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  • UK pushes for local rather than centralised power plants

    easures to provide more low-carbon energy in the British Government’s energy review included looking at how to produce energy locally rather than at centralised power plants, reported The Independent Online Edition on Wednesday, 12 July.

    Micro-generation techniques to be encouraged: The report said another recommendation was to encourage micro-generation techniques such as household wind turbines or solar panels.

    Increase in renewables obligations: Others were:

    • an increase in the renewables obligation, forcing energy suppliers to buy more electricity from renewable sources;

    • extra incentives for emerging technologies such as tidal power; and

    • more work on the technique known as carbon capture and storage, which removed carbon dioxide (C02) from power station emissions and buries it underground.

    But fossil fuels are not being ignored: The report said that even while striving for a low-carbon future, the Government was also looking to secure future supplies of Britain’s own fossil fuels.

    Coal forum being convened: The Government was convening a coal forum to examine the long-term future of United Kingdom coal production and coal-fired power. It was also taking a new look at how to make the most of remaining supplies of North Sea oil – and the more difficult-to-access oil reserves west of Shetland on the so-called Atlantic Frontier.

    Reference: Digest of latest news reported on website of Climate Change Secretariat of United Nations Framework on Climate Change Control (UNFCCC). 12 July. Address: PO Box 260 124, D-53153 Bonn. Germany. Phone: : (49-228) 815-1005, Fax: (49-228) 815-1999. Email: press@unfccc.int
    http://www.unfccc.int

    Erisk Net, 13/7/2006

  • UK includes nuclear power in energy future


  • Australian food wastage could feed millions

    In the next 40 years, according to the UN Environment Program, world food output must rise 110 per cent to meet the demands of population growth and improving diets in places such as China, India and Latin America, notes Julian Cribb, adjunct professor of science communication at the University of Technology, Sydney in The Australian (12/7/2006, p.36).

    Facts on Australian food wasting:

    • Of all the nutrients applied on our farms, up to half are wasted, in that they do not go to crops or pastures but are lost to soil lock-up, weeds, erosion, leaching or run-off.

    • The industry that processes our food spends $750 million a year just to dispose of its waste.

    • One-third to one-half of all the food that enters our shops, supermarkets, restaurants and homes is thrown away.

    • Our cities waste 97 per cent of their sewage effluent and its nutrients.

    Wasted food could feed 30-60 million people: If these estimates are sound, in theory it is possible to feed an extra 30 million to 60 million people on an Australian diet with the nutrients we presently chuck into landfills and the ocean.

    Price of fertiliser to continue huge increases? In the past 30 years, the price of fertiliser has risen by an average 1000 per cent, about twice the rate of oil price increases. What’s going to happen in the next 40 years when world food output has to more than double?

    Nutrients to become scarce commodities? Nutrients may become expensive and even scarce commodities, especially as some of them are being used to grow transport fuels and therefore replace oil.

    Australian dairy industry pioneers nutrient cycle research: Australia has an excellent record in learning to manage nutrients on farms. The dairy industry in particular has done much pioneering work on the nutrient cycle to minimise the loss of nutrients down the creek.

    Humans lose ’45pc of all terrestrial bioproductivity’: US environmental scientist Peter Raven recently remarked that humans use or destroy 45 per cent of all terrestrial bioproductivity.

    The Australian, 12/7/2006, p. 36

    Source: Erisk Net  

  • Gas powered electricity station looks set for Mortlake

    Origin Energy’s proposed natural gas-fired power station near Mortlake in southwest Victoria has been formally endorsed by the Victorian Government, the company has announced.

    Two year process: State Minister for Energy Industries and Resources, Theo Theophanous, released his favourable assessment of the project after considering the Environment Effects Statement, public and Government submissions, and the advice of the independent panel of experts appointed to review the project. The Minister’s assessment is the culmination of more than two years of project development and community consultation.

    More approval work to do: The assessment is a precursor to receiving a final approval for the project in the form of a works approval from the Environmental Protection Authority, a planning scheme amendment from the Minister for Planning and a pipeline permit from the Minister for Energy, Industries and Resources. Securing Government support is an essential step in the project’s evolution, Origin said.

    Then it’s up to the board: Once final Government approval was received the next important milestone would be a decision by the Origin board on whether to proceed to construction of the power station and associated pipeline.

    Market conditions will be a key factor: That decision is expected later this year and will be dependent on other factors such as supply and demand for electricity.

    Reference: Origin Energy, 12 July 2006. For further information, please contact: Wayne Gregory, National Manager, Public Affairs, Ph: 03 9652 5886, Mobile: 0419 587 375.

    Erisk Net, 13/7/2006

  • Blair advised that global warming more dangerous than nuclear power

     

  • Britain’s brave new energy-saving world

    The British Government’s energy review recommended phasing out the "stand-by" function on televisions and computers and trialling "smart" electricity meters among the energy saving measures to be adopted, reported The Independent Online Edition on Wednesday, 12 July.

    Substantial range of initiatives: The report said these were among a substantial range of other initiatives designed to put Britain on the road to the long-term climate change target of Prime Minister, Tony Blair, of cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 60 per cent (on 1990 levels) by 2050.

    21-25 per cut in emissions estimated by 2020: Officials said that when the new measures were implemented they would cut Britain’s CO2 emissions by 21 to 25 per cent below 1990 levels, by 2020. The measures had the double purpose of saving energy and making the energy used less carbon-intensive.

    Many measures have been advanced by green groups: Many of the proposed measures – not least the new plans for decentralised energy and local "micro-generation" of electricity – were proposals that environmentalists had long been calling for.

    Other energy-saving measures: Besides phasing out the “stand-by” function on computers and television and introducing smarter meters, the new energy-saving measures unveiled also included:

    • driving the least efficient domestic electronic goods out of the market,

    • providing incentives for large organisations such as supermarkets, hotels and local authorities to cut carbon emissions; and

    • making new housing developments low carbon, or carbon neutral, over the long term.

    Reference: Digest of latest news reported on website of Climate Change Secretariat of United Nations Framework on Climate Change Control (UNFCCC). 12 July. Address: PO Box 260 124, D-53153 Bonn. Germany. Phone: : (49-228) 815-1005, Fax: (49-228) 815-1999. Email: press@unfccc.int
    http://www.unfccc.int

    Erisk Net, 13/7/2006