Archive for renewable electricity
Two environmental assessments show ‘huge scope for development’
Posted by: | CommentsThe two announcements are the study on locations for future offshore energy developments, which identified scope for between 5,000 and 7,000 more offshore wind turbines, and the study on the Severn Barrage, which shortlisted 5 projects with the potential to supply up to 5% of UK’s electricity consumption.
The conclusion of the UK Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment states that ‘there are no overriding environmental considerations to prevent the achievement of the offshore…wind elements of the programme.’
Maria McCaffery, BWEA Chief Executive, said: “The two studies published today confirm what the BWEA has been saying since UK’s renewable energy targets were published in January 2008: there is enough potential for wind, wave and tidal to supply every UK household with electricity – and then some.”
The Department of Energy and Climate Change minister Ed Miliband said in his statement that ‘in terms of electricity, offshore wind power could potentially make the single biggest contribution to our 2020 renewable energy target,’ while also announcing £500,000 in funding ‘to further develop embryonic technologies like tidal reefs and fences’ in the Severn Barrage.
“There should be a clear sense of urgency regarding the offshore renewables roll out programme. We now know that any potential environmental impacts of offshore renewables will be greatly outweighed by the benefits of harnessing sustainable forms of energy. The industry received a powerful signal today that we are on the right track. The Government now has to act decisively to remove other obstacles hampering the growth of the wind, wave and tidal sectors,” said McCaffery.
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The link represent DECC’s initial thinking. It is subject to change and may or may not be published.
They give for example the following costs, all in UK Pounds/kWe:
CCGT – 600 – 690
Coal 1250 – 1500
Onshore wind – 1074
Offshore wind – 1429
The table on the link gives a lot more detail.
http://claverton-energy.com/pipermail/claverton-group_claverton-energy.com/2009-January/000351.html
Surprisingly, perhaps (or perhaps not given the historical bias), there is no mention of the capital costs, or the running costs of the cheapest means of cutting CO2 and fuel costs – Combined Heat and Power with District Heating CHPDH for cities, and micro-CHP for suburbs.
If you have any evidence to suggest that any of the assumptions differ from what is attached in the spreadsheet, you may wish to contact Stephen Green, Senior Economist, Energy Strategy, Security and Markets Directorate Department of Energy and Climate Change, at DECC.
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2008 Claverton Energy Group Conference Papers Available
Posted by: | CommentsThose that have been forwarded in text format have been published as News Articles. Those in PowerPoint or PDF format have been uploaded to the website, and can be downloaded for reading at: Read More→
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European Super Grid – press release
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Expert unveils plan for a European-wide renewable electricity solution
At the fourth Claverton Energy conference, hosted by Wessex Water, Bath, international energy expert Dr Czisch outlined his strategy for a European-wide super grid that would supply all of Europe with entirely renewable electricity. Speaking at the conference Dr Czisch of Kassel University, Germany, also said the move to a renewable electricity system could cost the UK consumer the same as what is currently being paid, and, if there is the political will, he added that it could in theory be achieved in decades.
Dr Czisch, who has conducted research of world weather patterns and European electricity consumption on an hour by hour, day to day basis, says Europe could ensure its energy security, slash its CO2 emissions and have a sustainable, renewable electricity supply by employing a network of wind turbines that stretch across the continent from Siberia to North Africa, where the wind is most constant. This would be supported by biomass, coupled with an extended transmission system and existing hydropower plants providing storage capacity. In Dr Czich’s Czisch’s system wind would account for 70% of the electricity mix. Biomass and hydro would provide storage and back up and the biggest part of the remaining electricity production. All of this is the result of a mathematical optimisation that allows for maximum objectivity in searching for the lowest cost renewable electricity supply for Europe and its neighbourhood. Read More→
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High Profile EU Speaker at 2008 Claverton Conference!
Posted by: | CommentsDr. Gregor Czisch is a confirmed speaker for this years Claverton conference, with a paper titled “Common Affordable and Renewable Electricity Supply for Europe and its Neighbourhood - Optimal solution: 100% Renewable HVDC-Supergrid To Save Our Climate”
Click here to view Dr Czisch’s Conference Paper Synopsis
Put Czisch in web site search box, at top right to see Dr Czisch several other contributions.
Dr. Gregor Czisch, a fully qualified agriculturist, studied physics at Munich Technical University, specializing in energy supply. He wrote his PhD in electrical engineering on scenarios for a future electricity supply with renewable energies. Since 1987, he has worked on various topics in the energy-related field at Munich TU, the DLR Stuttgart, the Fraunhofer ISE in Freiburg, and the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) in Garching.
Among his key areas of scientific focus were solar building engineering, utilization of biomass, wind energy and hydropower, primary energy analyses, emission analyses, high temperature heat storage and solar thermal power plants.
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