energy

Dear all,

As part of our Switched On to Switching Off home energy project, TES has partnered with Changeworks to offer a bespoke 'Energy in Tenements' training to our group.Read more

As part of our Switched On to Switching Off home energy project, TES has partnered with Changeworks to offer a bespoke 'Energy in Tenements' training to our group.Read more

Scottish Electricicty Generation Mix 2006 - 201?Scotland generates its electricity from a variety of sources. The non-renewable sources of electricity generation in Scotland are nuclear, coal, oil and natural gas. In 2002, Scotland's total electricity generating capacity was 9.5 GW which was made up mostly by non-renewable generation with around 1.5 GW of hydro.

Scotland has 25% of the European wind resource, 25% of the European tidal resource and 10% of the European wave resource. Scotland has 0.6% of the European population. So, Scotland is a land staggeringly rich in the new renewable energy sources on a per capita basis. The switch to renewable electricity generation began after 2002 and the early stages of this transition are captured in the figure.

Electricity is an energy carrier, not a fuel source. It flows along wires transporting energy from a source (power station, wind turbine etc) to the destination where it is to be used.

Because electricity can be generated from such a range of sources and because electricity can transport energy without using oil, it is more resilient to the likely price shocks due to  peak oil and gas. Natural gas at distressed prices following an imminent oil peak (which will result in distressed oil prices) is exactly what Ian Marchant, CEO of Scottish and Southern Energy, is warning about in the video on this webpage  (starting at 2 minutes 12 seconds).

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Woodspring Priory, North SomersetHaving spent a day in Oban last week helping out moving Sanyo CO2 Eco air source heat pumps around, I thought it might be worth writing a short report on the job. But I've not got photographs yet, so that will have to wait for another day.

Instead, here's a report from that well known website R744.com about a Sanyo CO2 Eco air source heat pump installation down south.

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In 1911 Winston Churchill became First Lord of the Admiralty and instigated a fuel transition in the navy (where Welsh coal had been the principal fuel) to oil which offered many advantages including greater speed and range. Churchill commented:

"The oil supplies of the world were in the hands of vast oil trusts under foreign control. To commit the navy irrevocably to oil was indeed to take arms against a sea of troubles. If we overcame the difficulties and surmounted the risks, we should be able to raise the whole power and efficiency of the navy to a definitely higher level; better ships, better crews, higher economies, more intense forms of war power - in a word, mastery itself was the prize of the venture."

In 1913, UK coal production hit an all time peak and has been in decline ever since. We are nearly 100 years past peak coal production in the UK.

The exhaustion of the UK coal mines had been anticipated by William Stanley Jevons who, in 1866 wrote "The coal question: an inquiry concerning the progress of the nation, and the probable exhaustion of our coal mines" (available here). Jevons wrote:

"The expression "exhaustion of our coal mines," states the subject in the briefest form, but is sure to convey erroneous notions to those who do not reflect upon the long series of changes in our industrial condition which must result from the gradual deepening of our coal mines and the increased price of fuel. Many persons perhaps entertain a vague notion that some day our coal seams will be found emptied to the bottom, and swept clean like a coal-cellar."

 Today the general view is that there is plenty of coal elsewhere in the world - hundreds of years worth.

Well, not according to a growing number of recent reports.

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Community Energy in Edinburgh – update on projects and plans, exchange of information, networking, and national initiatives A conference organised by the Edinburgh Community Energy CooperativeVenue: Candlish Room, St Georges West Church, 58 Shandwick Place, Edinburgh REGISTRATION: Free for individuals and representatives from community groups. Fee of £20 per person for representatives from other organisations.To register, simply send an email to: edinburghcommunityenergy@blueyonder.co.uk with names and email addresses of those wishing to register. Read more

UK CO2 Emissions: BP Data 2010BP produce the annual Statistical Review of World Energy. This large database now includes information on carbon dioxide emissions.

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Big Tent Summer School, Wed 21st-Fri 23rd July

The Big Tent Summer School is a learning programme that has been organised by Transition Scotland and One Planet Food. Over the three days we are bringing together participants interested in learning, development and sharing skills for low carbon living. Read more

Natural gas is the most popular choice for cooking on a hob. But natural gas is a dwindling natural resource and won't be around in the same quantities and at the same cheap prices for too much longer.

We're all familiar with cooking on a conventional electric hob, but they tend to be rather frustrating to use.

Is there a better way?

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Hi all,

It is time again for a TES General meeting.

The meeting will be a get-together for the whole of the organisation (and friends of the organsation) where we can have a discussion about what has been happening in TES and where we want to go in the future.  There will be time for idea sharing, brainstorming, feedback from each of the working groups, and of course celebration!

If you are new to TES and are interested in gettting involved, this is a great time to come along and meet the rest of the community and learn how!

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