The Sun provides planet Earth daily with its renewable energy, measured by those at NASA to be in the order of 56 X 1026 Joules. It is my personal belief that the sun shines on every person on the planet, it powers those sustainable energy systems, Solar,wind, hydro. etc, which we must all use in a cleaner future.
Technology now permits capture of this energy in an efficient manner. Costs of solar generated electricity continue to fall as will the supplies of Fossil Fuels rise...........
The choice of energy for the Developing World is clear and bright!
However UK Government wishes to retain the comfortable status quo of Carbon Cap and Trade sustaining themselves and the Utility Companies into the bargain. Perhaps we should all ask the question “whose power is it anyway, and what rights do you have to pay the polluting Utilities so?”
Whats for the UK ? Lets start with an introduction to the Transition Town proposals for the UK. There may be hope in that direction http://www.transitiontowns.org/
To make comment on the power production platforms currently in use courts “Institutional outrage” from the entrenched and self interested positions of Utility Companies. The wisdom of Politicians can only be questioned as most seem to have an interest in avoiding scientific advice, and they are continually open to pressure groups forcing their arguments in favour of Big Multi National Utilities. Return on investment is the key mover of global investment funds combine this with the raft of financial investment regulations and a limited number of players in the market, funding therefore follows the major players whether they are right or wrong in their choice of power!
Fossil Fuels can not be accepted in this conceptual energy quest for reasons that have been stated by many scientists and authors oft times before so waste no time on discussion!
Out too is the Uranium fission based Nuclear Option, Chris Nelder wrote in his book Investing in Renewable Energy “the best ores of Uranium have been mined, leaving mainly low quality ores left to exploit...... Uranium is a common element found in everything from granite to seawater. Almost all – 99.3% of uranium found on earth is Uranium 238 an isotope containing 238 protons per atom. The remaining uranium 0.7% is uranium 235 and that is what is used as fuel for our light water nuclear reactors. The CEO of Cameco Corporation Gerald Granley told reporters in 2007 that he expects demand to grow 3% annually but does not see mining keeping pace with demand.
We should be aware that the UK Government attempts to court former CIS countries to secure sole abstraction rights of their uranium deposits. This effort pays no heed to that most important humanitarian demand that is to adopt measures that are fully sustainable for future generations. One can ask where is the guidance provided by the Stern Report in this mad dash for energy security. Indeed it was Lord Stern who focused minds on the transient nature and relatively short future Nuclear has to offer in that sought after low carbon future!
