Archive for energy
UKERC topic scoping workshop (TPA – Technology and Policy Assessment theme)
Posted by: | CommentsDear Colleague
The UK Energy Research Centre Technology and Policy Assessment theme (www.ukerc.ac.uk) is hosting a workshop for stakeholders from across the energy arena to help define its priority research areas for the next 5 years. We very much hope that you will be able to attend and contribute. The workshop will take place on the 1st October, from 11.00 to 4.30 at Imperial College.
The TPA has produced high profile evidence based assessments on topics ranging from the ‘rebound effect’ to the impacts of intermittent/variable generation on electricity systems. Each of these topics was selected in consultation with key stakeholders and users. A process the TPA team is seeking to replicate as UKERC enters its second phase of work.
More details can be found on the attached invitation. If you would like to attend please email Philip.heptonstall@imperial.ac.uk
Many thanks.
Robert Gross
TPA Director
(Please note you must be in the designated room by 9.45 as this event will start at 10.00 sharp.)
We would like to advise you of the above meeting organised by the Claverton Energy Group of Independent Experts, at which 2 energy professionals Dr Mark Barrett and Dr Gregor Czisch will discuss their studies which show that UK and Europe could have a 100% renewable power supply at reasonable cost providing (amongst other things) that modern cheap and efficient High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) long distance transmission links are built. Read More→
Full article:
http://www.claverton-energy.com/download/138/
Only about 1/7th of China’s vast area is suitable for agriculture due to desertification occasioned by overgrazing. This has been going on for thousands of years, and was the reason for the Mongol hordes invading Europe (they got as far as the gates of Vienna, and right up to Poland)
Desertification is a huge and tabooed subject in China, and sand dunes are threatening to engulf Peking at some point not too far away.
As desertification continues, and more arable land is destroyed, and China’s demand for food grows, this leads to deforestation being exported to eg the Amazon to grow the soya beans to feed cattle for the Chinese.
This article describes a novel concept using existing technology to very quickly a) control the desertification and sand drifts b) enable the establishment of plant species and associated carbon sequestration in improved soils c) the construction of wind farms or CSP connected to Europe by either a lengthy HVDC transmission system, or the local production of ammonia which can readily be transported to eg Europe / USA and easily used as a vehicle fuel d) the construction of a vast area of seawater greenhouses using sea water pumped thousands of miles to be desalinated by solar energy to allow the production of food and or energy crops. (Contrary to what some ill-informed people claim this does not use a huge amount of energy compared to other national uses)
The concept described is ADRECS – Aerially Delivered Re-Afforestation And Erosion Control System which can be applied in any desert area but in particular to the Gobi and other deserts in China which have extremely serious potential effects on world food.
The ADRECS proposal claims to address this issue and the rough calculations show that using standard freight aeroplanes and heavy lift helicopters, the installation could be achieved in a matter of a decade.
See Also:
http://www.claverton-energy.com/desert-rose-fresh-water-forest-cover.html
