Comments on: Why is the UK so far behind in renewables? http://www.carboncommentary.com/2008/11/24/220 A critical appraisal of issues in the move to a low-carbon economy Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:02:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Will http://www.carboncommentary.com/2008/11/24/220/comment-page-1#comment-1395 Will Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:50:00 +0000 http://www.carboncommentary.com/?p=220#comment-1395 This is a somewhat biased critique of European energy policy. You refer to deployment of renewables in countries such as Denmark and Germany, yet carbon emissions from electricity generation are considerably higher in both of these countries than in the UK. Curiously, those countries that have been most successful in reducing carbon emissions are not mentioned - Switzerland and France. In the latter country, carbon emissions from electricity generation are (per capita) one seventh of those from Denmark. Why? Both Switzerland and France source much of their electricity supply from nuclear power, which (ironically) the IPCC (if not scientifically-challenged environmentalists) recognise as a low carbon energy source. The uncritical portrayal of wind energy in this post is also a matter for concern. Wind energy has failed to offer meaningful reductions in power station fuel consumption and carbon emissions wherever deployed. The UK now operates over 2000MW installed capacity wind power, yet power station fuel consumption remains at roughly 85 mtoe/year. In recent weeks the BWEA has grudgingly acknowledged that its claimed carbon emission savings are exaggerated (by roughly 100%). The present posting proclaims that "On some nights in February 2008, 40% of Spain’s electricity came from wind", yet fails to point out that the entire wind network had to be recently shut down in Spain due to stormy weather (Windpower Monthly Dec 08). The unpalatable truth is that renewables (a euphemism for wind power) are unable to lessen our requirement for fossil and nuclear fuel. This is a somewhat biased critique of European energy policy. You refer to deployment of renewables in countries such as Denmark and Germany, yet carbon emissions from electricity generation are considerably higher in both of these countries than in the UK. Curiously, those countries that have been most successful in reducing carbon emissions are not mentioned – Switzerland and France. In the latter country, carbon emissions from electricity generation are (per capita) one seventh of those from Denmark. Why? Both Switzerland and France source much of their electricity supply from nuclear power, which (ironically) the IPCC (if not scientifically-challenged environmentalists) recognise as a low carbon energy source.

The uncritical portrayal of wind energy in this post is also a matter for concern. Wind energy has failed to offer meaningful reductions in power station fuel consumption and carbon emissions wherever deployed. The UK now operates over 2000MW installed capacity wind power, yet power station fuel consumption remains at roughly 85 mtoe/year. In recent weeks the BWEA has grudgingly acknowledged that its claimed carbon emission savings are exaggerated (by roughly 100%). The present posting proclaims that “On some nights in February 2008, 40% of Spain’s electricity came from wind”, yet fails to point out that the entire wind network had to be recently shut down in Spain due to stormy weather (Windpower Monthly Dec 08). The unpalatable truth is that renewables (a euphemism for wind power) are unable to lessen our requirement for fossil and nuclear fuel.

]]> By: Beth Knowles http://www.carboncommentary.com/2008/11/24/220/comment-page-1#comment-1304 Beth Knowles Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:20:19 +0000 http://www.carboncommentary.com/?p=220#comment-1304 MONEY is the reason why the UK is so far behind others. No realistic government time or capital is being allocated to the renewable sector, this is even more ridiculous when you look at other European countires and their actions. There is also very little belief in renewables in the UK, the general concenus is that renewables are a wishy-washy alternative to oil, gas and coal and nuclear is the only serious option. I am currently writing my final year dissertation on public opinion on climate change and am finding that everyone is taking climate change very seriously but do not really know how to tackle mitigation. The main issue fueling people's individual lifestyle changes are energy prices, the higher the prices the higher the environnmental concern, people can not afford to be wasteful and ignore the environment around them. I am finding people want to change but do not know how, there are no serious alternatives to fossil fuels yet and without an alternative who is going to give up what they already have? MONEY is the reason why the UK is so far behind others. No realistic government time or capital is being allocated to the renewable sector, this is even more ridiculous when you look at other European countires and their actions. There is also very little belief in renewables in the UK, the general concenus is that renewables are a wishy-washy alternative to oil, gas and coal and nuclear is the only serious option. I am currently writing my final year dissertation on public opinion on climate change and am finding that everyone is taking climate change very seriously but do not really know how to tackle mitigation. The main issue fueling people’s individual lifestyle changes are energy prices, the higher the prices the higher the environnmental concern, people can not afford to be wasteful and ignore the environment around them. I am finding people want to change but do not know how, there are no serious alternatives to fossil fuels yet and without an alternative who is going to give up what they already have?

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