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Prime Minister David Cameron has said the UK needs a "bold transformation" of the nations low carbon energy mix with plans for offshore wind and a new generation of nuclear and modern gas power plants.
In a speech yesterday to the Institute of Civil Engineering, the Prime Minister said the UK is well-placed to be a world leader in offshore wind power and added his Government was doing all it could to make sure it happens.
Mr Cameron used the speech to explain the UKs national infrastructure plan and described how the nation needs to "find diverse, secure sources of energy that can meet demand, keep prices stable and cut the impact of carbon on the planet".
He described how renewable energy is the "final component" in a balanced energy mix and added: "Our focus here will be on offshore wind, for hard-headed reasons.
"It is secure, generated at home rather than imported."
"And it's one of the world's fastest growing energy sources, which means substantial economic opportunities."
"I believe we are well-placed to become a world leader in offshore wind power - and this Government is doing all it can to make sure that happens."
"However, the Prime Minister said the country was currently powered through an out-of-date, inefficient grid and ageing, polluting power stations."
"He added: "We need to replace coal plants, invest in modern gas power and affordable renewable energy."
"Gas power will continue to be absolutely vital for our electricity system - and we will work with industry to develop a new gas generation strategy that draws in investment and secures electricity supply."
"Today, nuclear energy forms the backbone of our low-carbon generation fleet but the nine plants still left in service in Britain are reaching the end of their life."
"I'm convinced that we need to press ahead with their replacement - but that involves three big challenges."
"One - getting the price right, without state subsidy."
"Two - getting plants built on time."
"Three - making sure we maximise the economic benefits to the UK in terms of skills, jobs and manufacturing."
The PM concluded his speech on energy by saying: "So today I can confirm our intention to work with the private sector to deliver the new plants that companies would like to build between now and 2030."
"Source: ClickGreen"
I suscribe to a variety of renewable energy publications, now and then attend a solar conference and have an office amidst world class scholars in this field. I'll today touch on a few Renewable Energy News ("REN") highlights:"
* Last week I posted on: THE SELLING OF HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES. NextEra of Florida was the purchaser, and I noted that it is especially anti-distributed solar. So a title such as What's Really at Stake in the Florida Solar Battle caught my attention. The article begins with a statement that solar panels on homes and businesses in Florida are not coming. First, the Florida Public Service Commission voted to end all solar rebate programs after next year. Said Mike Anthell, director the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association,...the people who sell us our electricity are understandably motivated to be sure we don't produce our own electricity". The utilities have done a great job of stacking the Commission, which is siding with the power generators against distributed generation. All NextEra has to do is to insure that only two Hawaii Public Utilities Commissions are with them. Said MSNBC's Rachel Maddow: "In the Sunshine State they have decided they are agains the Sun". I might add, again, that NextEra has a point: large wind and solar farms are a lot more cost effective than residential systems.
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* Editors from RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD AND POWER ENGINEERING" selected the 2014 Renewable Energy Project of the Year: the Ivanpah Solar Power Facility. The system, located in the Mohave Desert, 40 miles southwest of Las Vegas, and the largest of it s kind in the world, was built for 2.2 billion, generating almost 400 MW at peak. It was supposed to be 440 MW, but they decided not to challenge the desert tortoise. Are they worth 48 MW?
Click on that article and read the comments. There are
always people, sometimes planted by the fossil and nuclear
industries, quibbling about something."
* Want to know who are the top 100 power people in wind energy? Well, you can buy the 2014 report for 156. This latest REN issue indicates:
* #1 last year was Henrik Poulsen (right") of DONG Energy. DONG is the abbreviation of a Danish natural gas organization.
* The top five were from Europe.
* Forty four are new to the list.
* There are now eight women, as opposed to six last year.
"If you'd like to read the full Top 100 Power People in Wind 2014 report, visit www.awordaboutwind.com and sign up for a free one-month trial. The first ten people to sign up then email the team on membership@awordaboutwind.com will receive a copy of the report."
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