NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Energy use and conservation in the United Kingdom

Under the Kyoto protocol the UK Government committed to reducing the levels of carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases by 12.5% below 1990 levels by 2008 to 2012. Beyond this, the Government has also committed to cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 20% by 2010, 60% by 2050, and 80% by 2100, compared to 1990 levels. These reductions are thought to be those required to stabilise atmospheric carbon dioxide at 550ppm (compared to current levels of 380ppm), although latest thinking is that stabilisation at this level is probably insufficient to avoid dangerous climate change. This image shows the instrumental record of global average temperatures as compiled by the Climatic Research Unit of the University of East Anglia and the Hadley Centre of the UK Meteorological Office. ... This image shows the instrumental record of global average temperatures as compiled by the Climatic Research Unit of the University of East Anglia and the Hadley Centre of the UK Meteorological Office. ... Kyoto Protocol Opened for signature December 11, 1997 in Kyoto, Japan Entered into force February 16, 2005. ... Top: Increasing atmospheric CO2 levels as measured in the atmosphere and ice cores. ... This article is about the year. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2012 (MMXII) will be a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the film, see 2010: The Year We Make Contact. ... 2050 (MML) will be a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2100 can refer to either: The year at the end of the 21st century. ... Parts per million (ppm) is a measure of concentration that is used where low levels of concentration are significant. ... Global mean surface temperatures 1856 to 2005 Mean surface temperature anomalies during the period 1995 to 2004 with respect to the average temperatures from 1940 to 1980 Global warming is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earths atmosphere and oceans in recent decades. ...

The achievement of the first of these targets should have been made considerably easier due to an inadvertent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions caused by the displacement of coal by gas in electricity generation. Compared to coal, gas produces around 30% less carbon dioxide when burnt. Filling the electricity generation gap (see below) while cutting emission levels presents a significant challenge. Carbon emissions from electricity generation have already risen 15% since 1997 [1], though were still 15.9% lower than 1990 levels [2]. Coal Coal (IPA: ) is a fossil fuel extracted from the ground by underground mining or open-pit mining (surface mining). ... Natural gas is commonly referred to as gas. ... Itaipu Dam is a hydroelectric generating station Electricity generation is the first process in the delivery of electricity to consumers. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

It is currently expected that the reduction by 2010 will actually be in the 15-18% range, although the 20% target remains. Carbon emissions reached their lowest since 1990 in 1999, when 151.7 million tonnes were produced.

The following are the annual figures for carbon emissions (in millions of tonnes):

'Dungeness A' nuclear power station

1990: 165.4
1991: 167.3 (+1.2% from 1990)
1992: 162.8 (-1.6% from 1990)
1993: 158.8 (-4.0% from 1990)
1994: 156.7 (-5.2% from 1990)
1995: 154.1 (-6.8% from 1990)
1996: 160.6 (-3.2% from 1990)
1997: 153.8 (-7.0% from 1990)
1998: 154.2 (-6.7% from 1990)
1999: 151.7 (-8.3% from 1990)
2000: 153.2 (-7.4% from 1990)
2001: 157.3 (-4.9% from 1990)
2002: 152.9 (-7.6% from 1990)
2003: 156.1 (-5.6% from 1990)
2004: 156.9 (-5.1% from 1990)
2005: 157.4 (-4.8% from 1990)

(source DTI) Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1700x1110, 258 KB) Summary View of Dungeness power Station in kent, UK. Taken by contributor. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1700x1110, 258 KB) Summary View of Dungeness power Station in kent, UK. Taken by contributor. ... There are two nuclear power stations located near Dungeness in the south east of Kent, England. ... This article is about the year. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Old Farts by the Sometimes-United Nations. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

These figure exclude the effects of carbon sinks. They also exclude carbon emissions from international aviation and international shipping, which together rose by 4.58 tonnes between 1990 and 2004 (source defra). Carbon sequestration from a fossil-fuel power station A carbon dioxide (CO2) sink is a carbon reservoir that is increasing in size, and is the opposite of a carbon source. The main natural sinks are (1) the oceans and (2) plants and other organisms that use photosynthesis to remove carbon... First flight, December 17, 1903 Aviation or air transport refers to the activities surrounding human flight and the aircraft industry. ... Damaged package The Panama canal. ...

Final energy consumption

London by night seen from the International Space Station

During 2004, the total energy consumed in the UK was the equivalent to 161.1 million tonnes of oil (an increase of 9.37% compared to the equivalent of 147.3 million tonnes of oil used in 1990). This represented 67.6% of the total energy used; the other 32.4% was lost in converting or transmitting the energy, or was used by the energy industries themselves before it reached the consumers. ImageMetadata File history File links London_Night. ... ImageMetadata File history File links London_Night. ... London (pronounced ) is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. ... International Space Station insignia ISS Statistics Crew: 3 As of July 21, 2006 Perigee: 352. ... Power line redirects here. ... The energy industry is a generic term for all of the industries involved the production and sale of energy, including fuel extraction, manufacturing fuel and refining, and fuel distribution. ...

Final energy consumption was used by consumers in the following proportions:

Transport – 35.63% (33.00% in 1990)
Domestic – 30.23% (27.70% in 1990)
Industry – 21.17% (26.27% in 1990)
Services – 12.91% (13.03% in 1990)

(source DTI)

Energy imports

With large coal reserves, and the extraction of North Sea oil and gas that started in the 1970s, until the 2000s the UK has been one of the few countries to have been largely self sufficient in energy, and indeed a net-exporter of oil and gas in recent decades. North Sea Oil Platforms North Sea oil refers to oil and natural gas (hydrocarbons) produced from oil reservoirs beneath the North Sea. ... Natural gas is commonly referred to as gas. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Due to the decline in North Sea production, and the costs of mining and using coal cleanly, unless action is taken to reduce demand, it is expected that the UK will become a major importer of oil and gas by 2015. After becoming a net exporter of gas in 1997, the UK became a net importer again in 2004. 2015 (MMXV) will be a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Electricity supply

With the development of the national grid, the switch to using electricity, UK electricity consumption increased by around 150% between the post war nationalisation of the industry in 1948 and the mid 1960s. During the 1960s growth slowed as the market became saturated. The National Grid is the high-voltage electric power transmission network in Great Britain, connecting power stations and major substations and ensuring that electricity generated anywhere in Great Britain can be used to satisfy demand elsewhere. ... Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Nazi Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Harry Truman Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead... Nationalization is the act of taking assets into state ownership. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... In economics, market saturation is a term used to describe a situation in which a product has become diffused (distributed) within a market; the actual level of saturation can depend on consumer purchasing power; as well as competition, prices, and technology. ...

Fuel sources

The former Battersea Power Station

During the 1940s some 90% of the generating capacity was fired by coal, with oil providing most of the remainder. Download high resolution version (1081x750, 54 KB)Battersea Power Station - London - England - photo by and copyright Tagishsimon - 2nd May 2004 From across the Thames, to the north east of the Power Station. ... Download high resolution version (1081x750, 54 KB)Battersea Power Station - London - England - photo by and copyright Tagishsimon - 2nd May 2004 From across the Thames, to the north east of the Power Station. ... Battersea Power Station viewed from the north bank of the River Thames at Pimlico. ... The 1940s decade ran from 1940 to 1949. ... Itaipu Dam is a hydroelectric generating station Electricity generation is the first process in the delivery of electricity to consumers. ... Coal Coal (IPA: ) is a fossil fuel extracted from the ground by underground mining or open-pit mining (surface mining). ... Pumpjack pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario Ignacy Åukasiewicz - inventor of the refining of kerosene from crude oil. ...

The UK started to develop a nuclear generating capacity in the 1950s, with Calder Hall being connected to the grid on 27 August 1956. Though the production of weapons-grade plutonium was the main reason behind this particular power station, other civil stations followed, and 26% of the nation's electricity was generated from nuclear power at its peak in 1997. A nuclear power station. ... The 1950s was the decade spanning the years 1950 to 1959. ... Calder Hall can refer to - Calder Hall Magnox nuclear power station at Sellafield Calder Hall (Trinidad and Tobago) This is a disambiguation page â€” a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Weapons-grade means that a substance is pure enough to be used to make a weapon or has properties that make it suitable for weapons use. ... General Name, Symbol, Number plutonium, Pu, 94 Chemical series actinides Group, Period, Block n/a, 7, f Appearance silvery white Atomic mass (244) g/mol Electron configuration [Rn] 5f6 7s2 Electrons per shell 2, 8, 18, 32, 24, 8, 2 Physical properties Phase solid Density (near r. ... Oil power plant in Iraq A power station or power plant is a facility for the generation of electric power. ...

Despite the flow of North Sea oil from the mid 1970s, oil fuelled generation remained relatively small and continued to decline. The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ...

Starting in 1993, and continuing through to the 1990s, a combination of factors lead to a so-called dash for gas, during which the use of coal was scaled back in favour of gas fuelled generation. This was sparked by the privatisation of the National Coal Board, British Gas, the Central Electricity Generating Board, the introduction of laws facilitating competiton within the energy markets, and the availability of cheap gas from the North Sea. In 1990 just 1.09% of all gas consumed in the country was used in electricity generation. By 2004 the figure was 30.25% (DTI figures). See also 1990s, the band The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive, sometimes informally including popular culture from the late 1980s and shortly after the year 2000. ... The National Coal Board (NCB) was the nationalised British coal mining company. ... Logo as private enterprise Logo under state ownership British Gas was formerly the name of the United Kingdoms monopoly gas supplier. ... The Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) was the cornerstone of the British electricity industry for almost 50 years, from its nationalisation in 1947 to privatisation in the 1990s. ... The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the coasts of Norway and Denmark in the east, the coast of the British Isles in the west, and the German, Dutch, Belgian and French coasts in the south. ...

By 2004, coal use in power stations had fallen by 43.6% (50.5 million tonnes, representing 82.4% of all coal used in 2004) compared to 1980 levels, though up slightly from its low in 1999 (DTI figures).

From the mid 1990s, new renewable energy sources, began to contribute to the electricity generated, adding to a small hydroelectricity generating capacity. Renewable energy is energy which can be replenished at the same rate it is used. ... Hydraulic turbine and electrical generator. ...

A typical offshore oil/gas platform

By 2004, total electricity production stood at 382.7 TWh (up 23.7% compared to 309.4 TWh in 1990), generated from the following sources: Oil platform from NASA JPL. This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Oil platform from NASA JPL. This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... The terawatt hour (TW·h) is a unit for measuring energy. ...

gas – 39.93% (0.05% in 1990)
coal – 33.08% (67.22% in 1990)
nuclear – 19.26% (18.97% in 1990)
renewables – 3.55% (0% in 1990)
hydroelectric – 1.10% (2.55% in 1990)
imports – 1.96% (3.85% in 1990)
oil – 1.12% (6.82% in 1990)

(source DTI)

UK Government energy policy expects that the total contribution from renewables should rise to 10% by 2010. The Scottish Executive has a target of generating 17% to 18% of Scotland's electricity from renewables by 2010 [3], rising to 40% by 2020 [4]. Energy policy of the United Kingdom is a set of official publications and activities directed at the present and future production, transmission and use of various power technologies. ... The Executives logo, shown with English and Scottish Gaelic caption The term Scottish Executive is used in two different, but closely-related senses: to denote the executive arm of Scotlands national legislature (i. ... Motto: (Eng: No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy - Queen of the UK Queen Elizabeth II - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification - by... 2020 (MMXX) will be a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The UK 'energy gap'

In the early years of the 2000s, concerns grew over the prospect of an 'energy gap' in UK generating capacity. This is forecast to arise because it is expected that a number of coal fired power stations will close due to being unable to meet the clean air requirements of the European Large Combustion Plant Directive (directive 2001/80/EC). [5] In addition, the UK's four remaining Magnox nuclear stations and four of the seven AGR nuclear stations will all have closed by 2015. However the oldest AGR nuclear power station recently had its life extended by ten years [6], and it is likely many of the others can be life-extended, reducing the potential gap. [7] Mohave Generating Station, a 1,580 MW coal power plant near Laughlin, Nevada A fossil fuel power plant is an energy conversion center that combusts fossil fuels to produce electricity, designed on a large scale for continuous operation. ... Magnox is an obsolesent type of nuclear power reactor; When operated on a short fuel cycle (which is uneconomic) they can also produce plutonium for nuclear weapons. ... Schematic diagram of the Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor. ...

A report from the industry in 2005 forecasted that, without action to fill the gap, there would be a 20% shortfall in electricity generation capacity by 2015. Similar concerns were raised by a report published in 2000 by the Royal Commission on Environment Pollution (Energy - The Changing Climate). A Government review is currently under way [8], and has attracted considerable press coverage, in particular in relation to the prospect of constructing a new generation of nuclear power stations in order to prevent the rise in carbon dioxide emissions that would arise if other conventional power stations were to be built. Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. ...

Plugging the energy gap

The first move to plug the UK's energy gap was the announcement by Centrica, in June 2006, that they are to go ahead with the construciton of the conventionally gas-fired Langage Power Station. Centrica plc (LSE: CNA) is a large multinational company, based in the UK but also with interests in North America and Europe. ... Langage Power Station is to be constructed near the city of Plymouth in Devon. ...

Beyond relying on gas fired plants, there are a number of options that might be used to provide the new generating capacity, while minimising carbon emissions.

Fossil fuels

Fossil fuel power plants might provide a solution if there was a satisfactory and economical way of reducing their carbon emissions. Carbon capture might provide a way of doing this, however the technology is relatively untried and costs are relatively high. As yet (2006) there are no powerplants in operation with a full carbon capture and storage system. Mohave Generating Station, a 1,580 MW coal power plant near Laughlin, Nevada A fossil fuel power plant is an energy conversion center that combusts fossil fuels to produce electricity, designed on a large scale for continuous operation. ... Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is an approach to mitigating climate change by capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from large point sources such as power plants and subsequently storing it away safely instead of releasing it into the atmosphere. ...

Nuclear

While nuclear power doesn't produce carbon dioxide in generation (though the construction, mining, waste handling and disposal, and decommissioning do generate carbon emissions), it raises other environmental and security concerns. Despite this, it has great potential for generating electricity. In France, for example, 80% of the country's electricity production is nuclear powered. However, even with changes to the planning system to speed applications, there are doubts over whether the necessary timescale could be met, and over the financial viability of nuclear power. With no nuclear plants having been constructed since Sizewell B in 1995, there are also likely to be capacity issues within the native nuclear industry. The existing privatised nuclear suppler, British Energy, has also been in financial trouble since 2002. Cranes are essential in large construction projects, such as this skyscraper In project architecture and civil engineering, construction is the building or assembly of any infrastructure on a site. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... Nuclear waste locations in USA Radioactive waste is waste type containing radioactive chemical elements that does not have a practical purpose. ... The decommissioning of nuclear facilities is sometimes referred to as nuclear decommissioning, to mark the difference between conventional decommissioning and dismantling projects. ... Planning permission or planning consent is the permission required by property developers and private individuals in the United Kingdom in order to be allowed to build on, or change the use of, a plot of land or to redevelop an existing building. ... Sizewell is a small fishing village with a few holiday homes, just north of the more popular holiday villages of Thorpeness and Aldeburgh on the East Anglian coast, and near Leiston, Suffolk. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... British Energy plc, is the United Kingdoms primary nuclear power producer, operating seven Advanced Gas Cooled Reactor (AGR) stations, one Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) site and one coal fired power plant. ...

main article: Nuclear power in the United Kingdom.

As of 2006, the United Kingdom has 23 nuclear reactors generating one-fifth of its electricity (19. ...

Wind

A wind turbine at Greenpark, Reading

A March 2006 report by the British Wind Energy Association forecast that onshore windfarms should be able to supply nearly 5% of the national electricity requirements by 2010 (6,000 MW) [9]. There is considerable scope for further growth (16,600 MW had been installed in Germany by 2004, for example [10]). The development of offshore windfarms in the UK is more recent, with only 4 operational at the end of 2005 generating only 213.80 MW, though others are in the pipeline. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1712x2288, 547 KB) A wind generator at Junction 11 of the M4 motorway, at Greenpark industrial estate, near Reading, Berkshire, England. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1712x2288, 547 KB) A wind generator at Junction 11 of the M4 motorway, at Greenpark industrial estate, near Reading, Berkshire, England. ... -1... Reading is a town and unitary authority (the Borough of Reading) in the English county of Berkshire. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) is the trade and professional body for the UK wind industry. ... For the film, see 2010: The Year We Make Contact. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Wind power is the kinetic energy of wind, or the extraction of this energy by wind turbines. ...

main article: Wind power in the United Kingdom

// Offshore wind farms The UK has been estimated to have over a third of Europes total offshore wind resource, which is equivalent to three times the electricity needs of the nation at current rates of electricity consumption. ...

Wave and tide power

Due to the island location of the UK, the country has great potential for generating electricity from wave power and tidal power. Wave power refers to the energy of ocean surface waves and the capture of that energy to do useful work - including electricity generation, desalination, and the pumping of water (into reservoirs). ... Tidal Power is the power of electricity generation achieved by capturing the energy contained in moving water mass due to tides. ...

To date, wave and tidal power have received very little money for development and consequently have not yet been exploited on a significant commercial basis due to doubts over their economic viability in the UK [11]. However the Portuguese are currently installing the World's first commercial wave power plant, generating 24MW, using technology developed in Scotland [12]. Motto: (Eng: No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy - Queen of the UK Queen Elizabeth II - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification - by...

Cogeneration

District heating accumulator tower, Pimlico

Combined heat and power plants, where 'waste' hot water from generating is used for district heating, are also a well tried technology in other parts of Europe. While it heats about 50% of all houses in Denmark, Finland, Poland, Sweden and Slovakia, it currently only plays a small role in the UK. It has, however, been rising, and had reached an installed capacity of 5,777MWe by 2004, up from around 2,500 MWe in 1990. The Government has targeted 10,000 MWe by 2010. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (504x640, 177 KB) Summary District heating accumulator tower, Churchill Gardens Estate, Pimlico, London. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (504x640, 177 KB) Summary District heating accumulator tower, Churchill Gardens Estate, Pimlico, London. ... Pimlico is a district in London, England and part of the City of Westminster. ... Cogeneration (also combined heat and power or CHP) is the use of a power station to simultaneously generate both heat and electricity. ... District heating accumulator tower and workshops on the Churchill Gardens Estate, Pimlico, London. ...

Biofuels

Gas from sewage and landfill (biogas) has already been exploited in some areas. In 2004 it provided 129.3 GWh (up 690% from 1990 levels), and was the UK's leading renewable energy source, representing 39.4% of all renewable energy produced (including hydro) (DTI figures) . Sewage is the liquid water produced by human society which typically contains washing water, laundry waste, faeces, urine and other liquid or semi-liquid wastes. ... A landfill compaction vehicle in operation A landfill, also known as a dump (US) or a tip (UK), is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment. ... Biogas, typically refers to gas produced by the anaerobic digestion or fermentation of organic matter including manure, sewage sludge, municipal solid waste, or any other biodegradable feedstock, under anaerobic conditions. ...

Other biofuels can provide a close-to-carbon-neutral energy source, if locally grown. In South America and Asia, the production of biofuels for export has in some cases resulted in significant ecological damage, including the clearing of rainforest. In 2004 biofuels provided 105.9 GWh, 38% of it wood. This represented an increase of 500% from 1990 (DTI figures) . Biofuel is any fuel that is derived from biomass â€” recently living organisms or their metabolic byproducts, such as manure from cows. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... World map showing the location of Asia. ... Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions setting minimum normal annual rainfall between 1750 mm and 2000 mm. ... Trunks A tree trunk as found at the Veluwe, The Netherlands Wood is derived from woody plants, notably trees but also shrubs. ...

Solar electricity

Photovoltaic cells on the roofs of Berlin

In some countries the installation of solar electricity has already received considerable Government support. At the end of 2004 the UK's installed capacity of 8,164 MWp (Megawatts peak) represented just 0.08% of the European total. By way of comparison, due to their plans to phase out nuclear energy there is a growing (though heavily subsidised) capacity in Germany, where 794,000 MWp had been installed by the end of 2004 (79% of all European capacity). The European Commission anticipates that Germany may have installed around 2,000,000 MWp by 2010. European Commission figures. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2304x1728, 1537 KB) Beschreibung / Description Berlin, Germany, Kreuzberg â€“ Photovoltaikanlage in der OranienstraÃŸe 3-5, Block 103 (Internationale Bauausstellung) / photovoltaic system, OranienstraÃŸe 3-5, Block 103; Quelle / Source selbst fotografiert / taken by myself Datum der Aufnahme / Time of creation 2005... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2304x1728, 1537 KB) Beschreibung / Description Berlin, Germany, Kreuzberg â€“ Photovoltaikanlage in der OranienstraÃŸe 3-5, Block 103 (Internationale Bauausstellung) / photovoltaic system, OranienstraÃŸe 3-5, Block 103; Quelle / Source selbst fotografiert / taken by myself Datum der Aufnahme / Time of creation 2005... A photovoltaic cell is a device that turns light into electric energy. ... Berlin is the capital city and one of the sixteen states of the Federal Republic of Germany. ... A nuclear power plant at Grafenrheinfeld, Germany. ... The European Commission (formally the Commission of the European Communities) is the executive body of the European Union. ...

Microgeneration

Microgeneration technologies are seen as having considerable potential by the Government. However the micorgeneration strategy they launched in March 2006 [13] was seen as a disappointment by many commentators [14]. Microgeneration involves the local production of electricity by homes and businesses from low-energy sources including small scale wind turbines, ground source heat pumps and solar electricity installations. The Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006 [15] is expected to boost the number of microgeneration installations [16]. Microgeneration is the generation of zero or low-carbon heat and power by individuals, small businesses and communities to meet their own needs. ... A tall tower holds a wind turbine aloft where winds are consistently stronger. ... A geothermal exchange heat pump, also known as a ground source heat pump, is a heat pump that uses the Earth as either a heat source, when operating in heating mode, or a heat sink when operating in cooling mode. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006 is expected to boost the number of heat and electricity microgeneration installations in the United Kingdom, so helping to cut carbon emissions and reduce fuel poverty. ...

Community energy systems

Sustainable community energy systems, pioneered by Woking Borough Council, provide an integrated approach to using cogeneration, renewables and other technologies to provide sustanable energy supplies to a community. It is expected that the same approach will be developed in other towns and cities, including London [17]. A sustainable community energy system is an integrated approach to supplying a local community with its energy requirements from renewable energy or high-efficiency co-generation energy sources. ... Woking is a large town and local government district with borough status in the west of Surrey in South East England. ... London (pronounced ) is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. ...

Energy conservation by sector

Much of the emphasis in energy debates tends to focus on the supply side of the issue, and ignore the demand. A number of commentators are concerned that this is being largely overlooked, partly due to the strength of the energy industry lobby. Energy conservation also has great potential, and may be able to significantly cut the size of the supposed energy gap, if early and concerted action is taken. The supply and demand model describes how prices vary as a result of a balance between product availability at each price (supply) and the desires of those with purchasing power at each price (demand). ... The supply and demand model describes how prices vary as a result of a balance between product availability at each price (supply) and the desires of those with purchasing power at each price (demand). ... It has been suggested that Interest representation: Academic overview be merged into this article or section. ... For the physical concepts, see conservation of energy and energy efficiency. ...

Housing

BedZED zero energy housing

Along with road transport, domestic housing is currently one of the major obstacles to achieving carbon reduction targets. Housing currently accounts for just over 30% of all carbon dioxide emissions in the UK, and by 2010 the emissions from housing are expected to have risen 18.5% above 1990 levels [18]. This rise is projected to continue beyond 2010. While some action is being taken on new buildings, particularly due to the 2006 changes to the Building Regulations, relatively little is being done to improve the existing housing stock. Photograph of the BedZED eco-village in Beddington, England taken by Paul Miller. ... Photograph of the BedZED eco-village in Beddington, England taken by Paul Miller. ... Similar or related terms: Near zero energy building, Zero energy house, Near zero energy house A zero energy building (ZEB) can be described as structure with a net energy consumption of zero over a typical year. ... Houses in Fishpool Street, St Albans, England For other meanings of the word house, see House (disambiguation). ... Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. ... The UK building regulations are statutory instruments that seek to ensure that the policies set out in the Building Act 1984 are carried out in the construction of buildings. ...

main article: Energy efficiency in British housing.

Energy efficiency in British housing has been attracting greater attention in recent years due to the UK commitment to the United Kingdom Climate Change Programme, and the Kyoto Protocol. ...

Transport

Toyota Prius, a hybrid vehicle

Transport continues to grow as a significant user of fuel in the UK, and along with housing, this continues to be one of the major challenges to achieving the Government's carbon reduction targets. 2004 Toyota Prius File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... 2004 Toyota Prius File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Prius may refer to: Hitachi Flora Prius, a personal computer. ... A hybrid vehicle (HV) is a vehicle using an on-board rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) and a fuelled power source for vehicle propulsion. ...

By 2003 the amount of fuel used by transport had risen by around 60% since 1970. While oil is the main energy source, electricity and LPG make up a small percentage. Carbon emissions from transport have almost doubled over this period. Increasing car usage, increasing engine sizes, and levels of congestion are some of the problem areas, as is increasing air travel. LPG might be an initialism or abbreviation for: Liquified petroleum gas Laboratoire de Planetologie, Grenoble, France Literary Press Group of Canada Landwirtschaftliche Produktionsgenossenschaft (German, obsolete/historical) Long period grating This page concerning a three-letter acronym or abbreviation is a disambiguation page â€” a navigational aid which lists other pages that...

Efforts to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and particulates from diesel vehicles have actually lead to an increase in fuel consupmtion and carbon dioxide emissions. Current technology should allow further reductions in emmisions without increases in fuel consumption, and hopefully future technology will allow fuel consumption, and therefore CO2 emissions, to reduce. The term nitrogen oxide is a general term and can be used to refer to any of these oxides (oxygen compounds) of nitrogen, or to a mixture of them: Nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen(II) oxide Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) Dinitrogen monoxide (N2O) (Nitrous oxide) Dinitrogen trioxide (N2O3) Dinitrogen tetroxide (N2O4) Dinitrogen... Sulfur dioxide (or Sulphur dioxide) has the chemical formula SO2. ... Diesel particulate matter (DPM) refers to the particulate components of diesel exhaust, which include diesel soot and aerosols such as ash particulates, metallic abrasion particles, sulfates, and silicates. ...

During the 1990s the Fuel Price Escalator was used to raise road fuel taxes in an attempt to reduce vehicle usage and cut emissions. The mechanism was abandoned in the wake of the 2000 fuel protests. See also 1990s, the band The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive, sometimes informally including popular culture from the late 1980s and shortly after the year 2000. ... The Fuel Price Escalator (FPE) was the practice of automatically increasing hydrocarbon oil duty (better known as fuel tax) in the United Kingdom ahead of inflation. ... The term UK fuel protest refers to a series of protests held in the United Kingdom over the cost of petrol. ...

From 2008, a Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation is being introduced, under which petrol and diesel are likely to be blended with 5% biofuels by 2010. It is anticipated that this will cut carbon emissions in the transport sector by between 2% and 3%. 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Petrol and alcohol fuel pumps in Brazil. ... Gasoline, also called petrol, is a petroleum-derived liquid mixture consisting primarily of hydrocarbons and enhanced with benzene or iso-octane to increase octane ratings, used as fuel in internal combustion engines. ... Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel (1858-1913), inventor of the Diesel engine. ... Biofuel is any fuel that derives from biomass _ recently living organisms or their metabolic byproducts, such as manure from cows. ... For the film, see 2010: The Year We Make Contact. ...

Industry

Compared to 1990, energy use by industry had fallen by over 5% by 2004. The highest profile recent initiative to cut carbon emissions is the European Union Emission Trading Scheme. Other measures include the Climate Change Levy. The European Union Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is the largest multi-national, greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme in the world. ... The United Kingdoms Climate Change Programme was launched by the British government in response to its commitment to the Kyoto Protocol on global warming. ...

Energy research

Historically, public sector support for energy research and development in the UK has been provided by a variety of bodies with little co-ordination between them. Problems experienced have included poor continuity of funding, and the availability of funding for certain parts of the reseach-development-commercialisation process but not others. Levels of public funding have also been low by international standards, and funding by the private sector has also been limited.

Research in the area of energy is carried out by a number of public and private sector bodies:

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council funds an energy programme [19] spanning energy and climate change research. It aims to develop, embrace and exploit sustainable, low carbon and/or energy efficient technologies and systems to enable the UK to meet the Government’s energy and environmental targets by 2020. It's research covers include renewable, conventional, nuclear and fusion electricity supply as well as energy efficiency, fuel poverty and other topics. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is a British Research Council that provides government funding for grants to undertake engineering and science research, mainly to universities in the United Kingdom. ... The Sun is a natural fusion reactor. ...

Since being established in 2004, the UK Energy Research Centre [20] carries out research into demand reduction, future sources of energy, infrastructure and supply, energy systems, sustainability and materials for advanced energy systems. 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Energy Technologies Institute, expected to begin operating in 2008, is to accelerate the development of secure, reliable and cost-effective low-carbon energy technologies towards commercial deployment. The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) is an energy research and development institute planned to begin operating in the United Kingdom in 2008. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In relation to buildings, the Building Research Establishment [21] carries out some research into energy conservation.

External links

IEA Graph: Evolution of Electricity Generation by Fuel from 1971 to 2003 (pdf)
DTI UK Energy Statistics
DTI 2006 Energy Review
DEFRA Sustainable Energy
UK Energy Research Centre
Map of UK power stations
Map of UK renewable power installations
Friends of the Earth: The Future starts here: the route to a low carbon economy
Planning Policy Statement 22 (PPS22) on renewable energy

IEA can stand for several different things, such as those listed here: Idaho Education Association Illinois Education Association Illuminating Engineering Society Industrial Environmental Association Information Exchange Agreements Information Exchange Annex Institute for Economic Analysis Institute of Economic Affairs Instituto de Economia Agrícola Instituto de Estadística de Andalucía... DTI may refer to: Department of Trade and Industry Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad (AAR reporting mark DTI) Diffusion tensor imaging This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... DTI may refer to: Department of Trade and Industry Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad (AAR reporting mark DTI) Diffusion tensor imaging This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities. ...

In the media

September 2006, NewBuilder, Climate Change perceived as greater threat than terrorism
May 2006, BBC, Survey: Your electricity choices revealed
May 2006, The Times, Minister's links to nuclear lobby
May 2006, BBC, Blair backs nuclear power plans
March 2006, The Independent, Global warming: Your chance to change the climate
March 2006, BBC, Is DIY power generation going to be the next big thing?
January 2006, BBC, The UK's energy debate has been framed wrongly
May 2002, European Environmental Bureau, Biofuels not as green as they sound
June 2000, RCEP, Royal commission calls for transformation in the UK's use of energy to counter climate change

The British Broadcasting Corporation, invariably known as the BBC (and also informally known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world, employing 26,000 staff in the UK alone and with a budget of Â£4 billion. ... The Times is a national newspaper published daily in the United Kingdom since 1785, and under its current name since 1788. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, invariably known as the BBC (and also informally known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world, employing 26,000 staff in the UK alone and with a budget of Â£4 billion. ... The Independent is a British compact newspaper published by Tony OReillys Independent News & Media. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, invariably known as the BBC (and also informally known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world, employing 26,000 staff in the UK alone and with a budget of Â£4 billion. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, invariably known as the BBC (and also informally known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world, employing 26,000 staff in the UK alone and with a budget of Â£4 billion. ... The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) is the largest federation of environmental organisations in Europe, with more than 140 members, environmental non-governmental organisations in 31 countries. ...

International

Energy Efficiency in Norway 1990 - 1999
Sweden to end oil dependency by 2020

COMMENTARY

Share your thoughts, questions and commentary here

Want to know more?
Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

Feeds | Contact
The Wikipedia article included on this page is licensed under the GFDL.
Images may be subject to relevant owners' copyright.
All other elements are (c) copyright NationMaster.com 2003-5. All Rights Reserved.
Usage implies agreement with terms, 1022, m

Contents

Carbon emissions GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");