The Energy Wire

MPs Warn Government on Science Cuts

2010-03-23T04:50:00.000-07:00

The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee are today publishing a report warning the government that spending cuts on science and scientific research could damage the Economy and British Science in the coming years.

Releasing this report one day before the final budget of the current governmental term, the committee are asking the government to keep spending in line with policy. Phil Willis MP (Lib Dem), the committee chair said, "The Government's policy ambitions are at odds with its actions. On the one hand it champions supporting business investment in research and development, while on the other it announces cuts which threaten the very science base that underpins such businesses. We hope that the Budget will contain good news for science funding. Anything less has potentially devastating consequences for science in the UK."

The Pre-Budget Report in December 2009 announced that £600 million would be cut from higher education and science and research budgets by 2012-13.

The report is here (262KB)...
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmsctech/335/335i.pdf

The press release is here...
http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/science_technology/s_t_spending_cuts.cfm

Scotland embraces renewable power

2010-03-22T12:52:00.000-07:00

There has been some good news during the past week for Scotland’s alternative energy plans. ScottishPower Renewables has announced that the Crown Estate has awarded them two major marine power development areas in the Pentland Firth. The company will develop a 95MW tidal power project at Ness of Duncansby and a 50MW wave power project at Marwick Head.

The tidal site will consist of up to ninety-five HS1000 tidal turbines. The wave power site will comprise of up to sixty-six Pelamis P2 wave power generators.

BBC news also announced today that ScottishPower Renewables submitted an application for a 132-wind turbine project in Southern Scotland.

ScottishPower Renewables
http://www.scottishpowerrenewables.com/default.asp

BBC news story
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/8574490.stm

I Need an Intervention...

2010-03-22T11:11:00.000-07:00

I am an addict. I go on the internet too much, I have far too much red wine, I want things I cannot afford so I put it on my credit card. I am also addicted to energy. Without it I can barely get out of bed (the flat would be too cold), I can't see who went through to the quarter-finals in MasterChef, I can't drive to Sainsbury's to get the coconut milk I need for making a curry later. I rely on energy for almost everything I will do today, but I am using too much and I know it.

In England, over 8.5 million people still smoke. There are warnings on the packet, the science has been widely accepted (by all but the cigarette companies themselves) for decades, there are adverts on the TV pleading with you to stop. People either can't or don't want to stop, change is difficult.It is in our nature to be a little bit selfish, to think about only ourselves and our closest kin. It is because of this, it could be argued, that as a race we find ourselves with energy supply and pollution problems. Even in the face of overwhelming evidence, we care only enough to do very little.

I'll just go and make myself a cup of South American Coffee whilst being careful not to overfill the kettle and I'll be right back to discuss what a hypocrite I am...

We need speed limits and drug laws enforced just to ensure our own safety and income tax to ensure that less well off people are looked after. In an ideal world, this isn't necessary, but in reality we cannot be trusted to this ourselves. We're selfish and lazy, I get it. But what has this got to do with energy?

Carbon Capture and Storage, Nuclear Power. These are stop gaps, a way of reducing emissions and saving resources by only small amounts. Brilliant technologies but both flawed, requiring finite resources to run and costing, depending on who you listen to, either a large fortune or several large fortunes. These technologies are the equivalent of a bag for life. It doesn't actually solve many problems, just delays things a bit and makes everyone feel better. Let someone else sort it out at some point.

How we will power our country has been put off by generations of governments that are merely representative of the people, self-interest has seen delays and stop-gaps force rushed decisions made with short-term views. There is a part of us, however, that knows we should be doing the right thing, the small voice in your head that tells you to quit smoking or use less shopping bags. It is this instinct that we must expand on and hope exists too in the minds of our legislators and the body politic as a whole. Change is difficult, but it is possible. Interventionist policies promoting truly renewable energy sources, subsidies of new technologies and penalties on waste, may be difficult to stomach in the short-term but will both raise funds and influence behaviour.

There is a thread of hope that such policies might be enacted. With feed-in tariffs starting on April 1st, more people and communities will be able to take charge of their energy supply, receiving greater reward for their positive actions. Some have said these steps should not be taken, whilst others say the measures do not go far enough. My view is that this is a good starting point, but we need to beg our politicians to do more to ensure the energy we use is as clean as possible, as soon as possible. As for our addiction to using quite so much energy, well, maybe I'll tackle that at a later point or leave it to someone else. I'm feeling lazy and I want a curry.

I have an interview on Wednesday for an internship position, wish me luck.

A Tale of Two Nations

2010-03-19T06:20:00.000-07:00

A report published in the journal 'Science' has emphasised the importance of China and India in the fight against climate change.

The report claims the two emerging economic superpowers will determine environmental policy and outcomes throughout the century. Both countries are expected to maintain their rapid economic growth over the next few years. The two nations are huge consumers of raw materials, importing a quarter of the annual global production of crude palm oil between them.

The report, written by eight prominent scientists, urges the two nations to collaborate in order to tackle climate change. Collaboration is vital to mitigating biodiversity loss, global warming, and deforestation.

The two countries have already demonstrated their importance at Copenhagen last year, where Barack Obama reached an agreement with South Africa, India and China behind closed doors. Obama's agreement was much to the embarrassment of other nations, particularly those in Europe. To be excluded from the talks was a huge betrayal to the Europeans, who have been early pioneers in putting climate change on the political agenda. This reports seems to imply, however, that this will be something the European's will have to get used to.

See the report here.....

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/sci;327/5972/1457?maxtoshow=&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=china+india&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT

Green Gradutes Stuck in the Red

2010-03-18T11:44:00.000-07:00

By 2020, the UK is trying to cut it's CO2 emissions by over 30%. The main source of this reduction will be in renewable energy. So why is it so hard to find a job in an industry that should be growing?

I graduated from Warwick University last year with a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering with Sustainability. I have got a good degree from a good university, some work experience and a passion for renewable energy. I thought I would walk into a graduate job immediately. I was wrong. Why?

It would be easy to blame others, and there are plenty of excuses. The economic downturn affecting recruitment, lack of sufficient government investment in Clean Tech, etc. There is some truth in this, particularly as it seems to be occurring abroad as well as here in the UK (http://www.physorg.com/news184871563.html).

The harsh truth, however, is that even if we were in the good times, this is a very competitive field. The best candidates need to make themselves stand out. Last week, I received a rejection email (to get any response at all was novel in itself) for an unpaid, three month long internship in central London. This email informed me that there were over 200 applicants for the position! How am I going to build up enough experience to apply for a permanent paid job if there is so much competition for internships?

MPs fear a Geoengineering Superpower?

2010-03-18T10:15:00.000-07:00

The UK parliament's Science and Technology Committee has called for urgent regulations on geoengineering techniques.

The announcement, published on Thursday 18^th March, stated arrangements for increased regulation should not be left until climate change has progressed even further. The MPs believe regulation is needed as future geoengineering techniques may allow a single country to affect the climate of the Earth. The committee strongly believes a united and strong UN-operated regulatory framework is required to control and regulate the technology.

Many believe geoengineering is an important alternative to reducing CO2 emissions in the battle against climate change. A significant global reduction of greenhouse gases is regarded as an unrealistic pipe dream to many, will geoengineering hold the answer?

Check out the press release here....

http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/science_technology/s_t_pn26_100318.cfm