Potential for micro-generation

By 2050, we could be seeing 30-40% of UK power coming from tiny turbines and roof-top PV and thermal solar panels, says a report commissioned by the DTI, and there could be a significant uptake within just ten years. A revolution of renewables could also bring significant benefits to the carbon economy and help the UK meet its commitments in reducing emissions.

The report, Potential for Microgeneration - study and analysis, has been published by the Energy Saving Trust and was carried out to feed into the DTI's Low Carbon Building programme as well as wider policy for microgeneration.

It looks at the perceived barriers that stop 'alternative' energy sources being embraced as mainstream and when various technologies might become more cost effective and thus attractive to the wider public.

Wave energy

Apart from providing renewable electrical energy, wave energy is also seen as an opportunity to develop products with a worldwide exportation potential and a technology branch with applications in other marine resources exploitation.

After an initial phase (1974-1983) of great investment and development, but also of great expectation, wave energy entered a phase of some stagnation and loss recovered in the mid-nineties.

In recent years, the increased maturity of wave energy technology gave rise to a number of mainly SME-driven industrial activities that show strong commitment in bringing this technology to the market:

Teamwork Technology/The Netherlands and Oceanergia/Portugal are developing the Archimedes Wave Swing (AWS);

SPOK ApS/Denmark is developing the Wavedragon;

Wavegen/UK developed the Oscillating Water Column (OWC) LIMPET plant;

Ocean Power Delivery (OPD)/UK is developing the Pelamis;

Energetech/Australia is developing the parabolic entry OWC;

Ramboll/Denmark and Aquaenergy/USA are developing the Aquabuoy;

Enerwave/Portugal is developing an overtopping breakwater - integrated shoreline plant;

Electricidade de Portugal and Electricidade dos Açores and Efacec participated in the development of the OWC Pico plant in the Azores.

As a result of this involvement, four pilot plants of three different technologies are, or have been, under testing at the sea:

Two shoreline Oscillating Water Column (OWC) plants built in the Azores (Pico 400 kW) and Islay in Scotland (Limpet 500 kW)

Two MW offshore AWS pilot plant ( tested offshore Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal, 2004),

1:4.5th scale Wavedragon plant (under testing in the Baltic Sea) and

Pelamis (to be tested offshore Póvoa de Varzim).

The next two years will show how these pilot plants perform in real seas and how much we can expect from the corresponding technology.

Feedback on Wave energy:

Wave energy - (European Union website)
Wave Energy Centre
Wavetrain
Maretec
World Energy Council

UN Climate Conference in Montreal: Kyoto operational

Beginning this week and continuing through December 9, representatives from nations around the world are meeting in Montreal to discuss plans for an environmental treaty that would succeed the Kyoto Protocol, albeit with some resistance from the United States.

Kyoto protocol became operational yesterday after final rules were adopted. Not FULLY operational, as the 34 signatory countries do not include the United States or Australia...

Harlan Watson, head of the US delegation, said Americans did not want an approach that includes objectives or a timetable to reduce emissions.

More on the topic: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Website