|
Click on the cover to read the latest issue of PSB
Affiliate Links
|
Scientists seek ‘new vision’ for energy generation09 July 2009The Royal Society has concluded that our energy infrastructure lacks vision and co-ordination, following a meeting of leading scientists last week. A report of the meeting reveals a deep lack of confidence in the way we are tackling the security of energy supply and claims that the UK lacks a coherent energy system that can effectively meet future energy needs while preventing rapid climate change. It calls for a new vision for energy generation that is based on the long-term replacement of fossil fuels through the development and deployment of new technologies.
Professor John Shepherd, lead author of the report, Towards a Low Carbon Future said that for the sake of future generations we cannot afford to wait until our climate is changed dramatically or the oil runs out before we end our dependency on fossil fuels. “If the UK wants to provide global leadership it has to convert talk into action,” he said. “The world needs new ways to generate our electricity and the rate of progress over the last decade has been disappointing. It is difficult to predict what will be required in 50 years time or what breakthroughs will have been made but we must deploy the technologies we have now and not be afraid of being radical in our thinking about new sources of energy."
The consensus among the authors is that our existing energy systems are no longer “fit for purpose”. The world needs new ways to generate electricity, to heat or cool homes and businesses and to power industry and transport systems. The UK, with its world-leading research base and richness in natural renewable resources, such as wind, waves and tides, is well positioned to lead the way in developing the technologies we need for the future. But what we require is vision and commitment, say the report authors; the vision to put aside the “vested interests of the status quo”, and the commitment to large-scale investment in research, development and deployment of new technologies.
The report identifies key areas of research and suggests a three-stage roadmap of the technologies that could play a part in the decarbonisation of our electricity generating infrastructure in the short, medium and long term. Its authors are wholly in favour of a new nuclear build programme, which they see as being an essential element in the low/zero-carbon electricity generation mix. However, there are hurdles to be overcome, not least being the way in which we safely and securely dispose of our nuclear waste. Considerable research needs to be undertaken now to find ways of dealing with our present stockpile and that arising from new nuclear generation capacity.
Not surprisingly, the authors seek much greater support for research and early-stage technological development of low carbon sources of energy. At present, energy research represents only a few percent of public research and development expenditure, and less than 0.2% of total global expenditure on energy consumption.
In addition to nuclear waste storage, the report’s authors have identified a number of other sectors that require immediate research effort. In addition to the prime sources of renewable energy such as wave, tide and wind, the RS meeting called for further investigation into so-called ‘second generation’ biofuels (like those derived from ligno-cellulosic crops) to determine the net gains in terms of greenhouse gas emissions reduction. The development of energy storage devices such as lithium cells and super-capacitors is seen as longer-term projects, and research will be required into “radical” new ways to store energy beyond 2050.
As these technologies evolve, at least we can all do something positive now – and that is to improve energy efficiency. Putting transport to one side, there is a huge pool of knowledge and technology available to help us make significant reductions in carbon emissions from the built environment. This might range from something as simple as insulation to something of greater complexity, such as intelligent building automation systems that control energy consumption as a function of occupancy. Industrial processes, too, can be made more efficient through simple expedients such as the use of higher-efficiency electric motors and intelligent motor drives.
When the capacity of our renewable electricity supplies reaches a certain level, the owners of such resources – and at some point in the future that will probably include domestic scale energy generators as well as the operators of vast offshore wind farms - will want a transmission system that is equipped to cope. The report authors have also highlighted the importance of establishing an energy-efficient ‘smart’ grid and the proliferation of smart meter installations, which keep consumers aware of their energy usage, as well as providing a means of delivering energy to, as well as receiving energy from the network.
Professor Shepherd says that it is time for us to break away from the endless debate that is so often dominated by vested interests and the search for a silver bullet. “The UK's scientists are among the best in the world and we need to invest in them and their research,” he asserts. “The UK could be at the forefront of one of the most fundamental changes in the world's economy ever, but it will not happen if we take a half-hearted approach. Other countries are moving ahead with carbon capture and storage and new technologies for the large-scale storage of power. Are we going to stand by and watch opportunities pass us by?"
Les Hunt
Editor Contact Details and Archive...Related Articles...Most Viewed Articles... |
|