UK Peak Oil Conference – London, 11 October

On 11 October 2005, in London, a major conference will look at the peak
oil problem and its impact on climate change, the world’s food supply and
the world economy. Speakers include Michael Meacher MP, Tim Lang and
Andrew Simms (of NEF), and the chair will be Dr Ian Gibson MP. The
conference is being organised by East Anglia Food Link, CRed, Sustain and
PowerSwitch.org.uk.

Exponential Enrons Ahead

There has been a lot of media focus on the $18 billion in tax incentives contained in the Senate energy bill, but almost nothing about PUHCA repeal, even though the latter is by far the greatest prize: according to Lynn Hargis the value of all regulated utilities exceeds one trillion dollars. [PUHCA = Public Utilities Holding Company Act, a cornerstone New Deal financial reform]

There’s no fuel like an old fuel

Strongly reasoned case put for biofuels as the solution to decline of fossil oil supply. Dr Chia (cardiologist) calmly lays out the Hubbert/depletionists case, dismisses any central role for nuclear energy, and goes on to advocate bioengineered phyto-fuels (for biodiesel etc) and the development of artificial photosynthesis.

The next 50 years: Four European energy futures

Report considering European energy transition scenarios, four story lines connecting plausible global developments in world energy markets and climate change policies consistently with European energy regime changes and related national innovation pressures. It includes explicit consideration of anti-globalisation arguments and climate change scenario’s, setting a new standard for integrated analysis.

UK: Wave, wind, sun and tide a powerful mix

Research at Oxford University shows that intermittent renewables, combined with domestic combined heat and power (dCHP) could dependably provide the bulk of Britain’s electricity.

The growing consensus is that only new nuclear power can plug that gap without contributing to global warming.
But a new report indicates that a judicious mix of intermittent renewables – wave, wind, sun and tide – could supply over half of UK electricity.