Green, ethical, energy issues in the news

Martyn1981

shinytop said:

Martyn1981 said:

Articles like this, pointing out what is so important, and so obvious, also make me very angry. Why did the fools in charge turn their backs on energy efficiency and insulation when it was going so well. Doesn't matter if they were in denial about AGW, or thought RE was 'green carp', it still would have saved money for the population, regardless of the source of the energy.

So much lost time.

Energy efficiency ‘war effort’ needed to cut bills and emissions, say MPs

A national “war effort” on energy efficiency is required to cut energy bills, reduce climate-heating emissions and ensure energy security, according to a cross-party committee of MPs.

Boosting efficiency in homes and businesses is the fastest way to cut energy use but the government missed a “crucial window of opportunity” last summer, the report from the environmental audit committee (EAC) said. The energy bills crisis was sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, while political turmoil in the UK resulted in three prime ministers in office between July and October.

The report said some of the windfall tax on energy companies’ profits should be used to bring forward efficiency funding and fulfil the government’s 2019 manifesto commitment to invest £9bn in energy efficiency: “A national ‘war effort’ on energy saving and efficiency is required.”

The number of UK energy efficiency installations, such as insulating lofts and cavity walls, peaked in 2012 at 2.3m. Subsequently, the then prime minister, David Cameron, slashed efficiency programmes amid claims he wanted to get rid of the “green crap” from energy bills. By 2021, annual installations were 96% lower, at fewer than 100,000. The EAC called for at least 1m installations a year by 2025 and a target of 2.5m by 2030.

“Bold action is needed now,” said the EAC chair, Philip Dunne. “We must fix our leaky housing stock, which is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and wastes our constituents’ hard-earned cash. The government could have gone further and faster.” Ministers were split over a public information campaign on energy efficiency, which finally launched in December.

Really simple.  Gas was very cheap so nobody cared. 

I don't think that explains the Gov's decision:

The number of UK energy efficiency installations, such as insulating lofts and cavity walls, peaked in 2012 at 2.3m. Subsequently, the then prime minister, David Cameron, slashed efficiency programmes amid claims he wanted to get rid of the “green crap” from energy bills. By 2021, annual installations were 96% lower, at fewer than 100,000. The EAC called for at least 1m installations a year by 2025 and a target of 2.5m by 2030.

Martyn1981

Spotted this being discussed elsewhere, and a comment that the blade tips travel through a half mile per revolution. Not bad!

18 MW Offshore Wind Turbine Launches in China

The H260-18MW has a rotor diameter of 260 metres and an individual capacity of 18 MW, making it the largest and the most powerful wind turbine currently on the market or under development.

Exiled_Tyke

Martyn1981 said:

Spotted this being discussed elsewhere, and a comment that the blade tips travel through a half mile per revolution. Not bad!

18 MW Offshore Wind Turbine Launches in China

The H260-18MW has a rotor diameter of 260 metres and an individual capacity of 18 MW, making it the largest and the most powerful wind turbine currently on the market or under development.

So 840 feet blade diameter?  Wow 

Martyn1981

Nice to have a fun read, for a change, on fighting AGW. The suggestion in this article is that the World can get to net zero sooner than 2050.

Given that RE costs have fallen so far and so fast, it's now cheaper to combat AGW, than not to, then accelerating the transition will actually boost the economy (v's not acting faster). Plus the sooner we get to net zero, the lower the CO2 ppm in the atmosphere / environment will be - and we will need to remove loads (at high expense) to minimise the temp rise as this century progresses.

He also talks about the threat/risk of being left behind by countries developing technologies faster.

Net zero possible in 2040s, says outgoing UK climate business expert

The world could reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions in the early 2040s, substantially ahead of the mid-century climate target, if governments set more stretching goals and make bold policy decisions, the UK’s outgoing climate business expert has said.

Nigel Topping served for two years as the high-level champion for the UK’s presidency of the UN Cop26 climate summit, passing on the role to Egypt’s Mahmoud Mohieldin late last year at the Cop27 summit in Sharm el-Sheikh.

“Governments could be way bolder in setting targets, and back their scientists, engineers, businesses, banks, cities to come up with solutions,” he said. “The moonshot analogy is not inappropriate.”

In the UK, the Climate Change Committee produced a plausible scenario by which the UK could reach net zero by 2042, he said. “Given that we’ve now got California and Germany saying 2045 is their target, I think you can argue quite strongly that the whole world could get to net zero in the early 2040s, and in many sectors in the late 2030s,” he said.

He pointed to the slew of governments now aiming to phase out fossil fuel vehicles, and the extraordinary uptake of electric vehicles that has followed. “Once you’ve named an end date, it’s a really powerful signal. Not all markets have agreed, but once you’ve reached [a large proportion], you can go much faster,” he said. “Europe, and the US, and the rate that the Chinese and Indians are changing – it’s all over.”

“A lot of this grows exponentially,” he said. “If you look at where we’re at now [in terms of reductions in greenhouse gas emissions], it never looks good enough. But if you look at the trajectory [for low-carbon technologies] it can be much more encouraging.”

Rich countries should see rapidly growing developing countries as competitors in the clean technology race, rather than focusing on their high emissions, he added.

“China is quite happy for the west to label it as a coal problem while it develops a global competitive leadership in [clean] sector after sector. And India is on the same track now. But you show me how many times western commentators point at India or China as competitors rather than polluters,” he said. “I think it’s a huge strategic mistake to underestimate how clearly [countries such as China and India] see this as the future.”

Coastalwatch

Martyn1981 said:

Nice to have a fun read, for a change, on fighting AGW. The suggestion in this article is that the World can get to net zero sooner than 2050.

Given that RE costs have fallen so far and so fast, it's now cheaper to combat AGW, than not to, then accelerating the transition will actually boost the economy (v's not acting faster). Plus the sooner we get to net zero, the lower the CO2 ppm in the atmosphere / environment will be - and we will need to remove loads (at high expense) to minimise the temp rise as this century progresses.

He also talks about the threat/risk of being left behind by countries developing technologies faster.

Net zero possible in 2040s, says outgoing UK climate business expert

Rich countries should see rapidly growing developing countries as competitors in the clean technology race, rather than focusing on their high emissions, he added.

“China is quite happy for the west to label it as a coal problem while it develops a global competitive leadership in [clean] sector after sector. And India is on the same track now. But you show me how many times western commentators point at India or China as competitors rather than polluters,” he said. “I think it’s a huge strategic mistake to underestimate how clearly [countries such as China and India] see this as the future.”

Thanks for that Mart. That last paragraph is particularly pertinent and needs thrusting into the faces of press and politicians alike. I find myself often defending both China and India and pointing out their progress rather than their past demeanors. On that matter I suspect as a nation we have more than most. But our politicians desperately do need to take notice or we shall indeed end up as one of the third world nations!

Martyn1981

Energy Numbers currently showing 21.2GW for wind, so I assume we have a new record as it seems to track reasonably well against announced figures.

17:16  Now 21.5GW
17:18 up to 21.7GW

Martyn1981

Another big batt for the UK.

UK developer Exagen submits application for 500MW/1,000MWh battery storage project

Exagen has submitted plans for a 500MW/1GWh battery storage project to Blaby District Council, in the Midlands region of England, UK.

Situated in Leicestershire, the Normanton Energy Reserve will be created across 19 acres, have a capacity of 500MW/1GWh and be capable of providing enough power for 80% of the homes in the county.

ABrass

Martyn1981 said:

Another big batt for the UK.

UK developer Exagen submits application for 500MW/1,000MWh battery storage project

Exagen has submitted plans for a 500MW/1GWh battery storage project to Blaby District Council, in the Midlands region of England, UK.

Situated in Leicestershire, the Normanton Energy Reserve will be created across 19 acres, have a capacity of 500MW/1GWh and be capable of providing enough power for 80% of the homes in the county.

I'm not sure that's fair, isn't that the largest battery announced by far?

michaels

Martyn1981 said:

Energy Numbers currently showing 21.2GW for wind, so I assume we have a new record as it seems to track reasonably well against announced figures.

17:16  Now 21.5GW
17:18 up to 21.7GW

And I thought I was on top of this stuff and here I am coming to post 21Gw and find I am an hour late....

1961Nick

It’s now reached 21.9GW