Carbon Commentary » Newsletter #10 http://www.carboncommentary.com A critical appraisal of issues in the move to a low-carbon economy Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:15:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 en Are biofuels responsible for the sharp spikes in food costs? http://www.carboncommentary.com/2008/06/03/85 http://www.carboncommentary.com/2008/06/03/85#comments Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:03:48 +0000 Chris Goodall http://www.carboncommentary.com/2008/06/03/85 US ethanol biorefinery locations The world has decided that much of the blame for the rising cost of foods can be ascribed to the use of grains for biofuels. The case for the prosecution is simply made. About one hundred million tonnes of maize from this year’s US crop will be diverted into ethanol refineries, an increase of a third on 2007’s figure. The maize used for ethanol represents almost 5% of global production of all types of grain. One in twenty cereal grains produced in the world this year will end up in the petrol tank of US cars. Other countries are also pushing ethanol, but the US has moved most aggressively to increase the use of food for fuel.]]> US ethanol biorefinery locations

The world has decided that much of the blame for the rising cost of foods can be ascribed to the use of grains for biofuels. The case for the prosecution is simply made. About one hundred million tonnes of maize from this year’s US crop will be diverted into ethanol refineries, an increase of a third on 2007’s figure. The maize used for ethanol represents almost 5% of global production of all types of grain. One in twenty cereal grains produced in the world this year will end up in the petrol tank of US cars. Other countries are also pushing ethanol, but the US has moved most aggressively to increase the use of food for fuel.

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]]> http://www.carboncommentary.com/2008/06/03/85/feed A public share offer is the right way to fund the gap in the financing of the London Array* http://www.carboncommentary.com/2008/05/05/84 http://www.carboncommentary.com/2008/05/05/84#comments Mon, 05 May 2008 15:29:21 +0000 Chris Goodall http://www.carboncommentary.com/2008/05/05/84 Offshore location map of the London Array Offshore location map of the London Array. Click on the image to see a more detailed map from the London Array website (opens as a PDF). Shell backed out of its commitment to provide the financing for one third of the world’s largest offshore wind farm off the Kent coast. The London Array, expected to cost about £2bn, now needs to find a new investor. What about tapping the public? The project has reasonable economics, and private individuals could benefit from 40% tax relief by putting shareholdings into pension plans. Perhaps as importantly, such a move would raise understanding of renewable energy generation among the wider community.]]> Offshore location map of the London Array Offshore location map of the London Array. Click on the image to see a more detailed map from the London Array website (opens as a PDF).

Shell backed out of its commitment to provide the financing for one third of the world’s largest offshore wind farm off the Kent coast. The London Array, expected to cost about £2bn, now needs to find a new investor. What about tapping the public? The project has reasonable economics, and private individuals could benefit from 40% tax relief by putting shareholdings into pension plans. Perhaps as importantly, such a move would raise understanding of renewable energy generation among the wider community.

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]]> http://www.carboncommentary.com/2008/05/05/84/feed The global warming ‘standstill’ http://www.carboncommentary.com/2008/04/25/83 http://www.carboncommentary.com/2008/04/25/83#comments Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:42:54 +0000 Chris Goodall http://www.carboncommentary.com/2008/04/25/83 Nigel Lawson and others are suggesting that temperatures have ‘stabilised’ since the late nineties. 1998 saw the highest global average temperature and only 2005 has closely matched it. Since no year since 1998 has exceeded the record, some commentators are saying the global warming has stopped. The implication, sometimes stated, sometimes not, is that the increasing rate of growth of CO2 concentration is having no effect on temperature.]]>
Nigel Lawson and others are suggesting that temperatures have ‘stabilised’ since the late nineties. 1998 saw the highest global average temperature and only 2005 has closely matched it. Since no year since 1998 has exceeded the record, some commentators are saying the global warming has stopped. The implication, sometimes stated, sometimes not, is that the increasing rate of growth of CO2 concentration is having no effect on temperature.

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