House of Commons presentation, June 18th 2009- European Supergrid and 100% Renewable Energy

(Please note you must be in the designated room by 9.45 as this event will start at 10.00 sharp.) 

We would like to advise you of the above meeting organised by the Claverton Energy Group of Independent Experts, at which 2 energy professionals Dr Mark Barrett and Dr Gregor Czisch will discuss their studies which show that UK and Europe could have a 100% renewable power supply at reasonable cost providing (amongst other things) that modern cheap and efficient High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) long distance transmission links are built. 

This is analogous to the way the efficiency of generation rose and power prices were reduced in the UK following the construction of National Grids in the 1930s simultaneously all over Europe within 10 years.  These grids shared out the intermittency of large power plants  on a national scale and so reduced the need for reserve and back up and enabled only the most efficient and cheapest power stations to be selected.  Thus the European Supergrid is merely an evolutionary step. To achieve it in good time means that European policy must be changed so that planning and design can begin now.

Many commentators believe that the Supergrid  whilst good for energy consumers is not necessarily good for the big utilities since it will make many of their existing power stations obsolete, mean fewer new power stations have to be constructed, and lead to less sales of power station fuels by again selecting the most efficient stations this time at a transnational level.

It is for this reason that it is believed by many commentators that the Supergrid cannot be merely left to market forces and government policy continue to be dictated by the big utilities.  The highly beneficial UK National Grid only came about following Lord Weir’s Independent Commission (1927) and subsequent government action against the wishes of the then smaller utilities who stood to lose out.

The event is principally aimed at Parliamentarians and Government advisers but all energy experts are invited.

There are limited spaces so please contact Clair at Substance PR details on the flyer) to book a space. (If you cannot open the attachment there are details on the Claverton Web Site)

There are a number of articles on the Claverton Energy Group Website covering this specific issue:

Claverton Energy Group view on European Supergrid HVDC inter connector

“Europe’s green energy vision puts UK in dark Times” – Robin Pagnamenta – article on Supergrid

Affordable and Renewable Electricity Supply for Europe and its Neighbourhood

Kind Regards

Dave Andrews

Claverton Energy Group

There are other related energy articles which can be viewed on the Claverton site which can be found by using the Search Box or Category or Tag Cloud.

Notable examples on the Supergrid topic include:

Claverton Energy Group view on European Supergrid HVDC inter connector

Correspondence received from CSP / Trec regarding ” Proposed presentation of benefits and costs of European Supergrid by Dr Gregor Czisch”

“Green Grid” – Excellent article in New Scientist by David Strahan (The Last Oil Shock) on HVDC supergrids

European Supergrid / hvdc / interconnector expert Dr Gregor Czisch gives information about Iceland hydro and geothermal

THE FUTURE OF ELECTRICITY: LIBERALISATION, LONG DISTANCE TRANSMISSION, HVDC AND SUPERGRIDS

Myth of technical un-feasibility of complex multi-terminal HVDC and ideological barriers to inter-country power exchanges – Czisch

European Super Grid – “Wrong to suggest this would make Europe more vulnerable than importing Russian Gas and Middle East fossil fuels” – ?

“Real energy security” – Prof. David Elliott, Open University