Green, ethical, energy issues in the news

Martyn1981

Not exactly good news.

G20 Nations Spending $63.9 Billion Annually On Coal Subsidies

Days before representatives of the G20 meet in Japan, a new report has been published by the Overseas Development Institute, or ODI, which reveals these nations are spending at least $63.9 billion on coal annually.

The new ODI report, G20 coal subsidies: Tracking government support to a fading industry, finds that G20 nations are supporting coal domestically and internationally to the tune of $63.9 billion each year, despite committing in 2009 to phase out fossil fuel subsidies.

Specifically, the report finds that G20 governments are supporting coal to the tune of $27.6 billion annually in domestic and international public financing, $15.4 billion in fiscal support, and $20.9 billion in state-owned enterprise (SOE) investments.

Further, and despite a global trend towards developing clean energy — which repeatedly shows itself as the cheapest form of new power generation, as shown most recently by Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s (BNEF) New Energy Outlook 2019 report — the level of support for coal from G20 governments has increased in recent years. ODI found that support has grown from just over $17.2 billion per year (2013-2014) to $47.3 billion (2016-2017).

That’s a 175% increase over the span of three years.

michaels

zeupater wrote: »

Hi

... And that's the main point that is consistently overlooked in such conversations.

A 200-250 mile range between charges results in many vehicles covering average mileage through to well above average hardly ever using fast chargers or even destination ones .... that takes a huge load off the public 'refueling' infrastructure which likely compensates for much of the additional time connected to the 'pump' thus reducing the current perception of the number of public charging points that will eventually be required.

The link provided in one of yesterday's posts effectively proved that high mileage runs could be performed in EVs when a fast charger network is in place .... the real question revolves around how many on this thread have ever needed to drive for 10 hours and managed to average 60mph, including rest breaks & refuelling? ... even if there's a couple of drivers in the car!

An average motorist travels around 20 miles per day, so in an EV likely consumes around 4kWh, so around 90 minutes of charging for each day's motoring even with a 10A plug in 'granny cable', however most would likely charge once per week on a 7kW dedicated point, so around 4 hours (4kWh*7days/7kW) over the weekend or overnight when they're asleep ...

Can't remember what the source was but I read/heard that approaching 90% of
all EV mileage is currently covered using home or workplace charging, so that gives a base guideline to work from for sizing a fast charge network ....

HTH
Z

This does though result in a bit of a chicken and egg situation, the economics of providing fast chargers that won't actually get used very much results in fast chargers being expensive and thus further encourages home charging and long range EV's. And then EV take up is pit back because there isn't a great fast charging network for the few occasions most people would actually want to use it..

zeupater

michaels wrote: »

This does though result in a bit of a chicken and egg situation, the economics of providing fast chargers that won't actually get used very much results in fast chargers being expensive and thus further encourages home charging and long range EV's. And then EV take up is pit back because there isn't a great fast charging network for the few occasions most people would actually want to use it..

Hi

Valid point, but it doesn't seem to be the case in areas which are already far ahead of the UK .... when you have some time have a look at the normal status of charging stations in Norway where around two in every three vehicle sales are now EVs .....

HTH
Z

Martyn1981

Lots of little, and sometimes big, milestones along the RE journey.

US in energy landmark as renewables produce more electricity than coal

The US generated more electricity from renewable sources than coal for the first time ever in April, new federal government data has shown.

Clean energy such as solar and wind provided 23% of US electricity generation during the month, compared to coal’s 20%, according to the Energy Information Administration.

This represents the first time coal has been surpassed by energy sources that do not release pollution such as planet-heating gases.

April was a favorable month for renewables, with low energy demand and an uptick in wind generation. This means that coal may once again pull ahead of renewables again during 2019, although the long-term trends appear to be set.

Martyn1981

UK investing in carbon capture projects, Let's hope some work out well.

UK's biggest carbon capture project is step-change on emissions

Piddles

[QUOTE=Martyn1981;75973752UK's biggest carbon capture project is step-change on emissions[/QUOTE]

Within two years a chemical plant in Cheshire could keep 40,000 tonnes of carbon from the air every year ..... by using them to help make the chemicals found in antacid, eyedrops and Pot Noodle

Eat Pot Noodles > Make Carbon Capture commercially viable > Solve climate change.

I'm happy to sacrifice myself for the greater good.

zeupater

Martyn1981 wrote: »

UK investing in carbon capture projects, Let's hope some work out well.

UK's biggest carbon capture project is step-change on emissions

Hi

Well that's climate change addressed then, what comes next, a trip to Mars? ...

... lemon sherbet power ...

...sweet solution but I wonder whether they meant 'powder'? ... :rotfl:

HTH
Z

EricMears

Martyn1981 wrote: »

UK investing in carbon capture projects, Let's hope some work out well.

UK's biggest carbon capture project is step-change on emissions

Bit of a snag with that !

Having liquefied the CO2 & used it to produce baking soda, guess what happens next ?

Cooking with baking soda releases CO2 (it turns into the bubbles in a piece of cake) so it's right back into the atmosphere ! Not sure what happens with pot noodles but strongly suspect digesting them also releases CO2.

Piddles

EricMears wrote: »

Not sure what happens with pot noodles but strongly suspect digesting them also releases CO2.

And a load of CH4 in my experience. A gas FIT, double rations in winter. Sorted.

Martyn1981

EricMears wrote: »

Bit of a snag with that !

Having liquefied the CO2 & used it to produce baking soda, guess what happens next ?

Cooking with baking soda releases CO2 (it turns into the bubbles in a piece of cake) so it's right back into the atmosphere ! Not sure what happens with pot noodles but strongly suspect digesting them also releases CO2.

Are you confusing carbon capture with carbon capture and sequestration?