News Briefs | Claverton Group

Sustainable Light Rail -Professor Lewis Lesley

By Professor Lewis Lesley – John Moore’s University.

2008 Conference Paper Synopsis: In an increasingly urbanized world most personal journeys are made in towns and cities and are relatively short, in UK 75% under 8km long. In the developed world, the motorcar dominates these trips. Car drivers will however transfer some trips to rail. Electrically powered light rail (or tramways) is an economic means for satisfying many short urban trips. Light rail can be constructed with a minimum of urban disruption and when coupled with renewable generation is energy sustainable. It also has a negative carbon footprint, when diverted car trips are included.

Biomethane as a Vehicle Fuel – It’s the Vehicles, Stupid

By John Baldwin

2008 Conference Paper Synopsis:

1. Development of NGVs 2000 to 2008
2. 3rd generation NGVs launched in Q1 2009 – VW Passat on biomethane is the world’s best car in well to wheel CO2 terms
3. Potential biogas resource – The UK’s largest 3rd generation bio-fuel
4. Production of biomethane – Clean-up technologies and costs
5. Injection of biomethane into gas grids
6. EU Renewable Energy Directive
7. UK RTFO, ROCs and renewable heat support
8. Biomethane Eco-leadership projects
9. Conclusion – it’s the vehicles stupid

Desert Rose – Fresh Water & Forest Cover

Desert Rose – Fresh Water & Forest Cover
By Dr Richard Lawson

2008 Conference Paper Synopsis: Desert Rose is a conceptual approach to using two resources – sunlight and seawater – that coastal tropical areas have in abundance to supply two resources that are in short supply and dwindling – fresh water and forest cover. It suggests that once past a critical point, the growth in forest and water tend to become a self-propagating system. Energy costings relating to developing this concept are addressed.

IGCC plus CCS: An Objective Analysis

By F.Starr

2008 Conference Paper Synopsis: The paper briefly describes the technology of conventional IGCCs for electricity generation and shows how such “precombustion plants” need to be modified to capture CO2. The main difference is that the raw gas from the gasifier has to be treated to produce a fuel gas containing more than 90% hydrogen. This adds to the complexity of the plant. But the main reason why the large scale construction of such plants is unlikely in the near future is the absence of a large domestic and industrial market for hydrogen. The paper therefore advocates the production of substitute natural gas, with CO2 capture, as being a more realistic option which can use the existing infrastructure

Conference Goals – Claverton Energy Group

To bring together numerous experts who can give numerical details of the potential scope, cost and other attributes of climate emergency, energy issues and technologies and, more importantly, how each can fit into an overall picture, for the UK, Europe and the World.