NOTE: Images in this archived article have been removed.
Gas flare, North Dakota image via timevanson/flick. Creative Commons 2.0 license.
1. Commentary: Lord Howell: British fracking policy – a change of direction needed – “Based on a lot of evidence and advice from all over, I view what is coming from the Cabinet Office, from Ministers and from DECC about shale gas and oil as being seriously flawed, needing correction and costing us dearly as this becomes evident, which it will.”
2. Article: $1tn oil projects ‘will not see return’ if governments act on climate – Carbon Tracker report – Capital investment will never see a return if world’s governments fulfil climate change pledge.
3. Chart: Renewables displace coal and gas in Germany earlier this year:
Coalition energy policy came under fire from an unusual source this week – former energy secretary and noted fracking enthusiast Lord Howell. Based on “all the expertise in the planet”, he now claims the government’s view of shale gas “is much too optimistic and could prove extremely dangerous politically when the reality unfolds”. Lord Howell went on to warn against those hoping to emulate the American shale experience, which would not have been possible without the highly controversial exemption of shale from the Clean Water Act.
It’s an intervention which stands at odds with members of the House of Lords Committee on Economic Affairs, which this week urged the government to treat shale gas development as a “national priority” given falling North Sea production. It should be noted, however, that Lord Howell is still more than happy to see fracking developed in “derelict” areas of the north.
Meanwhile the US shale story is becoming more complex: methane emissions are probably much higher than initially reported; negative health impacts are being validated; and coal consumption is actually rising again as gas prices rise. UK supporters of fracking are keen to cut the red tape and get things underway as soon as possible, but experience elsewhere increasingly suggests we should be in no hurry.
The explosion and fire in a Turkish coal mine on Tuesday which has killed nearly 300 miners is a horrific reminder of the high price demanded by fossil energy. The disaster should be considered as just one of the many additional associated costs of coal, including air pollution and the highest carbon emissions of any other energy source.
Yet another such cost was exposed by an International Energy Agency report released this week, which showed how increasing coal consumption is negating the impact of renewable generation. As a result, the global cost of pegging climate change to +2°C has risen by $8 trillion in the last two years: slower decarbonisation leads to higher overall costs.
There was some positive news, however, for the renewables sector. Solar led the way with a 14% rise in jobs, and worldwide the renewables sector now employs 6.5 million people. In Germany renewables generated a record 27% of the electricity supply in the first quarter of 2014.
Related Reports and commentary
The Economic Impact on UK Energy Policy of Shale Gas and Oil – House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee
Public Health England’s draft report on shale gas extraction – British Medical Journal (paywall, but you can get a free trial).
Renewable energy and jobs – IRENA
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