Clean power to overtake fossil fuels in Britain in 2019

[webfact]

Clean power to overtake fossil fuels in Britain in 2019

By Susanna Twidale

 

FILE PHOTO: A Stena Line ferry passes by the Walney Extension offshore wind farm operated by Orsted off the coast of Blackpool, Britain September 5, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain, the birth place of coal power, is set this year to use more electricity from zero-carbon sources such as wind, solar and nuclear than from fossil fuel plants for the first time, the country's National Grid said on Friday.

 

Britain was home to the world's first coal-fuelled power plant in the 1880s, and coal was its dominant electricity source and a major economic driver for the next century.

 

But last week it became the first G7 country to commit to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, a target requiring a big increase in low-carbon power, and an even steeper reduction in fossil fuel use.

 

European leaders have also this week discussed moving to a tougher climate target but have struggled to find unanimity among member states.

 

"The incredible progress that Britain has made in the past 10 years means we can now say 2019 will be the year zero-carbon power beats fossil fuel fired generation for the first time," National Grid CEO John Pettigrew said.

 

Data from National Grid shows low-carbon power generation contributed around 48% of Britain's electricity in the first five months of 2019 while fossil fuels such as coal and gas-fired plants contributed around 47%. The rest comes from biomass and storage.

 

The transition has been largely due to a huge increase in Britain's wind power capacity, with wind contributing almost a fifth of the country's power in the first five months of 2019, up from just 1% in 2009.

 

Britain's windy coastlines in particular have proved to be an ideal host for large wind projects, with the northwest coast of England home to the world's largest offshore wind farm, Orsted's Walney Extension.

 

The increase in zero-carbon power marks a huge shift from a decade ago when coal and gas plants provided around three-quarters of the country's electricity.

 

Graphic: Britain's electricity mix (https://tmsnrt.rs/2Irvtsm)

 

Britain plans to phase out all coal-fired power generation by 2025 and further cuts in greenhouse emissions will be vital if the country is to meet the net-zero target, the government's climate advisers have said.

 

Germany, which gets around 35% of its electricity from renewable sources has struggled to reduce its emissions due to its high portion of coal power, which contributed more than one-third of its power last year.

 

IMPORTS

The National Grid data showed 9% of Britain's electricity came from imports from Europe via interconnectors with France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Ireland during the first five months of the year.

 

More than half of these imports came from zero-carbon generation.

 

National Grid said the growing number of power interconnectors Britain has with its neighbors, such as nuclear power dominant France, will help Britain further curb its fossil fuel use.

 

An interconnector planned with Norway will give Britain access to Norway's carbon-free hydro power, while also enabling Britain to export is growing wind capacity, National Grid said.

 

The UK-Norway North Sea Link, at 720 km, is the world's longest interconnector and is expected to begin operation in 2021.

 

(Reporting By Susanna Twidale; editing by David Evans)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-06-21

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[Tug]

Kudos Britannia major kudos!!!

[pegman]

Well done.

[Chomper Higgot]

It’s not just good news for the environment, it’s good news for jobs and the economy too:

 

https://cleantechnica.com/2017/07/25/nearly-126000-people-employed-uk-renewable-energy-industry/

[Pilotman]

and at what cost? It's easy to meet targets like this if you don't care how much the consumer has to pay, also pay odious amounts of cash to the senior managers of utility companies and destroy the natural environment with millions of ugly wind generators that do bugger all when the wind doesn't blow.   Meanwhile, India, China and the US continue to pollute the earth with impunity, while good old tiny UK lead the field. No well done from me, more like 'get real folks and let everyone else do their bit first'.  

[Tug]

I wish we were doing more here in the USA but.......need I say more hopefully that will change soon I think the key is storing the energy till needed it’s out there it’s storing it till needed that’s the nut we need to crack 

[BritManToo]

I thought the UK was nearly all gas turbines.

[Chomper Higgot]

26 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

and at what cost? It's easy to meet targets like this if you don't care how much the consumer has to pay, also pay odious amounts of cash to the senior managers of utility companies and destroy the natural environment with millions of ugly wind generators that do bugger all when the wind doesn't blow.   Meanwhile, India, China and the US continue to pollute the earth with impunity, while good old tiny UK lead the field. No well done from me, more like 'get real folks and let everyone else do their bit first'.  

Where to start?

 

Your ignorance (wilful or otherwise) of the cost envelope.

Your ignorance (wilful or otherwise) of environmental impacts.

Your deflection to the topic of executive pay.

Your India/China whataboutary.

Your ignorance (wilful or otherwise) of China's investment and progress on renewable energy.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I thought the UK was nearly all gas turbines.

You thought wrong(ly).

[Pilotman]

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

Where to start?

 

Your ignorance (wilful or otherwise) of the cost envelope.

Your ignorance (wilful or otherwise) of environmental impacts.

Your deflection to the topic of executive pay.

Your India/China whataboutary.

Your ignorance (wilful or otherwise) of China's investment and progress on renewable energy.

 

 

let others do the starting, The UK is too fond of being first and being the White Knight of the world. Its about time that we acted like the small insignificant country that we are. 

[Chomper Higgot]

Just now, Pilotman said:

let others do the starting, The UK is too fond of being first and being the White Knight of the world. Its about time that we acted like the small insignificant country that we are. 

You should have read the article. 

 

The UK has already done the starting. And well done UK!

 

Reference to 'White Knight' noted.

 

World's fifth (for the time being) largest economy moving to predominantly renewable energy is not 'small and insignificant'.

 

[Bluespunk]

34 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

and at what cost? It's easy to meet targets like this if you don't care how much the consumer has to pay, also pay odious amounts of cash to the senior managers of utility companies and destroy the natural environment with millions of ugly wind generators that do bugger all when the wind doesn't blow.   Meanwhile, India, China and the US continue to pollute the earth with impunity, while good old tiny UK lead the field. No well done from me, more like 'get real folks and let everyone else do their bit first'.  

The cost to the planet of using fossil fuels is one we cannot afford.

 

Consumers have to learn to live with higher prices or consume less. 

 

Well done the U.K.  

[bristolboy]

36 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

and at what cost? It's easy to meet targets like this if you don't care how much the consumer has to pay, also pay odious amounts of cash to the senior managers of utility companies and destroy the natural environment with millions of ugly wind generators that do bugger all when the wind doesn't blow.   Meanwhile, India, China and the US continue to pollute the earth with impunity, while good old tiny UK lead the field. No well done from me, more like 'get real folks and let everyone else do their bit first'.  

Actually wind and solar are already much cheaper than coal and are now beginning to rival the cost of gas generators.

And renewable use is increasing rapidly in the USA, China and India.

As for "millions of ugly wind generators". Millions, really? Maybe you prefer beautiful oceans covering ugly shoreline?

[Stocky]

8 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

The UK is too fond of being first

Someone has to be first, and the UK, a small island as it maybe, has a proud tradition of being the first to do something.

[RickBradford]

This would be more impressive if the various factions could decide on where to place nuclear power.

 

The National Grid  has conveniently placed it under 'zero-carbon' energy, which is arguably true, but Big Green regards nuclear power as even more satanic than coal & oil.

 

Greenpeace (what a misnomer) likes to crash drones into nuclear plants, or break into their facilities and set off fireworks. In fact, it was protesting against nuclear power in 1971 that got Greenpeace its start, when it was an environmental organisation rather than part of the establishment.

 

These people need to get their stories straight.

[jonclark]

32 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

let others do the starting, The UK is too fond of being first and being the White Knight of the world. Its about time that we acted like the small insignificant country that we are. 

But I bet you are glad to have a UK passport given the freedoms it provides you, as it gives you access to 186 countries world wide...Small and insignificant indeed. 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

7 minutes ago, RickBradford said:

This would be more impressive if the various factions could decide on where to place nuclear power.

 

The National Grid  has conveniently placed it under 'zero-carbon' energy, which is arguably true, but Big Green regards nuclear power as even more satanic than coal & oil.

 

Greenpeace (what a misnomer) likes to crash drones into nuclear plants, or break into their facilities and set off fireworks. In fact, it was protesting against nuclear power in 1971 that got Greenpeace its start, when it was an environmental organisation rather than part of the establishment.

 

These people need to get their stories straight.

‘Big Green’ - lol.

 

You almost had me feeling sorry for the poor old fossil fuel sector and those helpless nuclear energy types.

[Tug]

Britan may be a small  nation but she and her people have had a giant impact on the world as we know it and by far more good than bad once again britan is leading kudos major kudos

[RickBradford]

5 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

‘Big Green’ - lol.

 

You almost had me feeling sorry for the poor old fossil fuel sector and those helpless nuclear energy types.

That line's getting a bit old, isn't it?

 

Meanwhile, the EU hands out hundreds of millions of euros of grants each year to 'green' groups,  some of which funding seems to be used to lobby the EU into promoting 'green' policies; it's well-known as the 'cash carousel'.

 

I would say that qualifies them for the description 'Big Green'.

[richard_smith237]

The demand for electricity is sky-rocketing, even with greater battery tech, greater efficiency... 

 

With cars, motorcycles all relying on electricity in the future there will be huge demand, especially over night as these EV's are charged nationwide.

 

Renewables, while 'nice to talk about' are nowhere near ready to supply this huge demand, the only viable replacement for Fossil Fuels at the moment is Nuclear Energy, we have to accept this.

 

However, since the two main disasters Mile Island and Chernobyl public opinion has always been against Nuclear Power, governments which support nuclear power are not popular. Fukushima strengthened opinion against Nuclear Energy, but the fact remains that the only way in which we can meet our energy demands is either Nuclear or hydrocarbons (Oil and Gas). 

 

The UK needs Energy independence - Nuclear Power is the only way forwards unless they are prepared to accept that we will need to and can still rely on fossil fuels. 

[dick dasterdly]

2 hours ago, Pilotman said:

and at what cost? It's easy to meet targets like this if you don't care how much the consumer has to pay, also pay odious amounts of cash to the senior managers of utility companies and destroy the natural environment with millions of ugly wind generators that do bugger all when the wind doesn't blow.   Meanwhile, India, China and the US continue to pollute the earth with impunity, while good old tiny UK lead the field. No well done from me, more like 'get real folks and let everyone else do their bit first'.  

I'd like to agree, but why did you miss out on the cost of nuclear energy?

[Chomper Higgot]

3 minutes ago, dick dasterdly said:

I'd like to agree, but why did you miss out on the cost of nuclear energy?

The full life cycle costs of nuclear energy.

[dick dasterdly]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

You should have read the article. 

 

The UK has already done the starting. And well done UK!

 

Reference to 'White Knight' noted.

 

World's fifth (for the time being) largest economy moving to predominantly renewable energy is not 'small and insignificant'.

 

But no reference to nuclear energy - the most expensive and dangerous....

[dick dasterdly]

2 hours ago, Pilotman said:

and at what cost? It's easy to meet targets like this if you don't care how much the consumer has to pay, also pay odious amounts of cash to the senior managers of utility companies and destroy the natural environment with millions of ugly wind generators that do bugger all when the wind doesn't blow.   Meanwhile, India, China and the US continue to pollute the earth with impunity, while good old tiny UK lead the field. No well done from me, more like 'get real folks and let everyone else do their bit first'.  

"It's easy to meet targets like this if you don't care how much the consumer has to pay, also pay odious amounts of cash to the senior managers of utility companies"

 

Agree entirely.

[dick dasterdly]

1 hour ago, Bluespunk said:

The cost to the planet of using fossil fuels is one we cannot afford.

 

Consumers have to learn to live with higher prices or consume less. 

 

Well done the U.K.  

This works well for the wealthy, not so well for the poor....

 

But presumably you don't care about them?  edit - they're just 'collateral damage'......

[Chomper Higgot]

3 minutes ago, dick dasterdly said:

"It's easy to meet targets like this if you don't care how much the consumer has to pay, also pay odious amounts of cash to the senior managers of utility companies"

 

Agree entirely.

It’s easy to continue burning fossil fuels if you don’t care about the environmental costs.

 

And it’s way to argue for nuclear if you hide the full life cycle costs.

 

Not that I accuse you, DD, of doing so.

[Chomper Higgot]

1 minute ago, dick dasterdly said:

This works well for the wealthy, not so well for the poor....

 

But presumably you don't care about them?  edit - they're just 'collateral damage'......

A little reading on who is most affected by climate change might broaden that point of view.

[Bluespunk]

1 minute ago, dick dasterdly said:

This works well for the wealthy, not so well for the poor....

 

But presumably you don't care about them?  edit - they're just 'collateral damage'......

And when climate change has got to the point where there is no turning back?

 

What happens then?

 

We will all be collateral damage because we wanted cheap yet disastrous forms of energy production.

 

Or don't you care about that?

[ThaiBunny]

2 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

And when climate change has got to the point where there is no turning back? What happens then? We will all be collateral damage because we wanted cheap yet disastrous forms of energy production. Or don't you care about that?

And what exactly do you think we can against the vested interests who support technologies such as coal?

[dick dasterdly]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

The demand for electricity is sky-rocketing, even with greater battery tech, greater efficiency... 

 

With cars, motorcycles all relying on electricity in the future there will be huge demand, especially over night as these EV's are charged nationwide.

 

Renewables, while 'nice to talk about' are nowhere near ready to supply this huge demand, the only viable replacement for Fossil Fuels at the moment is Nuclear Energy, we have to accept this.

 

However, since the two main disasters Mile Island and Chernobyl public opinion has always been against Nuclear Power, governments which support nuclear power are not popular. Fukushima strengthened opinion against Nuclear Energy, but the fact remains that the only way in which we can meet our energy demands is either Nuclear or hydrocarbons (Oil and Gas). 

 

The UK needs Energy independence - Nuclear Power is the only way forwards unless they are prepared to accept that we will need to and can still rely on fossil fuels. 

"However, since the two main disasters Mile Island and Chernobyl public opinion has always been against Nuclear Power, governments which support nuclear power are not popular. Fukushima strengthened opinion against Nuclear Energy"

 

Precisely!  There is every reason to distrust nuclear power - as evidenced by history.

 

You may prefer to ignore the history of course......