green and ethical electricity

penrhyn

Someone was talking about using offshore wind/wave generation to generate hydrogen from sea water, then pipe it in using the existing infrastructure.

antrobus

grahamc2003 wrote: »

'Green' energy tariffs are a bit of a con really.

Well yes, essentially a game of let's pretend; the energy supplier simply promises that if the customer buys (say) 1000kwh of electricity, they'll match that by buying 1000kwh's worth of 'green' electricity. But since they're obligated to buy it anyway (more or less) it don't make no difference.

But don't knock it. Every 'ethical' consumer' out there who signs up to a green tarrif and pays a premium for their energy, is taking a little bit of the burden of all those green subsidies off the rest of us.

antrobus

penrhyn wrote: »

Someone was talking about using offshore wind/wave generation to generate hydrogen from sea water, then pipe it in using the existing infrastructure.

Up in Scotland I think. But you can't pipe hydrogen through the gas infrastructure - it's a different sort of gas. They generate the hydrogen, store it, then use it to power fuel cells that generate electricity.

grahamc2003

Here's where some of the money from green tariffs go ... he needs £350,000 for his sports car (the other £350,000 comes rather more directly from you and me via taxes) ...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/greenertransport/8114607/Eco-millionaire-Dale-Vince-and-his-750000-electric-sports-car-part-funded-by-the-taxpayer.html

penrhyn

Eco Ponzi

londonlydia

I'm interested in this as well, as I was tempted to switch to the Co-Operative Energy. Although I can't change what I actually get supplied, their company states that as they solely supply renewable sources, that by getting more market share they put more green energy in. Plus I'm behind their whole customer-owned, simple tariff ideas, and liked the fact theyve announced a drop in their electricity tariff But interested to see what others think...

I should mention that on comparison sites they also came up in th 5 top cheapest for me to switch to so it's worth a thought for me...

londonlydia

Oh and or what it's worth, I think in the UK we're mad not to be pushing tidal energy. Do you know there's enough potential tidal energy rushing through the entrances of sea lochs in scotland to supply Europe? There's technology out there as well which doesnt use turbines, making it friendlier for fish, and you can put it underwater so it doesnt spoil aesthetics either. So why dont we invest in it? I'm sure it has nothing to do with the lasts 50 years but large upfront cost, compared to 5-year duration wind turbones with lower upfront cost....and that has nothing to do with the 5 year term of our MPs...:rotfl: