News Archive – July 2005

Decentralised Energy

Britain must decentralise its electricity generation system, says a new Greenpeace report. Producing power close to where it is needed will cut greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy security, save consumers money and democratise energy production. 
 
Britain's homes and workplaces would become mini-power stations generating huge amounts of electricity and making the UK the leading nation in the fight against climate change, if the vision laid out in the report becomes reality. The current, outdated electricity system is so inefficient that two-thirds of the energy in the fuel is wasted before it gets used at homes and workplaces.
 
The report, Decentralising Power: An Energy Revolution For The 21st Century, argues that a reform of the electricity system is urgently needed to end this environmentally destructive wastage - the power sector is the single greatest contributor to carbon dioxide emissions. The solution is to generate electricity close to where it is needed, or 'decentralise' it. Greenpeace wants to see tax incentives for household energy systems and requirements for decentralised energy in all new housing stock and for electricity suppliers to purchase their surplus output.
 
As an example of what could be achieved Greenpeace says if half the houses in the UK had combined heat and power boilers, this would generate as much electricity as current nuclear power plants. It would also save householders on average £150 a year.

Greenpeace press release 19th July 2005

 

John “Bloody” Birt and New Nukes

The Sunday Times reports that Downing Street may be planning to use a so-called “independent” inquiry to justify a decision that has already been made in principle to build more nuclear generators. Lord Birt, the prime minister’s personal adviser in No 10, is understood to be pushing for Sir Andrew Turnbull, the outgoing cabinet secretary, to chair a review, which could lead to the construction of six new nuclear reactors. Birt is an advocate of nuclear power. Supporters of nuclear energy point to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) figures which show it as a cost-effective way of reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Some officials, like the nuclear industry itself, believe a quick decision should be made. A recent internal document to ministers said: “The case for looking at the nuclear question again quickly is that if we want to avoid a sharp fall in nuclear’s contribution to energy supplies ... we should need to act soon, given the long lead times.” The DTI will need to wait to make its decision at least until the autumn, when Margaret Beckett, the environment secretary, is due to produce a report on the implications of global warming. The Treasury is believed to be highly sceptical of plans to build new nuclear stations.
The Sunday Times, 10th July 2005
 
John Prescott referred to the former head of the BBC as “John Bloody Birt” in April after being asked about reports that he was considering plans for a new generation of nuclear power stations.
The Times, 24th April 2005