Green Energy Republic

Let it snow …

by Sophy



One of the round robin emails that clogs up my inbox at this time of year included this comment on the unseasonally early snowfall: “Hope the global warming nuts are choking on their words.”

It certainly made me choke with indignation – every time we get a spell of cold weather it gets held up as evidence by the climate change skeptics as ‘proof’ that the climate isn’t changing after all.  When the snow hit last winter (albeit not until much later in the season) I wrote this blog  (March 1st 2010) on the difference between the weather and the climate.

The same arguments apply, of course, this year – and if you need some ammunition for your own climate-change-is-really-happening  armoury there have been some great pieces of journalism published this week:

• The Independent interviewed the chief scientist of the Met office, who says “"The key message is that global warming continues."
• George Monbiot makes a compelling argument in the Guardian that the snow can be seen as evidence for climate change, not against it.
• And here’s a straightforward Q&A about the causes of the cold weather.
• Meanwhile, one for the skeptics - over at The Telegraph, Christopher Booker has a go at the scientific data on temperature rises:  Some of the comments posted after the article are particularly illuminating.

Giant wind turbines not such a menace

By Lorna Edwards

 

A report in The Telegraph this weekend predicts an influx of planning applications for ‘giant’ wind turbines marching across the UK and laments their visual impact on the landscape.

The report all but ignores the higher generating potential offered by taller turbines, not to mention the contribution renewable energy needs to make to cutting our carbon emissions; and assumes public opinion will be universally against them.

As regular readers of this blog will know, we are nearing the completion of our redevelopment of Delabole Wind Farm in North Cornwall. Set up in 1991, Delabole was the first commercial wind farm in the UK. As part of our early consultation process for the redevelopment we initially offered the local community a choice between having either nine smaller turbines or six larger ones - illustrated by photomontages showing their impact on the landscape, with information about the carbon savings for each option. The big guys won by an overwhelming majority.

Not only have we replaced 10 small turbines with just four larger ones (99.5m to tip height) but we have also increased the generating capacity of the wind farm by two and a half times saving over 13 700 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. Yes, the turbines at Delabole can now be seen from further away than before, but the local residents clearly felt it was a worthwhile compromise.

So, what are the benefits of installing taller turbines? Standing at a greater height allows for a more consistent wind less affected by turbulence caused by obstructions such as buildings and trees. These newer gearless Enercon turbines are not only quieter but require less maintenance as they have fewer moving parts, and can perform at higher wind speeds due to improvements in technology. They are more expensive to install initially, but are more cost effective over time thanks to their higher power output.

We need more onshore wind turbines in the UK if we are to achieve the Government’s target of 15% of our energy coming from renewables by 2020. Let’s not forget that the UK is the windiest country in Europe although wind power only currently supplies 2.2% of the UK’s electricity needs. If wind power is to take on the leading role in meeting this target, we’ll need around 33GW which could translate to over £60bn worth of investment and create 160,000 ‘green collar’ jobs.

We can rely on these friendly giants for their help in achieving this.

Countering the climate change sceptics

Skeptical Science - may we never be stuck for the answers again! 

by Jodie

Working for Good Energy means that we’re frequently on the receiving end of questions from enthusiastic climate sceptics (check out Sophy’s blog for an example).  With colleagues that include our CEO Juliet, a climate scientist who founded Good Energy because of the observations she made during her studies, our commercial director Chris, who frequently talks regulation with Ofgem and DECC, we are in the enviable position of being able to get the answers from some of the best in the business.

However, it doesn’t just happen when we’re at work. And, for all sorts of reasons, the voices of the climate change sceptics have been growing louder lately. So sometimes, perhaps as a dinner party is winding down or we’re out on a brisk Sunday walk thinking of other things, someone throws us a curveball and we have to admit that we just don’t know the answer.

Luckily, help is at hand.

We first heard about Skeptical Science in a recent Guardian review of their top 10 green iPhone apps. This free app sorts climate-sceptic arguments into three categories: it’s not happening; it’s not us; and it’s not bad. Once you’ve decided which category your question falls into, you get at a list of common sceptic arguments.  You can then read the full sceptic stance, and choose from a short scientific counter-argument or a much more detailed explanation including links to data, reports and research.

I’m a big iPhone fan and I think it’s a really well-designed app, both from the point of view of the wealth of information it provides and its usability. I haven’t had the opportunity to use it in a debate yet, but it’s still really interesting to read through the arguments and the evidence anyway.

Of course, you might be of the opinion that a green app is all well and good, but should you really have an iPhone (or other electronic gadget) at all? I’m a Good Energy customer, so when I’m charging stuff I know that for all the electricity I’m using, Good Energy has sourced the equivalent amount from a renewable generator. In the long run, manufacturing processes will increasingly be powered by renewables as we generate more of our power from them globally. They should also become more energy efficient as technology advances. In the meantime, I think it’s important to spread the word about climate change and the importance of renewables and energy efficiency, and one of the best ways we have currently to disseminate information and encourage discussion and debate is via the internet.

Green Energy Republic

Countering the climate change sceptics

Weather versus climate

By Sophy

With the UK enduring its coldest winter in 30 years and parts of the USA engulfed in snow and heavy blizzards, the climate sceptics have had plenty of ammunition in their armoury. There are growing numbers who see this winter’s chilly weather as ‘proof’ that climate change isn’t happening and are shouting loudly about it.

Of course, the sophisticated and intelligent readers of this blog know perfectly well there’s an important difference between the weather and the climate. The weather is what’s happening outside – today, tomorrow and at the weekend (do I need an umbrella or a scarf when I leave the house today?). The climate is about much longer-term trends (why we use 100% renewable electricity).

So it is perfectly possible for the UK – and other parts of the world - to experience an exceptionally cold winter, while simultaneously experiencing an overall climate warming trend.
Sometimes it can be hard though to muster the evidence to support that. An online climate science briefing this week will arm you with some useful facts:

• According to satellite date from Monash University in Melbourne, January 2010 was the hottest January globally since data collection began in 1979. As was November to January.
• The World Meteorological Organisation said that 2000 – 2009 was the hottest decade since records began in 1850.
• The WMO also said that eight of the 10 hottest years on record have occurred since 2000.
• Read the full story on Reuters here: http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE61O16A20100225?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=11700

And finally, in order to counter those who just don’t trust more than 150 years’ of climate data, the UK Met Office is proposing re-analysing the entire global record of land-based air temperatures from 5,000 weather stations, which began before 1860. It’s a gargantuan task which will take three years – but it should finally remove the last traces of doubt about the reality that our earth is getting warmer.

Read more here: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/worlds-temperature-record-to-be-reanalysed-1909909.html

Green Energy Republic

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