Quigg notes
From Energy-Experts
From: Bernard Quigg Sent: 27 February 2007 17:17
In spite of the informal nature of the event I believe that we succeeded in reaching substantial agreement/ making common cause on a number of points.
Administration. 1. We appreciate Dave Andrews for his efforts to put the weekend together. 2.There is a need for an independent discussion facility to sound out embryonic ideas. 3 The event is worth repeating, preferably in about 3 months. 4. A majority wanted some more structure in the IT. 5. We did not conclude any method of financing and administrating a more formal structure. One speaker suggested that a sum of £10k to £20k per annum would be needed to run the site professionally. There was no dissent from this but no discussion on whether we wanted it either.
Presumably we need to decide if we want the Wiki to be a external communication tool or a sounding board for ideas. If we want to turn it into a 'lobby' then finance becomes necessary. Technical debate5. Our speakers developed radically different scenarios for non nuclear futures. One utilised small scale local generation and was limited in scale by the improved but still relatively short distances for which heat distribution is viable. A reliance on carbon fuel remains but at a much lower level. This was politically possible in national structures.The second depended on the use of DC transmission and allowed ambient(solar and wind) energy to be harvested over much larger distances. Dependance on fossil fuels was small/perhaps zero but the international political dimension appears challenging. Interestingly although there were conflicting views on the cost of the transmission facilities the difference - a factor of about two, was very much the same order of magnitude.A third combined the advantages of local generation and regional renewables around the UK. As a plan it was more comprehensive and had been developed in some detail for the UK market.6. All the alternatives did not appear expensive compared with possible price rises in conventional fuels.7. We did not consider nuclear power in any depth. The consensus of the meeting was that if the will existed, there were practrical alternatives.8. Many points which were raised required further discussion .9. Our discussions could have been wider ranging if we had had a wider spread of delegates. Areas which merited attention were transport in all it's forms, conservation and public education. If we are to meet again in three months or so, should we seek to formulate an agenda and attempt to reach agreement on the 'deliverables' starting now.?
Claverton Consensus 24 February 2007, Claverton Bath.
The Wessex Group is a group of independanted professional energy expets covering all aspects of the subject.Following in some cases discussions going back 30 years, amongst professional energy experts, and more recently by intensive email discussion culminating in a 35 person conference on 24th February at Claverton Bath, the flowing consensus was agreed:
- Revision One Claverton Consensus 24 February 2007, Claverton Bath.
Following in some cases discussions going back 30 years, amongst professional energy experts, and more recently by intensive email discussion culminating in a 35 person conference on 24th February in Bath, the flowing consensus was agreed:
- Within three years, global production of oil and gas will be unable to met worldwide demand. This will result in rapidly rising prices and physical shortages.
o By 2050 there are proven technical measures to allow building energy use in UK and REST OF Europe to be reduced by 80% at LITTLE EXTRA cost. o There are a variety of methods by which the electricity industry IN Europe can be de-carbonised over the same timescale, using proven costed methods. o This is with a variety of proven methods such as better insulation, OPTIMISED PUMP AND FAN SYSTEMS, MORE ENERGY-EFFICIENT ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, renewable energy. o As an interim measure waste heat from UK power stations large an small should be re-used FOR heating buildings which is ONE OF the quickest and cheapest forms of conservation. o To accommodate a wide range of Renewables (Wind, Wave, Tidal, Concentrating Solar Power) investment in international HVDC High Voltage Direct Current networks should be undertaken. provide additional long distance electricity transmission where appropriate o The government proposed expanded nuclear power programme is claimed will cut CO2 by 5% in about 2050, whereas the measures above would reduce carbon for Europe by 90% o It is very doubtful if there are adequate supplies of uranium to fuel an expanded nuclear programme, witness the continuing exponential rise in uranium price o MUCH personal transport energy can come from battery powered electric vehicles fed from off peak Renewables. o UK should follow the European model, with higher per capita car ownership but less per capita mileage, whereby car use is restrained by physical measures eg bus lanes and much improved public transport o Carbon capture COULD HAVE AN INTERIM ROLE TO PLAY BUT IS NOT YET PROVEN.
