Energy

Modern life depends principally on burning fossil fuels. At work and at home we rely on piped natural gas or electricity for cooking, water heating and space heating. We also use fuels for transport and for power generation and other industrial activities (such as the manufacture of chemicals and plastics). Electricity, the output of power generation (mainly the product of burning fossil fuels), is also used to operate mechanical and electrical equipment.

The life expectancy of our reserves of fossil fuels is of increasing concern. New reserves have been found, and our ability to extract difficult-to-reach deposits has improved. But this has merely postponed the date at which these finite resources run out.

For example in 2007, the United Kingdom’s production of natural gas from the North Sea was 66 per cent of its peak in 2000 peak and UK oil production was 56 per cent of its peak in 1999. This is because supplies are dwindling, not through any reduction of demand. The UK now imports natural gas by pipeline and by ship from other countries.

Carbon reduction commitment

The government has indicated that it will introduce a mandatory emissions trading

scheme for the ‘large non-energy intensive’ sector (see chapter 15).

Sources of energy & CO₂ emissions

The use of fossil fuels raises two main concerns:

1. New deposits are not being created, we are using up our ‘capital’ and we must look to a future when workable sources no longer exist. This also means that the cost of fossil fuels will rise as less accessible reserves are exploited, and the running down of indigenous and OECD resources make the UK more dependent on supplies with greater political risk.

2. The rapid release of carbon dioxide is believed to be altering the heat-insulating

properties of the earth’s atmosphere at an unprecedented rate. Although the

results are not universally agreed, many governments around the world are

employing the ‘precautionary principle’ (see Chapter 1) and attempting (mainly

unsuccessfully) to curb the consumption of fossil fuels because the consequences of

climate change are potentially catastrophic.

However, there are renewable sources of energy which are not dependent on finite deposits of material. Renewables include:

Solar energy

The sun’s energy can be harnessed directly, for example, by use of roof-mounted photovoltaic cells which transform solar radiation into electricity, or water heating panels which augment hot water supplies. For example, one of Ford’s Bridgend plants has a roofmounted array of photovoltaic cells which provides an estimated 80,300 kWh (kilowatt hours) per annum.

Tidal and wave energy

A variety of devices have been trialed to take advantage of the tidal movement of sea

and estuary waters caused by the relative gravitational movement of the moon. Similar trials have been carried out drawing on the use of energy from waves.

Wind energy

Wind energy has been used for centuries to operate machinery for grinding corn in windmills. It is now being used in land-based and offshore wind farms for electricity generation. In many quarters there is considerable opposition to the building of wind energy generation on both aesthetic and conservation grounds.

Hydro energy

This is another source that has been used throughout history, by damming of water

courses. It makes use of the water cycle and gravitational forces – as water runs downhill, its momentum can be used to drive a turbine.

Micro-generation

Many of these technologies are now being adopted on a small scale for individual

premises or groups of premises such as industrial estates. The Low Carbon Buildings Programme is a UK grant programme to support the installation of microgeneration technologies (see www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk).

Combined heat and power (CHP)

Whilst not strictly renewable, combined heat and power makes use of the ‘low-grade’

heat energy which is a by-product of electricity generation. This surplus heat can be

diverted for space heating or process heating in industrial installations rather than being dissipated wastefully into the environment.

Biomass

This is the use of biological material which fixes CO₂, typically in the form of plants, (such as fast growing coppiced willow) used as a fuel and burnt to produce energy for electricity, and heat, or other crops fermented to produce alcohol and similar fuels for transport.

Waste

When sorted and segregated waste materials may also be burnt, as part of a recovery system, to produce energy which may be useful on industrial sites (where permitted).

Renewable heat technologies

These include solar thermal (mentioned above) heat pumps (capturing heat from waste water for example) and geothermal (capturing the natural heat of the earth from deep underground).

Nuclear

Nuclear energy is, strictly speaking, non-renewable, since uranium deposits are finite. However, the use of fast-breeder reactors, which produce plutonium (itself a potential source of fissile energy), makes nuclear power an almost limitless resource. There are issues such as the disposal of wastes and the decommissioning of power stations, which are regarded by some as major disadvantages of nuclear power.

Energy efficiency in premises and processes

Saving energy is advisable for economic as well as environmental reasons. In the 1990s, many businesses reduced their energy costs by shopping around for better tariffs and deals from competing energy companies. This meant that many companies ‘took their eyes off the ball’ when it came to minimising energy use because savings were made simply by buying energy at a cheaper rate.

Energy Performance Certificates

Since 1 October 2008 businesses (in England and Wales) have been required to have (and to display) an Energy Performance Certificate when buildings are bought, sold, rented or built. These Certificates provide an energy rating (from A to G) for these buildings and will set out what steps can be taken to improve their energy efficiency.

Smart metering

From 2008 all new household meters will be fitted with real-time displays. Between 2008 and 2010, suppliers will be required to provide all domestic consumers with such meters free on request, The government consultation on how smart metering can work for large businesses closed in September 2008, its assessment for SMEs is ongoing. (Note: enabling powers to require suppliers to install smart metering are contained in the Energy Bill.)

It is likely that there will be a licence obligation on energy suppliers from 1 January 2009 to install smart meters for all large customers without them by 31 December 2013.