PRESS RELEASE London, 16 March 2009 Hosted by Vince Cable MP Chaired by Nick Ross Panel of Speakers: – David Triggs, Executive Chair of the Henry George Foundation – Iain McLean, Professor of Politics, University of Oxford – Ashley Seager, Economics correspondent, The Guardian – Samuel Brittan, Economics commentator, FT, author – Molly Scott Cato, […]
Toronto gets feed in tarrifs – we don't – we wonder why.
Quote “Renewable energy in Ontario got a massive boost Thursday with the proposal of a fixed-price plan that, by June, could see the province paying out generous premiums to large and small generators of green power. The premiums – called advanced feed-in tariffs – are what the government guarantees to pay over the life a […]
Gas Turbines on the Isle of Man: A Case Study between the Manx Electricity Authority and Cranfield University. IDGTE paper at Cranfield, Thursday 19 March.
In the volatile energy market effective use of the available technological, energy and financial resources is now, more than ever, highly pursued. In a combined cycle power plant, gas turbines are the prime mover of power generation. Therefore, detailed understanding and monitoring of gas turbine performance, health condition and associated costs have a deep impact in the decision making process concerning the plant’s operational and maintenance strategy.
In this context, research collaboration between Manx Electricity Authority (MEA) and Cranfield University has been carried out since 2001 and a series of technologies and software have been and are still being developed at Cranfield University and some of them have been integrated into MEA Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Power Plant in Pulrose, Isle of Man. During this constructive and successful collaboration period, the University has been fortunate to acknowledge the industrial needs and make significant academic contributions through ongoing research projects jointly supported by both MEA and EPSRC. On the other hand, MEA has valued the complexity of asset management concerning the gas turbine and the combined cycle, therefore enhancing its trading and operational capabilities through the application of developed performance, diagnostic, trading and economic analysis software.
"These Fossil Fools" – Catherine Mitchell – excellent article in the Guardian on futility of market solutions to climate change
The UK’s energy policy has to focus on lowering carbon emissions by a combination of renewable energy and reducing demand. This requires a system almost entirely different from that we have in place today: one that is conducive to innovation and change; and one that is flexible and resilient to all sorts of technological futures.
"Green Grid" – Excellent article in New Scientist by David Strahan (The Last Oil Shock) on HVDC supergrids
Articles “Green grid” A version of this article was published in New Scientist on 12 March 2009. Original is here (This article was in part stimulated by the last Claverton conference held at Wessex Water, Bath where Dr Czisch spoke, and various discussions, (various discussions2), (various discussions3) (varous discusions4) on this website. Graeme Bathhurst is […]
A SEVERN BARRAGE OR WHAT? Options for Renewable Energy from the Severn Estuary
RSA Wales and Western Region Website http://www.rsawaw.org The Royal Society of Arts is registered as a charity in England and Wales 212424 The British Science Association Website http://www.britishscienceassociation.org The British Science Association is registered as a charity in England and Wales 212479 A SEVERN BARRAGE OR WHAT? Options for Renewable Energy from the Severn Estuary […]
BBC newsitem: Rapid-charge/discharge modified lithium-ion batteries
Interesting item claims scientists have developed “affordable”, rapid-charge / discharge modified lithium-ion batteries. This improvement might make a significant difference to the prospects for practical EVs / PHEVs, by extension to G2V for smoothing wind energy outputs. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7938001.stm
NATURE magazine promotes CHP, CHP/DH and Rankine cycle turbine for energy recovery.
Nature this month carries a very good article on using high temperature waste heat to generate power in a Rankine cycle, and strongly advocates the use of CHP and holds out Denmark as an example. http://tx1.fcomet.com/~claverto/cms/download/311/
KIV – Biomass and waste to energy district heating and power generation plants
KIV commenced the commissioning a new gasification EfW CHP and district heating scheme in September 2008. The plant has been designed to environmental standards above and beyond the EU Waste Incineration Directive (WID), which also incorporates Best Available Technique (BAT), lodged with the EU BREF documents office. The plant will be an EU ‘showcase’ project, which incorporates a presentation room for coach parties of visitors.
Approximately five years ago, KIV commenced a joint development for the gasification EfW CHP plant with Celje town council. The plant has an 18MWth input capacity for <38,000 tpa of a mixed fuel (80% RDF + 20% Sewage Sludge), with an average CV of 13.6MJ/kg, based on a guaranteed 8,000 hrs/annum availability. The scheme is connected to an existing District Heating scheme, which has a 110oC flow temperature. The scheme is ‘heat led’ and therefore produces a reduced amount of gross power at 2.1 MWe. If the scheme was ‘electricity led’, it would produce 3.8MWe of gross power.
From Mr Lynn Jones, who recently retired from General Motors – The economic crisis explained
Too good not to pass on………….. This explains the source of the worldwide financial problem….. Seanie is the proprietor of a bar in Dublin . In order to increase sales, he decides to allow his loyal customers – most of whom are unemployed alcoholics – to drink now but pay later. He keeps track of […]