Power, at the cost of glory?
15 January 2010
They say you can’t have your cake and eat it. The bathroom scales would disagree with me, especially owing to my Christmas indulgence, but the sentiment of the expression still rings true.
Renewable energy is the goal that governments are ultimately aiming for, but there will have to be some sacrifices made along the way.
Scotland has recently been in the news due to plans to erect pylons that are needed to carry green energy. The BBC details the story here and mentions that ‘a network of 600 pylons, some more than 200ft in height, will connect renewable power projects to the national grid’.
This has angered many, with Ramblers Scotland President Dennis Canavan describing it as: “An act of sheer vandalism,” saying the project would: “Destroy some of the most scenic countryside in Scotland.” However, experts have suggested that underground cables could cause greater environmental damage, while a sub-sea alternative would be ‘neither efficient nor economic.’
So to achieve the target of 50% of Scotland's electricity being met by renewable sources by 2020 (in 2007, the latest year for which figures are available, it was 20.1%), there has to be a price to pay.
However, beyond the immediate issue of the pylons being a blot on the landscape, the project will undoubtedly create many new jobs, as well as inspiring academics to harness the power.
As well as this, there are implications for a growth of electric cars. The BBC reports that the Scottish government is being urged to take action to maintain the country's position in the electric car industry (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8438673.stm).
Glasgow-based electric vehicle manufacturer, Allied Vehicles, Dundee-based lithium-ion battery manufacturers Axeon, and WWF Scotland jointly praised the ambition shown by Scottish ministers but said there was ‘no room for delay’ in pushing forward the industry. Dr. Sam Gardner, from WWF, said: “We urge ministers to do everything in their power to enable the rapid roll-out of electric vehicles throughout Scotland. Alongside measures to get people out of their cars, a switch to electric vehicles is going to be an essential part of tackling climate change. Scotland needs to embrace electric vehicles and start planning the infrastructure to make it happen.”
Paul Nelson, Managing Director of Allied Electric, said the new vehicles were ‘paramount’ to the reduction of carbon emissions, and the industry would stimulate employment in the country. He commented: “It is essential we fight to hold onto the lead we have worked so hard to gain as it has the potential to create hundreds of much needed manufacturing jobs which are now few and far between as a result of the economic crisis.”
If the renewable energy can be used in such a way to power the generators that charge electric cars, Scotland could be at the forefront of a green energy culture, utilising wind energy and wave energy, but perhaps not solar energy.
Recently, Gordon Brown has said that the offshore wind industry could be worth £75 billion and support up to 70,000 jobs by 2020. He added that the Government’s support for offshore wind energy has put the UK ahead of every other country in the world.
“This new round of licences provides a substantial new platform for investing in UK industrial capacity. This announcement will make a significant and practical contribution to reducing our CO2 emissions and the Government will work with developers and the Crown Estate to support the growing offshore wind industry and help remove barriers to rapid development,” stated the PM.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said that the UK has one of the best wind energy resources in Europe. “Today’s news shows we’re creating the right conditions for the energy industry to invest in harnessing it. This is one of the strongest signals yet that the UK is locked irreversibly into a low carbon, energy secure prosperous future.”
Maybe 2010 is the year of action, when we get things moving and think about the future. But we also need to think about the present and the immediate implications of our actions.
This week’s leader was written by Paul Wolfe, Electronic Product Design’s Assistant Editor.
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