Monday, November 5, 2012

Renewbles, Nuclear, and CCS Groups Lobby together in UK

My twitter feed is abuzz with news from the UK - 3 links to the same news release.
None note the UK alliance differs from a very recent alliance just across the channel, between the oil and gas industry and a handful of renewables firms - prominently including Denmark's Dong energy.


renewableUK: Low-Carbon Industries unite to call for swift progress on Energy Bill
Nuclear Industry Association: Low-Carbon Industries unite to call for swift progress on Energy Bill
The Carbon Capture and Storage Association,: Low-Carbon Industries unite to call for swift progress on Energy Bill (.pdf)
  • CCSA, NIA and RenewableUK unite on joint letter to Energy Secretary
  • Call for Energy Bill to progress as swiftly as possible
  • Call for power sector to be largely decarbonised by 2030
The Carbon Capture and Storage Association, the Nuclear Industry Association and RenewableUK have today issued a joint call to the Secretary of State, Rt Hon Edward Davey MP in support of the Energy Bill and the fostering of a low-carbon electricity generation mix, as well as the need for swift progression to ensure that investment is urgently realised.
The three associations, representing over 1,000 corporate members, made the request in a letter to the Secretary of State today copied to the Chancellor, Prime Minister, Business Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State at the Cabinet Office.
The full letter is available at each of the referenced links

An article in the Independent on the topic:  Nuclear, wind and wave power chiefs in joint appeal on green energy connects the lobby and opposition to the push for a renewable dash for gas

The letter, seen by The Independent, marks the first time that Britain's nuclear and renewables industries have made common cause together. It also reveals their fears that climate change sceptics in Government who are pushing for a new “dash for gas” may be winning the internal arguments in Whitehall.
Significantly, the joint approach has won the backing of the environmental group Greenpeace - despite its long-standing opposition to nuclear power. It welcomed the “unity” demonstrated by the low and zero carbon industries who signed the letter and their goal to take carbon almost completely out of the electricity system by 2030.
...
Welcoming the letter John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace, said: “This letter shows that whilst different industries will have differing preferences for the exact mix of energy technologies, there is unity from across huge swathes of the business community on the need for a clear goal in the energy bill to take carbon almost completely out of the electricity system by 2030.
Mark Lynas has an article on the topic: The sun is setting on the old energy debate. What will the new dawn look like?
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My own comment: nuclear and ccs are both expensive to build, and therefore the cost can only be kept down by high utilization of the plants.
I don't believe there is a role for supply without any capacity value (an expectation of production during periods of peak demand).

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