UK Looks to Low Carbon Economy August 12, 2009
Posted by andrewmcd in Energy News, UK Energy Policy, UK Energy Suppliers, UK electricity, UK energy, UK gas, energy.Tags: department for energy and climate change, energy and climate change, low carbon economy, low carbon economy uk, low carbon transition plan
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Published last month, the UK Department of Energy and Climate change strategy for the transition of the country to a low carbon economy makes for interesting reading. The ‘green economy’ is obviously an area that the government is staking alot of its faith in, and these plans flesh out how they intend to expolit this green energy wave.
To quote the launch website………………
The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan plots out how the UK will meet the cut in emissions set out in the budget of 34% on 1990 levels by 2020. A 21% reduction has already been delivered – equivalent to cutting emissions entirely from four cities the size of London.
Transforming the country into a cleaner, greener and more prosperous place to live is at the heart of our economic plans for Building Britain’s Future and ensuring the UK is ready to take advantage of the opportunities ahead.
By 2020:
- More than 1.2 million people will be in green jobs
- 7 million homes will have benefited from whole house makeovers, and more than 1.5 million households will be supported to produce their own clean energy
- Around 40% of electricity will be from low carbon sources, from renewables, nuclear and clean coal
- We will be importing half the amount of gas that we otherwise would
- The average new car will emit 40% less carbon than now.
The Transition Plan is the most systematic response to climate change of any major developed economy, and sets the standard for others in the run up to crucial global climate talks in Copenhagen in December.
Alongside the Low Carbon Transition Plan, a Low Carbon Industrial Strategy was also introduced. The targets laid out by this plan include:
- Up to £60 million to capitalise on Britain’s wave and tidal sector strengths
- Up to £15 million capital investment in order to establish a Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre
- A £4 million expansion of the Manufacturing Advisory Service
- Up to £10 million for the accelerated deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure
- Up to £120 million to support the development of a British based offshore wind industry
Well, there we go – what do you think of these announcements? Do these measures go far enough? or are they far too ambitious in light of the current economic climate which shows no signs of recovery any time soon. We welcome all your thoughts and opinions.
Speed Up U.N Climate Talks: EU President July 13, 2009
Posted by andrewmcd in Energy News, energy.Tags: climate-change, energy-crisis, eu, sweden, UN-conference
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Current EU Presidency holders Sweden have had a blast at their fellow representatives at the latest U.N. Climate Change talks in Beijing. The Swedish Environment minister Andreas Carlgren has said that some countries seem to be demanding alot from others, without taking any meaningful action themselves. Although no countries were mentioned, Rueters reports that he had a “a frank exchange with Chinese officials” – China’s rapidly expanding economy and dependence on coal, is now ahead of the USA as the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases. Carlgren has called for a reduction in CO2 emissions of 15-30 percent from India and China compared to the current “business as usual” projections.
We have to applaud the brave Swedish stance on this issue, however we feel that his pleas may fall on deaf ears.
UK charges up electric car trials June 23, 2009
Posted by andrewmcd in UK Energy Policy, UK energy, energy.Tags: electric-cars, electric-vehicles, green-cars, hybrid, uk-electric-cars
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The world’s largest ever coordinated trial of environmentally friendly vehicles is to be launched today.
This is very encouraging news from the UK government, signalling that it is serious about transitioning our vehicular transport habits.
Car Recharging station - soon to be a common site?
The £25 million scheme is designed to accelerate the introduction of electric cars in the UK. Participating members of the public will take part in long-term tests of various vehicle types from electric Minis and Smart cars to sports models and electric vans (surely a priority vehicle!).
It is hoped that by the end of 2009, about 340 vehicles will be available to qualifying members of the public in eight areas of the UK including London, Glasgow, Birmingham, Oxford and the northeast of England. Power companies, regional development agencies and universities will also be involved in co-ordinating the experiments and developing the infrastructure which will measure the performance of these vehicles.
About 22 per cent of the UK’s carbon emissions come from transport. According to a study for the department for transport, widespread adoption of electric vehicles capable of a range of 50km (31 miles) or more could halve road transport carbon emissions.
As laudable as this scheme i, the fact remains that the UK remains well behind California in terms of pioneering electric vehicular transport (although they don’t have flying cars yet!).
If there is anyone who is going to get involved in these trials then let us know.
Scotland pushing for green energy future June 18, 2009
Posted by andrewmcd in Green Energy, UK Energy Policy, UK energy, energy.Tags: clean-energy, Green Energy, green-power, scotland, scottish government, scottish-energy, scottish-power
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A greener future for Scotland?
Scottish climate minister Stewart Stevenson today unveiled plans to propel Scotland into a clean and green energy future. Never afraid to embrace green technologies (Scotland has the largest wind farm in Europe) this latest announcement outlines the specific measures that the government wish to take, with the specific aim of transitioning the country into a low-carbon economy.
The are four major elements of the plan are:
- Low carbon electricity by 2030, through increased renewables and clean fossil fuels utilising carbon capture and storage technology;
- Wholesale adoption of low carbon road vehicles, and significant electrification of rail by 2050, with significant progress by 2030;
- Low carbon heating by 2050, with significant progress by 2030, through reduced demand, better energy efficiency and a massive increase in renewable and low carbon heating systems;
- Fewer emissions from agricultural businesses, more woodland planting and appropriate protection for Scotland’s carbon rich soils.
Speaking at the launch of the plan, Stevenson said:
We are today outlining a plan that will transform Scotland to a sustainable, low carbon society.
Scotland will soon have the most far reaching climate change legislation in the world. That must be accompanied by action and our Delivery Plan demands action now, tomorrow, and from future generations and future governments.
Scotland’s role in the global effort to reduce emissions will create clear economic benefits and help maintain a thriving economy. Harnessing the energy related opportunities presented by Scotland’s natural capital can create tens of thousands of green jobs as we move to 2050. These are jobs for the future – jobs in our rapidly expanding renewables industry, in developing and applying clean fossil fuel technology, in energy efficiency and microgeneration and in the developing sustainable transport industry.
Through our economic recovery programme we are progressing actions to create new jobs in low-carbon sectors such as in energy generation, energy efficiency and sustainable transport.
Not alot of promisies to live up to there then! We will be watching the evolution of this plan with interest.
What do you think of the Scottish Governments Plan? Is is over-ambitious or does it not go far enough? – Let us know your views!
Go-Ahead for UK Smart Metering May 20, 2009
Posted by andrewmcd in Green Energy, UK Energy Policy, UK energy, energy.Tags: smart-metering, smart-meters, smart-meters-uk, UK Energy Policy, uk-smart-metering
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A potential revolution for UK home energy usage was quietly ushered in last week when the Department of Energy and Climate Change finally enabled the use of smart-metering. There are great implications for households across the country – by 2020 all households in the UK will have smart meter fitted which will enable them to more effectively manage their domestic energy usage.
Energy secretary Ed Miliband has outlined the thinking behind the implementation of smart metering:Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said:
“This is another part of our Great British refurb. The meters most of us have in our homes were designed for a different age, before climate change. Now we need to get smarter with our energy.
“Smart meters will empower all consumers to monitor their own energy use and make reductions in energy consumption and carbon emissions as a result. Smart meters will also mean the end of inaccurate bills and estimated meter readings.
“This is a big project affecting 26 million homes, and several million businesses, so it’s important we design a system that brings best value to everyone involved.”
We are delighted that this system is finally able to be implemented, the abailty to control our energy usage has been a long time coming.
Domestic energy plans for 2009 April 14, 2009
Posted by andrewmcd in energy.Tags: energy-bills, energy-costs, energy-opinion-poll, energy-poll, UK energy
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These are unique times for the world economy. The trickle down effects of the credit crunch are only just beginning to bite. With this in mind we thought that it would be useful to gauge public opinion on where energy costs rank in priority level for households.
Now that all the major UK energy companies have reduced their prices for the first quarter of this year, we would like to get a guage of readership opinion for the remainder of the year. What are your plans for your home energy this year? – is it likely that you will stay with your current supplier? or are you thinking of moving onto a better deal?
The current economic situation is obviously having a bearing on the domestic situation on a number of levels, obviously energy bills are one of the most important expenditures – would you sacrifice other services (ie broadband, cable tv) be sacrificed in order to pay for energy bills?
Thanks for filling in our poll, the results should be interesting.
