Energy Crunch
Thanks to a great deal of brave and committed effort,Britainhas enjoyed decades of gas and oil production from theNorth Sea. I can just about remember my parents’ house supply being converted from town gas toNorth Seagas, and the same change happened up and down the country. Similarly we have enjoyed a plentiful supply of oil, to such an extent, that it was at times suggested thatBritainshould join the OPEC (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries).
It is now reckoned that more than half of theNorth Seaoil reserves have been extracted, while British gas production is also in decline, so that we are net importers. With this background, and an increasing population, it is clearly essential to put in place measures to prevent a gap in energy production. Thankfully the government is being ambitious about this and has a target for all new homes to be Carbon neutral by 2016. This implies no automatic gas connection and an emphasis on renewable energy sources.
Back in 2004, 3.6% of our energy was produced from renewable sources including hydro, wind, biomass, solar photovoltaics and municipal solid waste combustion. We have an environment of growing demand and shrinking supply so all options need to be on the table. Renewable sources on their own will not be enough to bridge the gap, especially when we consider the decommissioning programme for existing power stations that are reaching the end of their operational lives.
There are other pressures driving this agenda such as the targets for reductions in emissions. A tension can exist between these targets and the need to secure British energy supplies in a manner that is not too import-dependent. If we cannot cover the gap left by decommissioning an old power station, perhaps it has to be kept open.
All of these problems seem to have created such a sense of desperation that we are obliged to commence a new programme of nuclear power stations. Apparently eight of these plants are needed but it feels like a late decision, and one that should have been taken by the previous government. The timing is doubly awkward with recent events in Japan highlighting the vulnerability of this form of power generation.
Still, whatever the concerns about our sources of energy for the future, there have to be decisions made that guarantee supply. Nobody can really contemplate a world without electricity for example. Even a cut of one hour creates a talking point. What would one day, one week or some longer period do?
Councillor Bob Lanzer, Leader of Crawley Borough Council
16th August 2011