What crisis? Energy & state spending.
It's Thursday, so it must energy stories day for the Daily Telegraph.
Risk of UK power blackouts has tripled in a year, Ofgem warns or:
Quote:
the margin of electricity supply capacity over demand could narrow to between 2pc and 5pc by 2015 and 2016.
Link:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...gem-warns.html
Shale gas in northern England could meet Britain's gas needs for 40 years:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...-40-years.html
Wind farms get generous subsidies for another six years:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/ene...six-years.html
USDA report on Climate Change
In February USDA released a major analysis, "Climate Change and Agriculture in the United States: Effects and Adaptation" (193 pgs) but I only discovered it now.
http://www.usda.gov/oce/climate_chan...griculture.htm
Here in southeastern Ontario the weather has been relatively normal so far this year (unlike last year with its super-warm March which caused premature budding of fruit trees, then a summer drought followed by Sandy's spin-off).
It sounds like the Arctic has seen a return to more normal ice retreat as well:
http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/
Energy security in and out of the UK news
In recent weeks energy security has been an issue in the public arena in the UK, the catalyst being steep rises in the cost of electricity and for some the underlying, increasing costs of 'green energy and taxation.
For a couple of days the reduction in UK electricity generation capacity, under EU 'green' policies and being beyond planned operating limits was discussed. This was partly due to the announcement of the first new nuclear power station construction, for over twenty years, by a Sino-French consortium and with an agreed price double today's. See:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24604218
New UK study on future oil supply
The British Society has recently published a special edition on The Future of Oil.
Most of the articles are behind a paywall but a few are free, including the excellent introductory paper by Steve Sorrell (UKERC) and Richard Miller.
This morning's Guardian includes this article (which provides links to the British Society journal and other links:
http://www.theguardian.com/environme...nomy-recession
Air pollution @ Beijing leads to more gas needed
Yesterday I listened to a BBC radio report on pollution in Beijing with mild interest which changed when a local academic commented (not exact words):
Quote:
Yes atmospheric pollution is an issue here, especially when using international standard measurements. There is now public pressure for change and as much of the pollution comes from coal-powered electricity generation we are changing to gas-fired generation.
I am not aware of China's domestic gas production or extent of imports, but it struck me that this public pressure could have a significant impact. Beijing's pollution is shared by other cities, such as Shanghai.
Anyone able to comment?