r t

Statements reports and comment.

Oil spill disasters (May 2010)
Failure by BP to cap the offshore oil seepage highlights the need to get away from the use of oil products for transport and hasten electric cars and electric infrastructures for recharging. Coupled with this could be realisation that to obtain range, speed must be compromised; other reasons being limit of oil reserves and reduced Carbon and other harmful emissions.
Nuclear waste problem to be almost solved?
Areva and University of Texas in Austin are developing a method of destroying 99% of waste from a PWR. (T 22 3 10 p45.)
Methane trapped under permafrost escaping.
Sub- sea permafrost should act as a cap to prevent leakage, but there is a growing risk that melting of the permafrost is releasing methane underneath. Methane is 25 times more potent than CO2 as a greenhouse gas and this could escalate global warming See 'feedback' mechanisms that accelerate global warming.
World warming due to human activity challenged by some scientists (see P8 news ST 14 2 2010)
Facts are:- CO2 in air increase is from 250 to 380 ppm since 1850; sea has risen by 5 inches since 1972; snow proportion on land has decreased from 38% to 35% (due to glaciers and greenland melt); world temperature has risen by 0.7 deg C in 80 years.
The challenge is how much of the temp rise is due to human activity; is the prediction that temperature will rise 1 to 6 deg C by 2100 due to humans realistic or should it be how much future temp rise is set in motion due to the extra blanket of CO2 around the earth?
or is it should we take the risk and not bother or should we make absolutely sure and eliminate the risk?
Copenhagen - non binding 2% limit of temperature rise (above pre industrialisation level) agreement.
Emission cuts of 25 - 40% by 2020 was IPCC recommendation in 1990 and but was not agreed. Cuts of 50% by all but 80% by rich countries by 2050 needed. Brown wants every country to state their emission targets by end of Jan. What does 2%temp rise actually mean?
Positive results of conference are that US, China and most of the 192 countries have agreed the 2% temp rise limit, help to undeveloped countries also put on table and transparency recognised as part of the deal. More work needs to be done.
Sea levels set to rise by 1.4m (4 1/2 feet)by 2100 displacing 10% world population. (Dec 2009)
Latest report from Scientific committee on Antarctic research. Only chance to stop it is to reduce emissions quickly. Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the UN IPCC proposes that CO2 is 'sucked out' of atmosphere. (see exotic page.) and (carbon capture).
China plan to reduce carbon emissions by 40-45% from GDP by 2020
This means that although the emissions will rise in absolute terms (with growth) the proportional amount will fall. Most of China's power generation is from coal fired power stations. Report+video
Indias National Action Plan on Climate Change
Increase in generation to 535 GW by 2030 but 56% by renewables / nuclear / CSS. see India page.
UK future scenarios by 2020 - ofgem report
1 Green transition+ rapid economic recovery. Prices increase 23% or
2Green stimulus with slow economic recovery. Prices rise by 14% or
3 Dash for energy-- high growth. Prices rise by 60% then fall back or
4) Slow economic recovery low investment Prices rise by 22%

Report summary

Demand for low carbon incentives July 2009
Report to soon be published will call on Ed Miliband, UK energy and climate change secretary, to introduce firm prices for low carbon incentives to promote green investment.
Climate Challenge Symposium at St James Palace 26-28 May 09 Answer a) Cease Deforestation b) SOLAR and c) WHITE PAINT
Deforestation causes more co2 than all transport, cars, lorries, aircraft, trains, ships. Urgent to change - Charles.
Changing surface colors in 100 cities would save 44 bn tonnes CO2 equivalent to reducing CO2 from all cars on roads for 11 years see exotic page..
The future lies in solar power - Spain - North Africa etc.see solar page.
World global emissions are 25% electricity and heat, 18.7% deforestisation, land use change, 12% transport, 14% agriculture, 11% manufacture /construction.

Urgent to reduce coal use or capture and store CO2 from it, cease deforestisation and become efficient.

UK plan 4 new coal power stations with Carbon Capture and Storage(CCS) in North sea gas wells (24 4 09 ST p22)
UK sets example by planning four new coal fired power stations of high efficiency with CCS. CO2 is to be pumped into the porous sandstone reservoir that previously held gas below layer of solid rock above. See section on CCS. Effect on electricity tariff probably 2%.
David Attenborough says that to save the planet we need not only CCS but wind, tidal, solar and nuclear generation.
Investment in renewable energy $155 billion 2008 worldwide
Windpower the largest source of new electricity installed in EU and USA. US to build 90,000 MW new wind power by 2020. Solar booming - Spain Germany and US and waste energy plants. India and China also expanding renewables. 4000 people in UK work on wind, to increase 10X + by 2020. (ref new energy finance - ST4-3-09 t2)
Prof.Lovelock. When ice melts world will flip over into hot state.
An iced drink stays cool until ice melts, then it warms rapidly - the. earth is like that. Probably little margin unless far more drastic action is taken. Ref 8 (10 Feb 09)
Obama manifesto $ 150 billion spend on clean energy.
The objective is to free the US from oil imports, generate 25% from renewables by 2025 and develop a local plug in hybrid motor industry.
Lord Turner report due 1st Dec - meeting 80% less carbon by 2050
UK needs to boost renewables (wind etc), nuclear and carbon capture and storage for coal stations (CCS.) Electricity use will increase for electric car charging and gas heating replacement Times report. Also see future page
Rich nations should spend $4 billion over 5 years. Eliasch report commissioned by Brown UK. (Oct 08)
We should aim to halve deforestation by 2020 and forests to become carbon neutral by 2030 otherwise impossible to avoid damage to climate costing $1 trillion by 2100. Eliasch report
Brown UK wants to reduce CO2 by 80% by 2050 which includes air travel and ships. (Sept 08)
By increasing wind, tidal, nuclear power, CO2 capture and storage, changes to transport fuel (battery and H2) and efficiency.
Zero carbon by 2050, creating 160,000 jobs cost £100 billion
John Hutton Business secretary outlines plans for UK 26 6 08
BP chief on oil crisis (T 12 06 08 p53 buis.)
Global production down to 81.53 million barrels a day (bpd). Consump up to 85.22 mill bpd. 41 years supply left at 1.24 trillion barrels globally. Increasing coal use most concern - Greenpeace.
Oceans loosing oxygen due to warming (ST 18 5 08)
Global warming, causing a depletion in oxygen in oceans, around India, Africa, Central America, Baltic and Black Sea with fish vanishing. See Warming oceans kill sea life
Call for action to save worlds "Air conditioning system".
The cost of ceasing to cut down rain forests ( deforestation) would only be 1 % of all world insurance premiums (30 bn) based on Stern report figures. Prince Charles (UK) interview bbc news 15 5 08 calls for industrialised countries to provide a mechanism to make it worth while for rain forest countries to cease logging etc and retain this resource, vital to replenish world oxygen by drawing down CO2. International news statement
Low Carbon economy 'will pay its way' 19 2 08 IET Savoy Place.
The 2008 Turing Lecture speaker James Martin says that 'Armageddon' can be averted if developed nations rebuild their principal industries which will become a prime economic driver with huge profits rather than prohibitively costly.
UK Bill to reduce C 80% by 2050 (cf 1990) 60% min legal 26 - 32 % by 2020
Global policy must satisfy 3 principles to obtain international support:- 1) It must lead to cuts on scale necessary 2) Must implement in most cost effective way 3) Must be equitable to poor countries, to play their part and receive help. ( p19 T comment 22 2 08)
Dr Jim Hansen "we must aim for 300-350ppm"
Director of Nasa's Goddard space science labs warns that new research shows that we should be aiming to reduce carbon in the air from 380 ppm to between 300 - 350 ppm, more like pre industrial level. To do this coal burning must be phased out quickly. (ST news review 10 2 08.) Amounts of CO2 projected.
Davos 2008 Shell chief Oil & gas demand to outstrip supply 2015
A' blueprints scenario' where 90% CO2 in power stations is captured in developed countries and 50% in non developed by 2050 unlikely without global acceptance of carbon trading. (T p61 25 1 08)
House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (UK) (21 1 08)
Committee of 16 MPs state that Bio fuels should only be encouraged where there are benefits overall to fossil fuels, considering loss of carbon sinks. (ref 166)
Aircraft condensation trails and NO2 particularly harmful (T 16 Jan 08 p19)
Trails cause cirrus cloud which traps heat. Nitrous dioxide NO2 forms ozone a greenhouse gas. Solutions, reduce height by 2000 m reduces trails by 45%, (but increases burn by 6%) increase burn temperature to decrease NO2. British Airways is supporting research. (refs 153)
Prof Sir David King and the UK Government (ref 242. ST review 13 Jan)
Having now ceased his post as Chief Scientific Advisor to the government David King says that he had great difficulty explaining climate change to Tony Blair and other politicians and in particular getting them to realise that Nuclear power must be part of the electrical generation mix. He puts this down to lack of scientific education in the courses taken by these people (legal etc.) and now aims to address the 'deficit' in non scientific courses at Oxford. If it wasn't for the need for his advice in the foot and mouth epidemic in 2001 which resulted in the eradication of the disease, after which his department began to be taken seriously, he doubts that they would have listened to his advice on climate and nuclear generation.
Engineering solutions to solve climate change possible but need herculean task to implement
Letter (p 16 T 18 dec 07) from chief exec's. R Acad Engrs, I Civil E, I Mech E, I Chem E. (UK). Reference to Sterns report Nov 06 saying that" - -doing nothing will be far more expensive than taking action now - - ". They say:-
"- - -Engineering solutions to solve climate change technically possible to meet targets (Kyoto - Bali) but to bring solutions to market will in quantities required is Herculean task - -it will require massive investment in development and commercialization. - - Many solutions still in development, solar, wind, wave, hydrogen, carbon capture and storage. - - "
Underground coal fires in China
Thousands of natural underground fires cover 720 sq km, consume 220 million tonnes coal each year & produce 1% of all CO2 from fossil fuels, same as all US vehicles. One 50 yr fire put out after 3 years in Terak, Xinjiang. (T 22 11 07 p51 and China page)
'Population likely to be bigger problem' article says.
Melanie Reid writes p19 Times 29 10 07 "...I admire the chinese, they saw the problem and did something..." in a well balanced article "A world overwhelmed with hungry little mouths."
My comment is that we ignore this problem as any solution is difficult, unpleasant and certainly politically unacceptable. Also I suspect that future population projections are usually under estimated. At the rate over the last century the population would rise from 6.7 Billion to 28B by 2100 and 102 Billion by 2200, and this ignores medical advances and longer lives. First prize for the solution. DJT.

Top : Home

Transport miscellaneous Hardware Solutions

UK -government funding PV Solar panels for households. April 2010.
UK houses, if suitable, can now have PV solar panels installed where the electricity generated can be used free or fed back to the grid and the householder refunded under a 'Feed -in Tariff' scheme. The cost is either funded by extra government payments which should pay for the scheme in say 12 years or free from a company which receives these extra payments.
London. Now introducing Hydrogen Taxi Eco-cabs. All taxi cabs to be Hydrogen fueled by 2020.
Identical to existing cabs on outside. Range 250 miles. LTI and Lotus. See car page.
Solar plane launched 7 April 2010 & flew for 87 minutes

second flight took off 22april

Planned round the world flight in 2012 using sun to gain altitude in day and gliding and lithium battery driven motors at night.

See sketch bottom solar page

UK Little Chef cafes
Cafe chain hope to introduce quick charging points for electric cars. Following trials this could lead to half hour charging at 173 sites.
Smaller cars best way to reduce emissions quickly.
As price of rare earth elements and platinum, used in batteries for battery vehicles will rise due to demand a report from Oxford University's Smith School of Enterprise and Environment concludes that in the short term we should concentrate on small and efficient cars.
Boris Johnson London Mayor
From 62 to 25,000 charging stations in London by 2015. Elektromotive have 250 in Uk now. Card operated to deconnect.
Solar impulse plane unveiled
To fly around world using Li batteries recharged with PV rising to 8000m in day and gliding by night. sketch on solar page.
Mitsubishi i Miev 2009 battery car.
Lithium ion battery, range 100 miles in ideal conditions, performance as super mini. Charging via mains 6 hrs or with quick charger 1/2 hr. overall cost may be attractive if mass produced and with tax relief.
Hawaii, first US state to create transport infrastructure for battery cars.
Motorists will be able to buy 'mileage plans' enabling recharging and battery swaps for long distances. Recharging from renewable such as wind generation to reduce dependence on oil.
UK to announce extensive use of battery cars in 2011 (27th Oct 08)
A transport revolution to use battery cars is just around the corner, powered by rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries, range 100km - 160 km (60 to 100m). Features will be:- A '5 minute' country wide battery switch scheme to extend range beyond100 miles; recharging at restaurants, pubs, car parks, garages etc.
Similar scheme for Israel scheme announced July 08, also Denmark and Australia.
Renault-Nissan are planning to mass produce cars powered by Lithium-ion batteries, range 60 to 100m,
GM plan a hybrid, 50 miles on battery before diesel cut in, 6 hours to recharge for UK in 2010.
For more see transport page.
Nissan (p11 buis T 11 5 08) Toyota ( p39 T 15 01 08) BMW (ST 23 3 08). Mitsubishi (p8 In Gear ST 21 12 08)
Lithium-ion battery cars in 2 years; range 120m, recharge via mains, also hybrid version with petrol recharge on board. BMW plan is to provide the same comfort in battery cars as in larger cars.
Hydrogen powered light aircraft (T news p27)
H2 powered plane carries 2 people, 16m wingspan flew at100km/h for 20 mins at Ocana Spain. Exhaust only water; noiseless.
Lithium ion battery hybrid sports car (p9 News t 6 3 08)
Fisher (US) claim 50 miles a day on battery and recharge at night. Petrol engine only comes in after 50 miles. This could be a more promising way that battery cars will go but at present expensive.
Fleets of Electric (battery) cars at small charge Paris (p31 T 2 1 08)
Dozens of site where these can be rented and leave anywhere in city. Supplements bicycle system. Note that French electrical system for recharging batteries nearly all CO2 free.
US energy law (p35 T 20 12 07)
Cars must do less than 35 mpg by 2020; corn ethanol must increase 6X to 36 billion gals by 2022 and increase in energy efficiency household appliances and light bulbs.
EU 4 yr phase in to reduce car emissions to 120 gm/km
Giant kite like sail for ships
Stephen Wrage has invented a Skysail 5,000 sq m surface area to be let up to 300 m to drag merchant vessels saving up to 50% fuel. Sail will work up to 50 deg from wind. Could be used on 60,000 vessels and save 142 mill tonnes CO2 pa. (p49 T15 dec 07)
Honda fuel cell cars available mid07
The FCX Clarity has V flow fuel cell stack with lithium-ion battery and single H2 storage tank. Range 270m. California to open more H2 fuel stations. (iet dec 07) See hydrogen page
Toyota fuel cell drives 2015 at earliest p12 ST 28 10 07
Prius hybrid to have uprated battery and plug in so short journeys fueled from mains.
'eco jet' design available 2015 reduces CO2 by 50%
'Open rotor' engines (RR) slight reduced speed and swept forward wing (Airbus) to reduce drag.(T 15 6 07 p2)

Top : Home

16 tornados

16 tornadoes one tonne co2 per km?.

Scientific Reports

Bali agreement dec 15 Dec 07 lacks detail
After anger, tears, US isolation, India's proposal to agree to agree agreed without specifics.
Deal for world bank to oversee pilot scheme to discourage deforestation also fund to help poorer nations.
UK to cut carbon emissions by 25% 2020 and 60% by 2050 (should be 80% say scientists and worldwide.) See Global page for problem.
IPCC report Nov 07 (AR4)
The report was produced by around 600 authors from 40 countries, and reviewed by over 620 experts and governments.
On the issue of global warming and its causes, the SPM states that:
"Warming of the climate system is unequivocal."
"Most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely (over 90%) due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations."
IPCC report 4 5 07 costs 0.12 world GDP to limit emissions.
Temp rise of 2.4 by 2050 if emissions limited to peak at 2015. Or 2.4-2.8 C in if emissions peak at 2020 or 2.8-3.2 C if peak at 2030. Inaction 6C rise in 100 years. (p28 news T 5 5 07)
IPCC warn temp rise 2-3C by 2050
40% animal species face extinction
200m people could be forced from native lands due to rising sea levels, droughts - many facing malnutrition and heat stress.
By 2099 one third of land surface risk drought, 100s million will be unable to grow food
Alpine ski resorts destroyed
Humanity should adapt to change and cut emissions say IPCC. (p 9 news ST 1 4 07)
White paper on energy UK 7 07
Need to limit CO2 to 450ppm but very difficult, 550ppm possible but this too high for a stable world. Cost to limit emissions only 1% world GDP
Energy White Paper UK
Renewables to be 15% of total by 2015, Nuclear stations (18%) to be renewed, Severn barrage tidal plan 5%, offshore wind farms, energy monitors to be available, Carbon capture and storage encouraged, consumption estimated to fall by 8 to 15% by 2020. (p6 T 24 5 07)
Stern report Nov 2006( UK)
The economic case for decreasing global greenhouse emissions is that the cost of doing nothing would amount to 5% of GDP (Gross domestic product) each year now and for ever but could extend to 20% of GDP each year.
This would be reduced if we spent 1% of GDP now each year. The cost of carbon was put at $85 a tonne of CO2 in this study.

Top : Home

 

 

 

Power generation miscellaneous Hardware Solutions,

UK plans to build a Hiper fusion power plant by 2030 approx.
Laser jet focussed on H2 pellets causes conditions for fusion to heat and He. See fusion page & how it works.
Drax power station to cease plan to use 12.5% bio fuel mix.
The cost is 29% more expensive than burning coal. If the carbon cost were to double from £9 per MWhr to £18 the cost would be level pegging. (T 19 Feb p25)
32GW of UK offshore wind farms to go ahead.
Licenses for Round 3, turbines further from the coast line have been granted.
11,000 MW Hydro power station
The Brazilian government has approved the building of the Belo Monte hydro scheme which would involve moving 12,000 people from the area and loss of rain forest. See Hydro page.
Novacem absorbs CO2
Novacem has developed a concrete that uses magnesium oxide which with other mineral additives hardens by rapidly absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere.
Concrete manufacture accounts for 5% of manmade CO2. A tonne of Novacem produces 200 - 400kg CO2 compared to 700kg for Portland cement. While Portland cement absorbs 100 to 500kg per tonne of CO2 during setting, Novacem absorbs 2.5 times this figure. (ST buis 12 5 09.) See eco page
1MW Sea Snake device
QuinetiQ plan to develop 'sea snakes' operating around the shores, each capable of generating 1 MW. These are a 200 metre long rubber tube tethered to face into the waves, located beneath the water level.
A full scale prototype could be operational in 3 years. See wavepower page
Scottish tidal prospect (April09)
The 'Crown Estates' UK wants 700MW of tidal power generated from the Pentland Firth N Scotland, as an initial trial.
Geopressure generation prospect. (April 09)
Blue Ng, joint venture of the National Grid and 20C plan 19.5MW in W London. Potential in UK 1000MW, potential for geopressure worldwide 100,000 to 400,000 MW.
Dutch 'energy island 'concept.
Man made island offshore in20m deep sea size 6 X 4km (3.7 X 2.5 miles). The centre would be dug out 40 m (130 feet) below sea level. Water is pumped out using wind power and runs back when power demand high via turbines, generating 1500 MW (10 1 1 08)
Idea for Queen (UK) to power residences from green sources unfortunately abandoned Feb 09.
The plan was for heating for Buckingham Palace is to be provided from underground source - trials involving 400 m depth have been successful. Balmoral castle (Scotland) plus 1000 nearby homes were to be supplied from a hydro station. Windsor castle to be supplied from the Romney Weir - Thames.
CCS- store all Europe's CO2 for 600 years in rocks under North Sea.
Scottish Power is planning to capture, liqyuefy and store some CO2 from Longannet coal fired Power station. ( p45 T 15 9 08)
Geothermal potential 10,000 MW Innamincka (Aus) (07 08)
Geodynamics plan to build 50MW plant by 2012 pumping water 4km down to hot rocks at 300C; 450km from nearest transmission grid (ref 253) and near to where Burke and Wills died 1861. Geothermal page
Plans for severn barrage of up to 8600MW
Feasibility for barrage or smaller tidal lagoon announced. 2 yrs to study 10 yrs to build. (p43 T 7 5 08)
Sea Trial Tidal power system 18 -20 hrs a day
Sea Gen 1.2 MW tidal turbines at Srangford Lough North Ireland in 8 knot tidal flow (T p22 news 7 4 08) see tidal page
Tidal energy Anglesey Wales UK
Plans to build first tidal energy farm off Anglesey by 2011, Marine Current Turbines (T p31 news 8 2 08.)
Wave farm off Cornwall UK
Plans for a wave farm circa 60MW by 2015 distant 10 miles offshore to test various devices and environmental effects. (p13 Times news 17 9 07 and p52 Times 18 9 07) See wave page
Biofuel from sugar cane
Amyris's jet fuel operates at -57C, lower than fossil fuel. Could be better than bio ethanol. (p9 ST buis 27 7 07) See bio page
Wind power in China
China aiming for 30,000MW from wind by 2020 (Eng tech 8-07) See China page
Plan to tap heat 3 miles down in Iceland generating power for Europe.
Water to be pumped down to provide steam (600 C) for generation. Electrical Power to be supplied to Scotland and Europe. Potential to increase geothermal power by 10 times. (p 22 ST 14 05 07)
Lord Foster, Architect to build city in Abu Dhabi Powered by sun and wind.
Solar mirrors to focus sun on power generators, plantations to provide bio fuel, wind generators - example for future. (p2 ST 14 05 07 )

Top : Home

.