Today's energy news...
ENERGY DESK
The takeover of coal: 4 Charts on UK power last year
DECC has just released their statistics for energy use in 2012. Energy Desk takes a look at the key points from the report, including the surge in coal burning.
China: Could water shortages limit coal use?
China is increasingly using coal not just for power - but also for chemicals more commonly made from oil. But a Greenpeace investigation has found water pollution and shortages as a result. Indeed reports suggest the growth of coal in China could be limited by a lack of water.
To Frack or not to Frack: What is happening in Balcombe?
The drillers have moved in, and the protestors have followed them but there won't be any fracking in Sussex right now. We investigate what is happening in Balcombe. Are Cuadrilla really looking for tight oil?
UK
Nottinghamshire villagers ready for battle against new power plant
The protest at Balcombe against Cuadrilla drilling for shale is hogging today’s headlines. But a similar campaign is brewing in Nottinghamshire, with local MP Mark Spencer saying residents are prepared for a “battle” ahead of an application to build a new power station. The £70m Bilsthorpe Energy Centre proposed by Peel Environmental would handle 120,000 tonnes of non-hazardous waste a year, using gasification to generate enough electricity for 24,000 homes.
Europa Oil and Gas drilling back on the agenda in Surrey
A High Court judge has overturned a refusal by Surrey County Council to allow an energy company to carry out exploratory drilling for oil and gas. The firm plan to drill near Dorking, an Area of Outstanding National Beauty.
UK fossil fuel imports at record levels
43% of our fossil fuels came from abroad last year, with coal imports rising 38% according to figures released by DECC. Electricity generation from coal also rose to its highest level since 1996. However electricity generation from renewables rose by 19%
British Gas bags £200m Green Deal
In what is the largest Green Deal programme to date British Gas will give 50,000 homes in the North East energy efficiency makeovers. The firm was selected by Newcastle City Council to deliver the “Warm Up North” programme, aiming to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions across eight local authorities.
Sainsbury’s installs its 100,000th solar panel
The milestone means that the supermarket chain now has 22MW of installed capacity across 210 of its UK stores, cementing its position as the largest multi-roof solar generator in Europe. The firm also has ground source heat pumps at 12 of its stores. As a result Sainsbury’s has achieved a 9.1% reduction in electricity use over the past four years despite a 25% increase in space.
WORLD
Floating wind turbines could power Europe four times over
A report by the European Wind Energy Association says that European capacity could reach 150GW by 2030 if the right policies are put in place to support the industry and accelerate the development of floating turbines. 5GW are currently installed in the EU.
EIA: World energy consumption to increase 56% by 2040
Driven by growth in developing countries, demand will increase to 820 quadrillion British thermal units in 2040, up from 524 quadrillion in 2010 according to the agency’s International Energy Outlook 2013. As a result the EIA predicts that energy-related CO2 emissions will increase 46% by 2040.
