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We must secure our energy supply

The Scotsman|August 30, 2008
United Kingdom (UK)Energy Policy

For many years security of supply has taken a back seat in energy policy. We have been more concerned with price and, latterly, reducing emissions. ...security of energy supply must also be put back on the agenda with an equal priority. That means developing a mix of renewable generating forms including wave, hydro and biomass, which have more predictable output than wind turbines.


For many years security of supply has taken a back seat in energy policy. We have been more concerned with price and, latterly, reducing emissions. The Tories privatised the gas and electricity industries to promote competition, as a route to cheap energy. But this has resulted in much of Britain's energy infrastructure falling into foreign ownership and becoming dependent on imported Russian gas. This gas is no longer cheap ˆ witness the latest price rise by ScottishPower.

Under Labour, the emphasis has been on promoting renewables and setting emissions targets. But this raises the danger ˆ as we report today ˆ of being overly reliant on turbines for electricity generation. Turbines are obviously dependent on wind conditions, which …

... more [truncated due to possible copyright]

For many years security of supply has taken a back seat in energy policy. We have been more concerned with price and, latterly, reducing emissions. The Tories privatised the gas and electricity industries to promote competition, as a route to cheap energy. But this has resulted in much of Britain's energy infrastructure falling into foreign ownership and becoming dependent on imported Russian gas. This gas is no longer cheap ˆ witness the latest price rise by ScottishPower.

Under Labour, the emphasis has been on promoting renewables and setting emissions targets. But this raises the danger ˆ as we report today ˆ of being overly reliant on turbines for electricity generation. Turbines are obviously dependent on wind conditions, which could leave us vulnerable to power lackouts during mid-winter peaks
unless we invest in major back-up.

No-one denies the need for competition in power generation or for a shift to clean energy forms. But security of energy supply must also be put back on the agenda with an equal priority. That means developing a mix of renewable generating forms including wave, hydro and biomass, which have more predictable output than wind turbines. It means more domestic clean coal and nuclear plants. And it means creating under-sea transmission lines between the UK, Ireland and Norway, to trade surplus electricity.


Source:http://news.scotsman.com/opin…

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