4 comments on Parliament debates energy
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4 comments on Parliament debates energy
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The UK Government subsidies for Renewable Energy largely fit into 2 categories;
- Big Project R&D Subsidies, where the government sees a fledgling technology (such as the fascinating Undersea work in Hayle, Cornwall) and stumps up some cash to ensure it doesn't falter due to underfunding. Quite right too - but Wind Power does not come into this category any more!
- Ongoing Capital Subsidies. These are now administered through the "Low Carbon Buildings" Program, and are offered across the entire technology base, Solar, PV, Wind, BioMass, CHP, Hydro and so on. Partly for household and partly community projects - but it is technology independant.
There is a 3rd 'subsidy' which is the Renewable Obligation Certificate process, whereby 'polluting' generators have to pay a 'tax' to the government, allowing renewable generators to receive that money as an incentive to get into the market. It is not a capital subsidy, but a 'top-up' that you receive once you are generating. Currently this is equivalent to about 35 UK pounds per MegaWatt Hour.Perversely, the minister conveniently forgets the incredible amount of real 'subsidy' afforded to the Nuclear Industry over the past 40 years (it nearly went bankrupt a few years ago - if anyone remembers). Then there is the Coal Industry which hadn't made a profit for quite some time (and was 'subsidised' by the NHS too lets be honest).
In conclusion (and I will stay on my little soap-box for a while longer) - this government misses the point so often and so reliably that you begin to think there is a conspiracy!
With the overall increase in demand for energy, the reduction of North Sea resources, the flakiness of the Russian Supply, the whole PeakOil story, the nuclear legacy (bury it somewhere deep! Really, Sherlock?) non-solution, our lack of LNG storage and the imminent de-commisioning of current Nuclear Plants you would think that someone would GET A GRIP!
We live on an island with 35% of the European wind energy arriving daily - for free and quite 'reliably' (i.e. there is always wind somewhere).
Popular or not, Wind Turbines have an enormous part to play!
There is actually (IMHO) a case for a 'dash-to-wind' where we put so many of turbines in place (off-shore and on-shore), acheiving perhaps 10%-20% of our needs through Wind Energy, that we de-risk large parts of the above issues in one swoop. Once this process is in place, you can THEN begin to plan intelligent plug-in cars, electrified railways and so on.
The other renewable technologies then have a 'breathing space' with which to develop and mature. If in 10 years time, tidal barrages have developed to the point of generating more power than we need, then you can either export some to a grateful EU or begin to de-commision some of your least popular or least productive wind turbines.
Until that cross over point is reached with REAL Renewables, then we are still heading for a nasty fall! IMHO
There is another issue which I have never seen mentioned.
The spec for the UK electricity supply was last written in 1995, based on fully predictable continuous generators, at a time when all consumer usage was to a low tech requirement. There is actually no need for most UK users to have anything like the supply stability we have now.
As long as your freezer can run over a 24hr average, users do not require -6% to +10% 230V regulation. Consumer goods can have battery storage internally. Lights could all be low power LED clusters with a modest lighting circuit backup battery. There is an overwhelming case to make items lower consumption anyway - such as newer TVs. If there isn't enough power for domestic dishwashers, tumble dryers and hairdryers; who gives a stuff??
Manufacturers like these sort of regulation changes, cos they sell more junk.
BTW, I see Blair was on the news at lunchtime explaining how he was the right man to see through 'difficult choices' such as:
'student tuition fees...blah, blah...NUCLEAR POWER(!!)...etc'
so another dig to support his choice and against the wide independent concensus.
Wind, Tidal barrier, nukes and Conservation with a Big 'C'.
This may very well mean rationing / power limiting at domestic levels. It would start with a perfectly reasonable government information campaign.
Of course, it would be electoral suicide for the 'things can only get better party'. But somebody has to say it and preferably in advance of the next winter.
A bit of decent education especially in Physics and civics (rights and entitlements are less important than responsibilities) Wouldnt go amiss either.