Reality starts to kick in

Frequently one has the impression that energy policy is determined by people who have no understanding of our energy needs or reserves.

But every so often, little snippets of news arrive which show which way the wind is really blowing.

I'm putting some of these below.

N.D.



THE COST OF RENEWABLES
Centrica chief executive Sam Laidlaw (14 Jan) has said that if we're going to get energy from renewables or other low carbon sources, it's more expensive (excluding nuclear power, presumably). OFGEM said earlier in the same week that environmental costs have added £60 to the average electricity bill and £20 to the average gas bill. OFGEM also estimates that the average customer donates £31 per year to the carbon trading scheme.

ENERGY PRICE INCREASES
British Gas is putting up its prices. NPower (German-owned) announced early in January increases in their gas prices (17%) and electricity (about 13%). The rises are due to climbing wholesale gas and coal prices and Britain's increasing dependence on imports to fuel its power stations. EDF (French) and EON (German) are expected to impose similar rises on their UK customers.

MORE NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS
The necessity for more nuclear power stations was announced by Gordon Brown on 6 Jan 08. We need to keep warm in the winter; we need light; we need a secure electricity supply. We must reduce our dependency on imported energy. This was the P.M's message, and no reasonable person can disagree with it. See a fuller report on the nuclear energy page.

HOME WIND TURBINES 'TOO WEAK' TO TURN ON LIGHT ....Jan 08
A new report by the British Wind Energy Association reveals that many turbines are little more than expensive ornaments. Exaggerated official estimates of windspeed mean that some installed wind turbines cannot even power a light bulb. See Wind - small turbines page.

CARBON CAPTURE PRE-COMBUSTION ABANDONED....Oct 07
Alastair Darling decides to scrap pre-combustion carbon capture technology, an extremely expensive way of producing electrical power. Many of these low-carbon-dioxide plants were to be built in the North-East of England.

BP SCRAPS PLANS FOR A GAS-FIRED POWER PLANT....Jul 07
Oil company BP scraps plans to build a £1,000,000,000 gas-fired power plant, blaming delays in state subsidies.

R.E.F REPORTS ON WIND FARMS....Dec 06
The Renewable Energy Foundation effectively says that if you build a wind farm south of Hadrian's wall, it's a waste of effort. John Constable, an adviser to the Foundation, commented that the Government's targets are based on wind farms running at 30% of capacity, and that for turbines built anywhere south of the Scottish border, the targets will not be met.

Of the many schemes for wind farms in England, none would be built without the enormous subsidies which are available.

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