 1,000. Our target is to get 10 per cent of our energy from renewables by 2010.
www.guardian.co.uk/renewable/Story/0,2763,1425864,00.html?gusrc=rss
Posted by Simon Holledge at 11:17 PM | TrackBack
February 17, 2005
Few 'green' cars yet
Less than 2,000 cars out of 2 million vehicles in Scotland have been converted to low carbon fuels in the past three years, while three-quarters of a million are emitting high levels of pollution, according to a statement from the SNP.
Ideally all vehicles in Britain might be converted to hydrogen, however according to a study published by Warwick University in October 2004, this would require the building of either 100,000 new wind turbines or 100 new nuclear power plants.
www.snp.org/index_hires.php?pageName=news/newsdetail.php?newsID=2821
www2.warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/NE100000009439/
Posted by Simon Holledge at 08:29 AM | TrackBack
February 15, 2005
Wind debate
The debate on wind farms is intensifying. some extreme opinions are being expressed judging by correspondence in the Scotsman,
The Scottish Borders Tourist Board and the Duke of Buccleuch are objecting on scenic grounds to a proposed wind farm of 13 turbines at Broadmeadows near Selkirk.
Jim Wallace has been giving assurances that wind farms will be sited according to stringent planning procedures, and claims that Scotland will be able to get 40 percent of its electricity from clean renewables by 2020.
I doubt if tourism will be much affected by wind farms, but equally I wonder if the Scottish Executive have an appropriate planning system. I’d also be interested to look at a breakdown of Wallace’s figures to see where he gets his 40 per cent.
news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=162662005
news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=605&id=166782005
news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=605&id=172452005
Posted by Simon Holledge at 10:40 AM | TrackBack
February 04, 2005
Salisbury Crags Wind Farm II
Yesterday’s announcement proposing a wind farm for Salisbury Crags was apparently a hoax, according to an article by Sue Halstead in The Scotsman. Maybe we should have guessed?
news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=605&id=129862005
Posted by Simon Holledge at 12:22 PM | TrackBack
February 03, 2005
Salisbury Crags wind farm?
Can they be serious? There is a proposal to site a wind farm on Edinburgh’s Salisbury Crags (Arthur’s Seat). Is the intention to enrage the anti wind farm brigade?
I am all for wind farms but, as I have argued before, we need to zone Scotland so that we have a proper system for locating them. We shouldn’t have them on top of famous mountains or in the middle of national nature reserves.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4226313.stm
Posted by Simon Holledge at 12:28 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
February 01, 2005
Another look at nuclear power
Peter Schwartz and Spencer Reiss make a strong case for nuclear power in Wired News. They argue that we must shift from fossil fuels to nuclear in order to control global warming. We will never be able to get enough energy from renewables to dispense with other forms of energy. They also endorse a carbon tax, pointing out that fossil fuel power stations have done a lot more more damage that nuclear ones in the past.
In a companion article, Amanda Griscom Little writes about the conversion of some prominent greens in Britain and America to nuclear energy.
www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.02/nuclear.html
www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.02/nuclear.html?pg=5
Posted by Simon Holledge at 12:09 AM | TrackBack
January 18, 2005
National Grid charges I
Alex Salmond - with admirable persistence - is again questioning national grid charges which disadvantage Scottish electricity producers, especially renewable energy companies.
Ofgen are saying that a final decision on this will be made in February.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4183371.stm
www.snp.org/index_hires.php?pageName=news/newsdetail.php?newsID=2766
Posted by Simon Holledge at 10:56 PM | TrackBack
December 07, 2004
Sunlight into hydrogen
Hydrogen Solar of Guilford are working on a process to turn sunlight into hydrogen. The sun’s energy is used to break up water particles into oxygen and hydrogen. A prototype station in Las Vegas will have the ability to dispense hydrogen fuel.
Hydrogen Solar are talking about the possibility of garage top installations that will produce enough fuel to supply a family car. Four other groups in the States are working on similar technology.
www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,65936,00.html/wn_ascii
Posted by Simon Holledge at 06:09 PM | TrackBack
November 20, 2004
Carbon tax in Japan
The Japanese Environment Ministry is hoping to introduce a carbon tax, aimed at limiting emissions of carbon dioxide, in January 2006. This would be a tax on fossil fuel processors and importers, as well as consumers,
www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20041106a2.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_tax
Posted by Simon Holledge at 01:44 AM | TrackBack
November 07, 2004
Another wind farm - Dalmellington
There are plans to build another wind farm. This time at Dalmellington on the East Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway border. If approved this would produce 300 megawatts of electricity from 100 turbines - starting in 2007.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3972861.stm
Posted by Simon Holledge at 08:53 PM | TrackBack
November 06, 2004
Major wind farm for Lewis
There are plans to build a 702-megawatt wind farm on Lewis. A total of 234 turbines would supply energy to about half a million homes (1.1 million people) as well has creating about 300 jobs. It is claimed that this will be the world’s largest onshore wind farm. Despite the size of the project Lewis Wind Power claim minimal adverse effects on wildlife or the landscape.
The Scottish Executive will approve the project (or otherwise) during 2005.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3980233.stm
www.amec.com/news/mediareleasedetails.asp?Pageid=876&MediaID=960
Posted by Simon Holledge at 10:47 PM | TrackBack
October 25, 2004
Energy Efficiency Week
This week is Energy Efficiency Week. I didn’t know that, but the SNP have published a paper on the subject, calling for the release of energy statistics and the creation of a national energy efficiency strategy.
Richard Lochhead MSP writes, “There is no doubt that energy efficiency is the missing link in the Scottish Government’s efforts to tackle climate change and tackle issues such as fuel poverty. Given that energy consumption is actually increasing and not decreasing, the Scottish Government is going to have to redouble its efforts to make Scotland energy efficient. Every citizen also has a responsibility to play a part in reducing energy consumption.”
www.snp.org/index_hires.php?pageName=news/newsdetail.php?newsID=2542
Posted by Simon Holledge at 12:07 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
October 05, 2004
China getting wind tech from Germany, Denmark
The world’s largest wind power project will be launched in Hebei Province, near Beijing this month. It should be operational within two years, and eventually generate 400 megawatts of electricity a day. (This compares with 60 megawatts at North Hoyle, the largest current British project.) The technology will come from Germany and Denmark.
China is without doubt the world’s most polluted country, also the largest consumer of coal. Fortunately the Chinese now consider wind power to be as cheap as coal, as well as being environmentally preferable.
www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,65139,00.html/wn_ascii
Posted by Simon Holledge at 12:36 AM
September 23, 2004
Measuring wind-energy potential
This year American wind farms will produce 16.7 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, and the energy sector is fast developing. This has created a demand for the measurement of wind-energy potential for possible sites for future wind turbines. Companies are now producing detailed computer models of wind and weather patterns for the whole of the United States. Wind forecasting is also being offered so that wind farms know when they are likely to be producing more or less energy.
www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,65001,00.html
www.windlogics.com/
www.awstruewind.com/
Posted by Simon Holledge at 12:20 AM
September 19, 2004
Wind energy: 'Embrace the revolution'
Pro-wind energy activists have a beautifully-designed new website entitled ‘Embrace the revolution’. The public are invited to show their support for wind energy by signing up online.
Earlier this month, James Reynolds, the environment correspondent of the Scotsman, wrote about Scottish wind farms and manufacturers for the renewable energy industry:
thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1050812004
Posted by Simon Holledge at 12:39 PM
September 07, 2004
First Scottish LNG filling station opens
After the climate change report (last entry) any good news is welcome - however small! Here is one item:
Chive Fuels have just opened Scotland’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) filling station on the M74 near Lesmahagow. LNG is a cheaper and cleaner fuel than diesel, suitable for heavy goods vehicles.
http://www.chive-ltd.co.uk/chivefuels/naturalgasmarket_news.htm
Posted by Simon Holledge at 05:49 PM
August 26, 2004
More on renewable energy
This time from the waves rather than the wind. Stephan Leahy writes in Wired News:
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,64695,00.html?tw=wn_story_page_prev2
www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,64695,00.html?tw=wn_story_page_prev2
This highlights the work of Tom Denniss's Energetech www.energetech.com.au/ in Australia and Rhode Island. Scotland is also mentioned in passing.
Posted by Simon Holledge at 04:45 PM
August 25, 2004
Salmond/Sturgeon on renewable energy
Interesting press release, dated 20 August, on renewable energy entitled, "Salmond and Sturgeon announce renewable energy plan":
www.salmond-sturgeon.com/template.php?id=30
According to Nicola Sturgeon, "Scotland has 25% of Europe’s wind and tidal resources". An impressive statistic, although I do wonder where it comes from.
Perhaps in the future we will be able to buy electricity that is 100 percent from renewable energy without paying a steep premium for it? As far as I know, Good Energy is currently the only green electricity company (at least in Edinburgh) but their charges are about 20 percent higher than other companies.
Posted by Simon Holledge at 09:36 PM