How do we start to bring this to the forefront

Steve W · Guest

Hi,

I am wondering what we can do to bring this knowledge about feasible alternative energy to the forefront of british thinking. As an Island we can be self sufficient in renewable energy and even become an energy exporter again with the huge wind and wave reserves available. It has to be done at some time unless we really do want to proliferate nuclear power plants which I am sure the public wouldn't want.

The UK has an opportunity to lead the world in these technologies and in doing so replace much of the jobs and earnings lost to overseas low cost labour. Also what a great way for third world ecomomies to generate revenues by exporting the suns energy either by buildling and owning generation facilities or by hosting foreign owned plants.

The sooner we wake up to the fact that oil and gas will both run out but before this become uneconomic the better. UK governments should fund
and operate these national energy farms for the benefit of the UK population into the future. Low cost plentiful clean energy would make this
country competitive in many ways so the pay back cannot just be judged in terms of capital costs of plant and running and energy sales. We would have the opportunity to virtually freeze our energy prices and prevent the greedy shareholders from running off with all the profits. We cannot allow governments to constantly take the short term 5 year view on a subject so critical.

We as a nation cannot rely on imported energy and needn't turn to unsafe and un clean methods of energy production but we have to start now!.

admin · Site Admin Joined: 08 Dec 2005 Posts: 33 Location: Kent

Hi Steve,
Completely agree with your post. Its so frustrating that politicans can only see the same old arguments and answers to this growing issue of energy security. The problem is that they are still blinkered by large scale production in a relatively few places and the production of high voltage. Renewables do not do this. The energy generated is local and at low voltage. What they cant seem to get their heads around is a completley different energy infrustructure which really looks a little like the internet... small linking to the large.
My solar PV has been generating for a few days now. It produces far above my expectations. Yesterday it was largely sunny and it produced 19kwh! Most of this went to export and my neighbours ( without them knowing) would have been using it.
Just think if all the south facing roofs in my street had solar PV and solar thermal water system; if all those with large gardens had a ground source heat pump; if we had a wind turbine for 20 or so households and we actively used the coppiced wood around my local area for heating our homes. We would be relatively self sufficient for our home energy needs; we would only need to occasionally draw from the grid.
What a different world we would live in and its all possible now - today.

I have my local MP visiting my house on the 5th May to see our PV and the other energy saving measures we have put in place. His party are not in power but he is a young up and coming conservative. Lets see if his party's vote blue go green slogan is something he is willing to embrace.
I shall be asking a few searching questions.
If you've got any let me know.

Steve W · Guest

Wow, I didn't realise the Solar PV generated at that level. You're absolutely right that if everyone contributed we could be self sufficient.

The governments such tax the corporate energy giants making multi bilion
profits for shareholders and use this cash directly to build up renewable
energy resources. These should be state owned or as you say intenet style
with a vast network of small energy nodes. How much more secure would this be not having to rely on 2 or 3 plants around the country. No wonder they can increase the prices at will.

Good luck with your projects. An example for us all.

Boggle · Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Posts: 4 Location: Ireland

I see your reference to GSHP here(admin). Our govt here in Ireland is currently providing grants for GSHP also but unfortunately I feel that these have become a bit of a con.

Most people that I have discussed them with (and aren't trying to sell me one) are unhappy with the running costs and we have had enquiries from people looking to know if they can run off a wind turbine - such is the cost!

Do you have one or do you know many people that have one? I would be interested to know if they are happy with them (ie. is this mainly an Irish phenomenon?)

As far as domestic wind turbines go there is a lovely article at http://www.airoption.com/Downloads/Small_wind_turbines.pdf

Amazing how us developed nations are so backwards at times...
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Inform yourself...

retromatic · Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 2 Location: Manchester