Coal Free Energy Generation For A Day!

The UK had a coal free energy day last week. Friday the 21st was the first 24 hour period with out coal for over 130 years.

Our industrial heritage is a corner stone of British history. Coal drove the industrial revolution, replacing water power as the primary source of energy. For 130 years this has continued. Our proud miners and energy engineers have used this fossil fuel to power our progress and make Britain great.

The next industrial revolution is now underway. This industrial revolution is driven by new technologies.

Community Wind Power

Power from wind and sun and biomass are replacing old and polluting  energy sources. This is good for industries, good for employment, and good for our planet. For too long we have denied or ignored the damage we are causing to our environment by burning fossil fuels. This 3rd industrial revolution is creating the power of the future today

The power generated by these new forms of renewable energy have created this first step in our path to fossil free energy.

Coal free energy for the 2nd time

In 2016 we had 4 separate events of energy generation without coal over a few days. This was a sign of things to come and I blogged about this. Now we have reached the next level. one whole continuous 24 hour period without burning coal for energy.

Coal free energy for a week?

Solar energy

Energy from coal

I am looking forward to the next milestone along the highway to 100% renewable energy. I will be glad to see an end to all burning of coal for energy or other uses. Saving our planet starts by getting rid of polluting industrial processes that can be easily replaced and offer new jobs and opportunities for us all.

Coal Is Off The Grid For The First Time In +100 years

Can it be that coal dropped off the grid? Coal has been burning in electricity generation plants since 1882. The continuous use of coal has been a cheap way to provide heat and light for our homes. Coal power has fuelled economic growth. Coal has been the bane of our country’s inner cities for just as long. The dark days of the London fogs killed thousands. China is now dealing with a similar epidemic of coal related deaths. But now an end is near. The UK is turning the corner on dirty fuels.

Dirty Coal Off The Grid

Here in the UK we have been supporting renewable energy for several years. Solar energy grew very quickly during the FIT years. Wind generators were built from cornwall to Coventry. Wind power was built in the seas surrounding the UK as well. At one point only a few years ago we had the fastest growing wind generation system of any country on earth.

Wind and other renewables takes coal off the grid

Now we see the dividends. Now we see cleaner energy generation. In 2016 for the

Coal replaced

first time in over 120 years no coal was burned. No dirty coal fumes polluted our skies for a few short hours. For a few days in 2016 our energy was cleaner. For just four days in 2016 coal was off the grid.

The current government has cut support for renewables of all types. The Feed In Tariff was cut twice and is now a fraction of what it once was. The government is taxing solar installations further hampering continued growth. Wind generators on shore and off shore have been hit hard by this government as well. Subsidies for wind generation have been cut. On shore wind has been nearly banned by government blockades and red tape. Meanwhile the fracking that no one wants is being forced through local communities against the will of local government. New nuclear power that will bankrupt the country is going forward with billions of illegal subsidies.

Perhaps the government needs to rethink their support for fossil fuels and nuclear power.

How’s your city’s eco-status?

Eco-cities are urban areas which are sustainable and environmentally friendly. You don’t have to live in a hippy commune to minimise your impact on the planet. With a growing world population, modern cities are adapting to be more eco-friendly.

Since 2009, the number of people living in urban areas has exceeded the number in rural areas . This means that to improve the sustainability of our planet, we need to plan and develop our cities in a way which minimises energy use, waste and emissions.

If you want to find out the world’s current human population, check out this link to see how it fluctuates.

In order to combat the issues caused by a massive growth in population, many cities have aimed to improve their sustainability. Some even aim for the ‘Eco-city’ status.

What are Eco-cities?

Factors influencing sustainable life- from International Eco-city Framework and Standards

According to the International Ecocity Framework and Standards, “An Ecocity is a human settlement modeled on the self-sustaining resilient structure and function of natural ecosystems.”

This means that it provides for the people living there, without consuming more resources than it replaces. It also reduces waste and it recycles when possible.

Some examples of exciting urban developments:

Curitaba– A functioning eco-city

Curitaba

Curitiba in Brazil has become famous for its sustainable transport and low waste levels.

ReGen Villages:

ReGen villages in the Netherlands aim to tackle the lack of resources and growing human population by providing a more sustainable living environment. How? ReGen villages plan to provide homes running on renewable energy, sustainable water management, and waste-to-resource systems (Biofuels). The idea is to create a place where families can live happily and with a low environmental impact.

Masdar City:

Masdar City  in the United Arab Emirates is now an established community where people are living and working. The development is based around the idea of sustainability and encouraging business and education in the renewable sector to grow together. Masdar focuses on energy-efficient buildings and has become internationally known for its green technology.

Tianjin:

Tianjin Eco-City is the result of a collaborative agreement between the governments of China and Singapore. It aims to achieve the “Three Harmonies”; social harmony, economic vibrancy and environmental sustainability.

Tianjin eco-city, from BBC news.

Has your city gone eco yet? Visit the crowdmap to see which cities have a sustainable future.

E is for Europe

In the beginning E was for Energy. Now that Brexit has begun, E is for Europe. Our Environment may be at further risk due to Brexit– but how will Brexit affect us?

Environmental issues don’t stop at borders. Many issues require sustained action over a long period of time. Cooperation is needed between countries if the UK is to achieve its energy and climate goals. The UK needs to work with others to reduce the pressures on the environment. By working together, we can increase biodiversity and use our resources wisely.

We need agreements between nations to cooperate on protecting our planet from climate change. The question is; will leaving the EU effect the UK’s ability to cooperate with other European countries in reaching our shared goals?

The IEEP hopes E is for Europe

A report from the Institute for European Environmental Policy outlines the importance for the environment of being part of the EU.

Countries which are members of the European Economic Area (EEA) but not the EU are still subject to a large body of EU environmental legislation. But it is uncertain how the UK will negotiate its legislation with the EU in the coming months. This means it is still uncertain how the UK will determine its environmental policies.

Now that the UK is leaving Europe, its parliament may be able to make laws which are more specific to the country and therefore improve the overall environmental policy. But do we trust the UK government to make environment-over-economy based decisions when it comes down to it?  Many have said that there could be detrimental effects of leaving the UK to change its environmental policies without the EU as a moderator.

The possible effects of Brexit were summarised by an expert in EU Environmental policy,

Dr Charlotte Burns, Environment Department, University of York;

“ If the UK exits from the EU but remains part of the European Economic Area the huge progress made in improving the UK environment could be lost… A total withdrawal suggests a much wider erosion of environmental policy, … which risks significant economic damage to the UK.”

Overall, there is a gloomy outlook from the environmental perspective of Brexit.

What can we do?

– Contact your local MP to see what they are doing.

– Read about the issue in the news and in reports

– Sign an e-petition, such as this one from the Wildlife Trust, who wish to adopt European environmental legislation.

Protect UK Environment & Wildlife post-Brexit (wildlifetrusts.org)

Are we entering a Green New World?

A Green New World

I think we are entering a green new world. Many nations of the world are embracing green energy. Green energy is energy from a renewable source. Renewable energy never runs out and is clean to generate and use. During my break from writing, many events have changed the nature of our climate and our global energy sources.

All the changes I have seen in the last 8 months have been encouraging. In November 2015 the COP 21 Conference in Paris set a target for carbon emissions at 1.5 – 2.0ppm. This historic agreement is being perused by many nations.

India has approved a massive 200GW of new solar across the country. This will go along way to reducing India’ fossil fuel energy generation.

China’s emissions of CO2 may have dropped in 2015. With as much as a 5% reduction of CO2, this may be the start of something good.

All News Is Not Good

The weather outside is frightful

Sadly a new green world is not happening quite fast enough. Global temperatures are still rising. Artic ice melt is still accelerating. Forest fires are larger and occurring more often in places where they never happened before. Severe storms are destroying many communities around the planet.

As the effects of global climate change take hold, we all see the need for change. The world is waking up to climate change and nations are acting to combat the worst outcomes. Can we change fast enough to stop climate change?

Keep reading E is for energy to find out.