Wave Powered Electricity
December 20, 2005 at 5:27 pm
A turbine is being built in Strangford Lough in County Down to generate electricity from the sea’s energy. The project is funded by a �4.5m government grant and will be connected to the national grid by the end of next year.
It is hoped the turbine will generate electricity for around 800 home. Two huge rotor blades, three metres below the sea surface and supported by a single steel tower will generate energy which is then taken to sub station on land via an electricity cable.
This pilot scheme is hoped to investigate the potential of generating large amounts of clean energy from a renewable source.
Price Rises and Job Cuts for British Gas
December 17, 2005 at 5:27 pm
British Gas warned that the next year would see higher energy bills and further job cuts. This price increase will mark the fourth in two years for British Gas customers and for employees this will come after a large cut in July this year. These changes are due to rising oil costs and diminishing North Sea gas reserves
The company are having to buy gas and electricity at higher prices than a year ago and then have to find ways to recover these costs. Price increases add a substantial amount to customer bills and push a large number of customers away from British Gas in search of a cheaper supplier.
Giant UK Power Station floats for
December 16, 2005 at 5:26 pm
Yorkshire power station Drax – Europe’s largest coal-fired power station floated on the stock exchange today, valued at
UK Treasury Steal Renewables Fund
December 10, 2005 at 5:26 pm
It has been exposed that very little of the hundreds of millions of pounds raised from electricity bills are actually going towards developing renewable energy as the majority is going to the treasury. Since it started in 2002, �210m has been taken by the treasury from the NFFO (Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation) fund, while only �60m has actually been spent on renewable energy.
This fund is expected to be at �1bn by 2010 but most of which to be taken by the treasury for general spending. If this money was spent on renewable energy it would significantly help the government meet its emissions targets at a time when UK greenhouse gases are rising rapidly and gas and power shortages are being faced.
Once the money is in the consolidated fund, it belongs to the treasury. Ofgem who administers the fund has revealed that these large amounts were paid out to the treasury and that it is intended that annual transfers to the treasury will contintue.
The director of greenpeace remarked on the matter as a ‘scandal in the making’, expressing that any money raised from consumers for renewables should be spent actually on renewables. Both environmental groups Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth agreed that this money could really make a difference if invested correctly in improving renewable technologies such as wind, wave and tidal power.
Tax on Lightbulbs?
December 7, 2005 at 5:26 pm
The idea of a tax on inefficient light bulbs has been put forward as a way to save energy and help meet government targets for cutting emissions. Lighting uses a huge amount of energy, approximately 15% of all the electricity used in UK households and about 5% of the UK’s annual electricity consumption.
Steps are already being taken to encourage people to use energy efficient lighting, for example, new properties are required to have with some fittings only suitable for efficient bulbs. The problem is that standard light bulbs are still very cheap so efficient ones seem too expensive in comparison. The Energy Savings Trust has advised that the government should cut VAT on efficient bulbs to 5% to encourage people to use them.
A light bulb tax and similar energy savings measures are up for consideration in the Department for Trade and Industry’s energy review next year.
Britain Not on Target for Meeting Its Emissions Targets
December 6, 2005 at 5:26 pm
Britain will only be able to get just over half way to hitting its target of cutting carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas by 20% by 2010. The environment minister stated that emissions have actually been rising and it is very important we reverse this.
Burning large quantities of coal has a lot to do with this rise as coal is the fuel most damaging to the environment. The amount of fuel produced from coal must be reduced if the government will meet their targets. The development of renewable energy sources has been slow and at present renewables only generate 3.6% of electricity and it is proposed that they will generate 10% by 2010.
Energy efficiency must be taken seriously in the home. Building regulations are going to be tightened next year to prevent people extending their homes, thus increasing their energy use and the government will also be looking onto improving the energy efficiency in existing households.
Burying Greenhouse Gases
December 4, 2005 at 5:25 pm
Could there be a way that the UK could continue burning carbon dioxide at its coal, gas and oil power plants but yet still meet its Kyoto obligations? Apparently, there could be, according a new technology which involves burying the gas before it is released in disused oil or gas fields.
Scientists are saying that billions of tons of carbon dioxide could be dumped under the North Sea providing a possible solution to global warming: carbon capture and storage and proving an earner for the nation. There is enough space here to store Europe’s carbon output for many years.
A pilot electricity plant has been proposed near Aberdeen where carbon dioxide will be pumped into a field in the North Sea. The gas would be stored there indefinitely and the process would force out any remaining oil reserves.
Green groups are said to support the idea too, as although it is not a solution to the energy problem and we should be working to cut carbon emissions, this at least buys some time.
