Wind Energy Planning

Government Appoints New Scientific Advisor

The UK government has appointed David MacKay Chief Scientific Advisor to the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

David MacKay is a Professor in the Department of Physics at Cambridge University and recently published a book ‘Sustainable Energy – without the hot air’.

Secretary of State Ed Miliband said: “David MacKay is known for making science accessible and helping to explain clearly the urgency and the challenges of moving to a low carbon economy. I want him to bring all of these qualities to the job of advising DECC on how we can meet Britain’s carbon targets and energy security needs.”

What’s Hot and What’s Not – The Global Energy Scene

An article by Michael von Bülow yesterday reviews the Riso Energy Report 7 – Future low carbon energy systems and tells us which energy technologies are hot and which are not in the current global market.

The report outlines the current technological status and growth of our favourite energy technologies, together with the key challenges and barriers for further development.

Wind energy is top of the list – described as a mature option in sustainable energy with great potential and a rapid development over the past 25 years.

Biomass – Carbon Sink or Carbon Sinner?

A report carried out for the UK Environment Agency last month recommends further interrogation of greenhouse gas emissions created from the use of biomass to generate electricity.

The research carried out by AEA found that although green house gas emissions from energy generated using biomass crops is generally less than from fossil fuels, this is not always the case. Burning straw for example can produce over 35% more than a combined cycle gas turbine power station.