Utilisation of a country’s indigenous energy is essential if we are to become less reliant on gas and oil supplies from unpredictable parts of the world.
Russia is the biggest natural gas producer in the world and provides the EU with a quarter of its supply, around 80 per cent of which is transported via a pipe through Ukraine.
Russian state owned Gazprom cut gas supplies to the Ukraine for the second time in 3 years leaving tens of thousands of people without heating this winter. This action apparently due to rows over fines for late payments followed the introduction of a Western aligned government in Ukraine.
There has of course been a history of energy superpowers influencing world markets and also using their power to apply political pressure. OPEC famously used its power in response to Western support for the Yom Kipper War in 1973 by proclaiming an oil embargo on the US and other supporting countries.
With fossil fuel reserves diminishing, self sufficiency is more important now than it has ever been and the only way to achieve this is to be in a position where various energy sources can be utilised. Home made energy technologies are an essential contributor, particularly those technologies such as wind energy because they can be decentralised increasing their effectiveness whilst also reducing terrorist threats.
With our current grid infrastructure the UK can accommodate around 20% of electricity requirements from renewable energy sources and the most effective technologies currently include landfill gas, hydroelectricity and wind energy.
Recent figures show around 5% of electricity is generated from renewables – there is a long way to go to reach the 20% level which is currently being held back by planning and wind turbine supply delays. The wind turbine market, will level out so that supply meets demand, but action does need to be taken to improve the timescales for renewable energy planning applications.
On the micro- household renewables scale, fixed rate price tariffs for the sale of electricity back to the grid would improve the economics and a clear program such tariffs is essential if a serious market is to be created.
Above picture from hydro-carbons technology.
