Energy News

China's Renewable Energy Boom

2006-07-19T00:15:00.000+01:00

For the full article, see Planet Ark.

China is set to spend US$200 billion on renewable energy over the next 15 years. That amount would buy an oil firm the size of Chevron and leave change to fund the current renewables programmes of all Europe's top oil firms for 25 years.

Beijing wants a tenth of its energy to come from environmentally friendly sources by 2010 - a desire driven by soaring air pollution and chronic environmental degradation that is swelling medical bills and provoking discontent.

China's new renewable energy policy, unveiled in January, aims to create a system of financial and policy support for the use of renewable energy, including preferential tariffs for fuels such as biomass. Beyond 2010, China wants renewable sources to supply a fifth of its total energy needs by 2020, up from 7% last year, to slash reliance on imported oil.

Renewable energy will likely become China's next boom sector, with oil at historical high prices and more energy needed to support the country's GDP growth, hovering at around 10%. The compound annual growth rate of China's wind power capacity is estimated to be 39% in 2004-10 and 20% in 2010-20. This presents remarkable growth potential for manufacturers of wind turbines, but competition may force down prices and profit margins.

China - which claims already to be the world's top investor in renewable energy - could leverage the highest wind-power capacity potential on Earth. She aims to have 30 gigawatts of installed wind power capacity by 2020, up from just 1 GW last year, powering between 13 and 30 million households at full capacity.

The country's top economic planning agency expects that up to US$188 billion will need to be invested to reach the 2020 goal. Renewable energy projects will need intensive and long term government support. Beijing appears to have the resolve - and the need - to push ahead, but a proper system of tax or policy incentives could take years. (As we know in the UK.)

UK Energy Review is launched

2006-07-11T16:00:00.000+01:00

The full text of the UK government review of its energy policy has just been launched. The full text can be found on the DTI website.

That Energy Review and (mainly) nukes

2006-07-10T23:43:00.000+01:00

Some views from the UK newspapers over the weekend about the nuclear options for the country, likely to be proposed by the Energy Review (to be announced tomorrow, Tuesday 11 July)

In the on-line Guardian Unlimited, reporting an article in Sunday's Observer newspaper. A reasonably balanced article mentioning a variety of views: 'Energy review 'a sham' to back Blair on nuclear'

From Telegraph.co.uk short articles focussing on the funding of nuclear new build and the likelihood that the 'energy gap' to about 2015 will have to be plugged by more gas-fired generation. Interesting views but predictably anti-Blair - Sunday business comment, by Sylvia Pfeifer, Deputy City Editor: 'Blair's nuclear spin needs hard cash' and 'Power generation gap'.

Guardian Unlimited has a Special Report on the nuclear industry, majoring on articles from the Grauniad's stablemate, The Observer's, claimed sneak preview of the final draft of the Energy Review . 'Revealed: Blair's energy blueprint - Long-awaited government review stresses need for more renewables but critics blast nuclear plans'

This article is by Stephen Hale, Director of Green Alliance. 'Obsession with nuclear power is wrong for Britain, Mr Blair - The Energy Review will back the PM's push for atomic energy, but, says Stephen Hale, it won't deal with the challenge of global climate change

This article in the Independent reports a publication by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) saying the Government's energy review, to be published next week, should set a clear target of doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency, rather than go for nuclear new build.

Two articles from the Times Online:

'Standby buttons face axe to curb energy waste'. A good, if short, report on the issues, with plenty of statistics.

'Foreign groups to team up on nuclear power plants'. FRANCE’s EDF, Germany’s Eon and British Energy are considering teaming up to bid for multi-billion-pound contracts to build the UK’s next generation of nuclear power stations.

Hope these were useful. We will all know for certain tomorrow what the Review says.

Energy technology scenarios and strategies for a more secure and sustainable energy future

2006-06-26T21:08:00.000+01:00

On 22 June the International Energy Agency (IEA) presented the key findings of a new publication: 'Energy Technology Perspectives: Scenarios and Strategies to 2050'. “A sustainable energy future is possible, but only if we act urgently and decisively to promote, develop and deploy a full mix of energy technologies – including improved energy efficiency, CO2 capture and storage (CCS), renewables and -- where acceptable -- nuclear energy. We have the means, now we need the will”, Mr Mandil, IEA Executive Director, said.

G8 leaders at the Summit in Gleneagles in July 2005 asked the IEA to advise on alternative scenarios and strategies aimed at a 'clean, clever and competitive energy future' and 'Energy Technology Perspectives' is part of this advice. The study presents a series of scenarios demonstrating the role that energy technologies, already available or under development, can play in future energy markets. Mr Mandil went on to say “We find that clean and more efficient technologies can return soaring energy-related CO2 emissions to today’s levels by 2050 and halve the expected growth in both oil and electricity demand”.

The IEA publication takes a detailed look at status and prospects for key energy technologies in power generation, buildings, industry and transport and puts forward strategies for attaining scenarios unimaginable under current trends. Energy efficiency is seen as essential to mitigate growth in energy demand and CO2 emissions and can be achieved using technologies that exist now. Accelerating energy efficiency improvements alone can reduce the world’s energy demand in 2050 by an amount equivalent to almost half of today’s global energy consumption. To achieve this, however, governments, in both OECD and non-OECD countries, must be willing to implement measures to encourage investment in energy-efficient technologies.

An important technology will be the capture and storage of CO2 (CCS) emitted from power-generation or industrial processes. The study says that the early demonstration of CCS in full-scale power plants should be a high priority. Deploying CCS, along with more renewables, more nuclear and more efficient use of natural gas and coal, can significantly decarbonise global electricity generation by 2050. “With the right policy incentives we think there is scope for renewables to quadruple by 2050 and for nuclear to gain a more important role in countries where it is acceptable”, Mr. Mandil stated.

The Energy Blog

2006-06-20T22:46:00.000+01:00

This is another high quality blog presenting a wide range of good-quality energy news from around (but with a US bias). I've added it to the links bar on the left.

New UK power station to be built

2006-06-20T15:53:00.000+01:00

Energy company Centrica is to start construction of Britain's first major new power station in almost five years. The UK firm, which owns British Gas, said it would invest £400m ($741m) to develop the gas-fired power station in Langage, near Plymouth in Devon. The new plant will provide electricity to more than one million homes

The new combined cycle gas turbine plant will be one of the country's most efficient power stations, beginning commercial operations as early as winter 2008.

Planning permission for the power station was first granted six years ago, despite objections from local residents. French company Alstom will build and maintain the Langage power station, which would provide electricity for about 11% of the energy company's forecast peak residential demand.

Centrica raised its gas and electricity prices by 22% at the beginning of March, and has recently warned that further price rises could be on the way.

For more information, see the BBC.

Featured books

2006-06-20T14:11:00.000+01:00

Fundamentals of Renewable Energy Processes
Aldo V. da Rosa
Fundamentals of Renewable Energy Processes contains the technical detail necessary to understand the engineering principles that govern renewable energy application at many different levels. Focused on the fundamental mechanisms and processes that underpin energy management, it provides students with the foundation for all energy process courses.

Nuclear Energy An Introduction to the Concepts, Systems, and Applications of Nuclear Processes
Raymond Murray
Nuclear Energy, Fifth Edition provides nuclear engineers, plant designers and radiation physicists with a comprehensive overview of nuclear energy and its uses, discusses potential problems and provides an outlook for the future

Future Electricity Technologies and Systems
Tooraj Jamasb, William J. Nuttall, Michael G. Pollitt (Editors)
Where will our electricity come from in the future, and how will we use it? The UK is aiming for a 60% reduction of 1990 carbon dioxide emission levels by 2050, yet the electricity industry and patterns of electricity use must change radically if this is to be achieved. This overview analyses a range of possible scenarios for the future of electricity in the UK. Specialists in various renewable electricity technologies demonstrate the potential each has to play a significant role.

Sustainable Development and Innovation in the Energy Sector
Ulrich Steger and others
Almost every energy scenario assumes an enormous growth in the demand for energy in the coming decades. Meanwhile, at international conferences and other venues, the primary concern is massive reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, especially of the CO2 produced by fossil-fuel energy consumption. Experts also point out the political risk of depending on petroleum and remind us of the fact that resources are not inexhaustible.

Multi million pound investment in 'green' energy

2006-05-26T11:12:00.000+01:00

A £20 million investment is to be provided to back the Executive's Clean Energy Startegy which aims to make Scotland the renewable energy powerhouse of Europe, a special conference in Aberdeen was told today.

Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen announced details of:

an allocated £20 million of renewable energy funding to be spent over the next two years
an environmental study to help the development of off-shore wind projects
specific financial support for biomass, hydrogen, marine and microrenewables

The Minister said that investing in a diverse range of renewables would not only help tackle climate change, but would have a positive effect on Scotland's economic potential.

For more details see the Scottish Executive web site.

Fusion reactor work gets go-ahead

2006-05-25T15:33:00.000+01:00

Seven international parties involved in an experimental nuclear fusion reactor project have initialled a 10bn-euro (£6.8bn) agreement. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) will be the most expensive joint scientific project after the International Space Station. Wednesday's agreement in Brussels gives the go-ahead for practical work on the project to start.

Generatingnonap energy from reactions like those that power the Sun, fusion will lead to a cheaper, safer, cleaner and endless energy resource in the years ahead, says the the seven-party consortium, including the European Union, the US, Japan, China, Russia and others. They agreed last year to build ITER in Cadarache, in the southern French region of Provence.

The experimental reactor will produce the first sustained fusion reactions, the last stage to be proved before a full prototype commercial reactor is built. Construction will start in 2007 and building will take about eight years to build. If all goes well, officials hope to set up a demonstration power plant at Cadarache by 2040.

In a fusion reaction, energy is produced when light atoms - the hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium - are fused together to form heavier atoms. To use controlled fusion reactions on Earth as an energy source, it is necessary to heat a gas to temperatures exceeding 100 million Celsius - many times hotter than the centre of the Sun. The technical obstacles to this, which scientists have spent decades overcoming, are immense; but the rewards, if ITER can be made to work successfully, are extremely attractive. One kilogram of fusion fuel would produce the same amount of energy as 10,000,000kg of fossil fuel.

Fusion does produce radioactive waste but not the volumes of long-term high-level radiotoxic materials that have so burdened nuclear fission. Officials project that 10-20% of the world's energy could come from fusion by the end of the century, but environmental groups have criticised the project, saying there was no guarantee that the billions of euros would result in a commercially viable energy source.

The Cadarache site lies about 60km (37 miles) inland from Marseille, and has been a nuclear research centre ever since President Charles de Gaulle launched France's atomic energy programme in 1959.

See full report in story from BBC NEWS

Biomass Energy in England

2006-05-20T18:03:00.000+01:00

I must apologise for the general lack of posts during the last month. I have been contributing to the UK Government's response to the Report of Sir Ben Gill's Biomass Task Force. As we approached the launch date things got more and more intense as we finished the last few details and sent the document to various government ministers for approval (a task made more difficult by the Easter holiday). Finally we launched the response at the end of April and it can be down-loaded here.

The key points in the Response are:

A new five year capital grant scheme for biomass boilers, with funding of £10 - £15 million over the first two years
Agreement in principle to support for energy crops under the new Rural Development Programme for England to be introduced in 2007, closely integrated with bioenergy market development;
The Forestry Commission’s new Biomass Energy Centre to be a major new hub for bioenergy advice and best practice for industry and the public;
Further measures to integrate environmental assessment in the planning of energy crop development;
Government leadership through public procurement, including the potential use of biomass across the Government estate;
Working with Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) and other organisations to ensure effective, coordinated mechanisms for delivery of policy and advice on biomass energy;
Action, (already taken), to improve the Renewables Obligation and implementation of the associated procedures;
Use of the planning system to stimulate renewables development, including government support for planning authorities applying a minimum percentage of renewable energy in new developments;
Action to address regulatory barriers identified by the Task Force and to develop standards to improve efficacy and confidence in biomass;
New Building Regulations with tougher standards to encourage the use of Low or Zero Carbon (LZC) systems, such as biomass;
Government thinking on the use of energy from waste, subject to conclusions from the current review of Waste Strategy and the Energy Review; and
Support for the EU Biomass Action Plan and agreement on UK membership of the Global Bioenergy Partnership from its launch in May 2006.

The action plan set out in this response will be implemented and a long-term UK-wide Biomass Strategy will be developed within a year.

Tony Blair Says Nuclear Is Back On The Agenda

2006-05-17T18:31:00.000+01:00

Blair says 'Nuclear is back on the agenda' in spite of him having been an enthusiastic member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (Wikipedia) What's changed?

Energywatch launches new website

2006-03-13T16:41:00.000+00:00

The independent consumers' watchdog Energywatch launched a new website, Energyfuture, on Monday 6 March. The site contains a mix of facts, opinion pieces, articles, and straw polls on the future of UK energy. It aims to give people 'a voice' in the lead-up to the UK energy review and to promote and encourage the sustainable use of energy. UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Energy minister Malcolm Wicks welcomed the new site saying "How we power our lives is fast becoming one of the crucial questions of our time ... resources like the energyfuture website make a valuable contribution to this."

New North Sea carbon burial plan announced

2006-03-13T16:20:00.000+00:00

Simultaneously an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) scheme and a carbon sequestration experiment, Shell and Statoil announced a plan on Wednesday 8 March, to work together to build an £860 million ($1500 million, €1250 million) gas-fired power station in Norway. The carbon dioxide produced, when the project comes on stream in 2010, will be pumped into two gas fields in the North Sea to improve production.

European Commission publishes energy green paper

2006-03-13T16:14:00.000+00:00

The European Commission launched its energy green paper on Wednesday 8 March. The Commission believes that energy efficiency technologies and changes in customer behaviour could cut energy consumption by 20% by 2020. “This energy efficiency initiative will help Europe achieve two fundamental goals of the Lisbon Strategy: creating more growth and better jobs. It will also help Europe meet its Kyoto commitments”, said energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs.

Research on fuelling fuel cells in Japan

2006-02-21T15:43:00.000+00:00

Two more energy-related items from Japan for Sustainability:

Project to Create Hydrogen from Food Waste and Used Cooking Oil
Kyoto City has launched a research project to produce hydrogen for fuel cells from food waste and used cooking oil for the first time in Japan. This is a joint research project with Kyoto University, the Ministry of the Environment, and the Biogas Study Group.

Solid Methanol for Fuel Cells
Kurita Water Industries Ltd. has announced that it has solved the safety and portability problems of methanol fuel by developing the world's first solid methanol. The company applies its clathrate compound technology to liquid methanol, which is used as fuel for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs).

100% Renewable Energy Microgrid using a Private Transmission Line

2006-02-21T15:31:00.000+00:00

News from the ever-interesting Japan for Sustainability site:

The Japanese New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), an independent administrative agency, has begun a test to demonstrate a new decentralized energy supply system using a private transmission line (5 kilometres in length) in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture. A total of 710 kilowatts of electricity generated by gas engines, photovoltaics and wind turbines, is being supplied to city hall, elementary and junior high schools and other buildings in the city.

The NEDO web site has more information on this project, including a diagram.

UK Energy Review Consultation

2006-02-09T17:13:00.000+00:00

In the UK the Secretary of State (chief minister) at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Minister for Energy have launched the public consultation document "Our energy challenge: securing clean, affordable energy for the long term" as part of the review of UK energy policy.

The consultation has a broad scope and considers all aspects of the energy system, including energy supply and demand. It sets out the energy challenges the UK is now facing, and invites responses to the evidence presented and to what should be done to secure clean, affordable energy for the long term.

DTI wants to stimulate a wide-ranging and informed debate on energy policy issues both over the 12-week consultation period and beyond.

Follow this link to access the consultation document. A summary of the main questions asked in the consultation follows:

Q.1. What more could the government do to reduce UK carbon emissions?

Q.2. With the UK becoming a net energy importer and with big investments to be made over the next twenty years in generating capacity and networks, how should the government develop the UK market framework for delivering reliable energy supplies?

Q.3. The Energy White Paper left open the option of nuclear new build. What particular considerations should apply to nuclear new build, including long-term liabilities and waste management, and how should the government address them?

Q.4. Are there particular considerations that should apply to carbon abatement and other low-carbon technologies?

Q.5 What further steps should be taken towards meeting the government’s goals for ensuring that every home is adequately and affordably heated?

Comments are also invited on the following issues:

i. The long term potential of energy efficiency measures and how best to achieve that potential;

ii. Implications for the transmission and distribution networks of significant new build in gas and electricity generation;

iii. Opportunities for more joint working with other countries on energy policy goals;

iv. Potential measures to help bring forward technologies to replace fossil fuels in transport and heat generation in the medium and long term.

2006-01-18T21:35:00.000+00:00

The effect of incentives and uncertainty in renewable energy policy

Three separate papers recently published by Paolo Agnolucci, of the UK PSI, look at different aspects of renewable energy policy in England and Wales, Denmark and Germany.

Agnolucci shows how the English and Welsh Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation has actually had many negative effects on attempts to develop renewable energy; the lessons that can be learned from recent policy changes in Denmark; and the role of uncertainty and relatively low incentives in Germany.

More information on these three papers can be found on Paolo's
PSI web page:

About PSI

PSI (the Policy Studies Institute) is an independent subsidiary of the University of Westminster. It undertakes and publishes research studies relevant to social, economic and industrial policy.

The Institute is a charity, run on a not-for-profit basis and takes a politically neutral stance on issues of public policy, having no connections with any political party, commercial interest or pressure group. Its income is derived from funds for individual research projects received from a variety of sources.

PSI's researchers are organised in three multi-disciplinary research groups: the Employment Group, the Environment Group and the Social Policy Group and it collaborates with other leading research institutes, think tanks and academic departments. PSI undertakes research only on the understanding that the results will be made public - however uncomfortable the findings may be to any established interests.

2006-01-18T14:24:00.000+00:00

Annual report on German funding of research into renewable energy

For the first time, the German Federal Ministry of the Environment (BMU) has published an annual report on the funding of research in the area of renewable energy technologies. According to the report, in 2004 the BMU allocated EUR 60 million to R&D focusing mainly on photovoltaics, wind and geothermal energy.

Facts and Figures

Close to 30% of the funds were for research in photovoltaics, 21% focused on wind energy, 19.7% on geothermal energy, and 17,3% on solar thermal power plants. The rest was devoted to low-temperature solar-thermal technologies and other innovative technologies. However, these figures only reflect the priorities of the year 2004. The average figures for the period 2001-2004 show that a total of 46.6% of research funding was allocated to photovoltaics, 20% to wind energy and 13.4% to geothermal energy.

The main goals of federal research funding in the area of renewable energy are:

to reduce costs
to ensure a sustainable and environmentally-friendly development
to facilitate a rapid transfer of research results into practical applications
to rapidly integrate renewable energy into distribution systems
to ensure jobs and encourage innovation

The BMU has two research projects selected for financing, managed by: the Association of German Engineers (Verein Deutscher Ingenieure VDI/VDE), that focuses on solar-thermal power plants, and the Research Centre Jülich (Projektträger Jülich PTJ), who coordinates projects for the other forms of energy-related research.

The Research Network Solar Energy (Forschungsverbund Sonnenenergie FVS)

The FVS is a research network of eight non-university research institutions, who cover, between themselves, almost all aspects of renewable energy technologies. Their experts cooperate in identifying priority areas for research and provide the Federal Government with a basis for future policy decisions. With a combined staff of over 1000, the institutes represent ca. 80% of the German research capacity in the renewables area. Their strategy for 2005 is to focus on photovoltaics (34% of research capacities), fuel cells and hydrogen (29%), systems technologies and network management (11%), solar thermal power plants and solar building (14%), biomass, geothermal energy, wind and marine energy (12%).

The eight members of the FVS are:

The German Aerospace Centre in Cologne (DLR, http://www.dlr.de)
The Research Centre Jülich (FZJ, http://www.fz-juelich.de)
The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems in Freiburg (ISE, http://www.ise.fraunhofer.de)
The National Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam (GFZ, http://www.gfz-potsdam.de)
The Hahn-Meitner Institute in Berlin (HMI, http://www.hmi.de )
The Institute for Solar Energy Research Hameln (ISFH, http://www.isfh.de)
The Institute for Solar Energy System Technologies in Kassel (ISET, http://www.iset.uni-kassel.de)
The Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research in Stuttgart (ZSW, http://www.zsw-bwm.de)

Further information on energy research and individual projects is available on the Internet pages of the BMU at http://www.bmu.de and http://erneuerbare-energien.de. The project managers of the BMU are the Research Centre Jülich (http://www.fz-juelich.de/ptj/) and the VDI (http://www.pt-solar.de). The website of the FVS Network Solar Energy is at http://www.FV-sonnenenergie.de (in German only, but provides very good links to all energy research financing agencies in Germany).

2006-01-18T14:14:00.000+00:00

Energy agenda of German coalition Government

The new coalition government recognises that Germany needs a comprehensive energy strategy, based on a mix of energy sources. It recognises the challenge of climate change and the possible conflict over energy prices and distribution of energy and raw materials. It sees the solution in a joint strategy of improving energy/resource efficiency whilst expanding renewable energy/renewable raw material use.

Nuclear

The coalition partners hold different views on the use of nuclear energy but the existing 2000 law to phase out by 2021 stands. The issue of nuclear waste disposal will be addressed quickly, during this parliamentary term.

Renewables

Germany's existing renewable energy targets will be kept, increasing the percentage of renewable electricity to 12.5% by 2010 and 20% by 2020. This will increase the contribution of renewables to total energy to 4.2% by 2010 and 10% by 2020.

In the longer term, the coalition will concentrate on offshore wind and repowering onshore wind, rather than new-build onshore. The coalition will push for the foundation of an international renewable energy agency IRENA.

Biofuels and renewable raw materials

The previous target to increase the percentage of biofuels in transport to 5.75% by 2010 has been kept, in line with EU requirements. The existing tax exemption for biofuels will be replaced by an obligation to blend biofuels with conventional fuel. The coalition will work with industry to increase biofuel R&D and to bring biomass-to-liquid technology to market.

Energy efficiency

Germany's target of doubling energy productivity by 2020 against 1990 levels will remain. There is a new target of renovating 5% of buildings built before 1978 per year. Government funding for energy-related building renovation will be increased to €1.5bn/year (more than three times the existing level) and the scheme changed from low-interest loans to grants. An energy labelling scheme for buildings will be introduced. CHP, modernisation of the power station stock, EU initiatives to increase energy efficiency and the German Energy Agency's energy saving schemes will all be supported.

Innovation: 'Energy for Germany'

Through an innovation initiative the coalition hopes to retain its world leadership in energy technology. This will require an increase in energy research funding from both the Government and industry.

The coalition is aiming for increased competition on the energy and gas markets. It will support the instruments in the new Energy Law and the responsible authorities and increased inter-European competition. Transit capacity will be increased and LNG infrastructure expanded

Economic Instruments

Germany's eco-tax on energy and road fuels will remain, but not be increased. The existing exemptions for industry will continue.

EU

The coalition supports the development of an EU strategy on sustainable and affordable energy and raw materials and the harmonisation of EU energy taxes. To protect the competitiveness of its manufacturing industry, Germany will exploit measures to relieve the burden on industry when implementing the EU energy tax directive.

The 150-page text is available in German here.

2006-01-18T13:45:00.000+00:00

Japan's First Woody Biomass Power Generation in Place

From the Japan for Sustainability web site.

Woody biomass has now become a practical fuel for power generation.
Shikoku Electric Power Co. in western Japan announced the start of
commercial biomass power generation on July 4, 2005 at its Saijo Power
Station, after completing tests for co-firing woody biomass with coal.
This is the nation's first full-fledged incorporation of woody biomass
fuel into an existing coal-fired power plant.

- Full story -

2006-01-18T13:41:00.000+00:00

Residential Co-Generation System Proven Effective at Aichi Expo 2005

From the Japan for Sustainability web site

Residential fuel cell co-generation systems were proven to be effective in reducing energy consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions during the first 5 months of a demonstration test conducted at the World Exposition 2005 held in Aichi, Japan. This was the conclusion announced in an interim report by the Urban Renaissance Agency, Toyota Motor Corp., Aisin Seiki Co. and Toho Gas Co. on August 18, 2005.