BBC : Energy crisis 'will be permanent'

[Ippoippo]

BBC put up two more news stories, late at night UK time on the 9th, and another one on the front page early on the 10th UK time.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4423456.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4423590.stm



Mind you, we knew this already!!

[nancy]

The document says energy will inevitably become less available and more expensive than it has been for the last few decades.

I have friends who have said when this stuff is on the BBC then I might believe it....

Did they ever follow up on that vote for Peak Oil being the number one topic people voted to see/hear about?

[clv101]

No mention of oil, which for the UK I think is reasonable. Our first problem is electricity and the amount we're losing over the next few years due to nuclear decommission and North Sea gas depletion.

[biffvernon]

The line being pushed by the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme in its reporting of the Geological Society report, one of whose conclusions is:

Nuclear fission energy is a proven and reliable technology that will inevitably have a key role in a future clean energy mix.

More at http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/template.cfm?name=PR60
No mention that spending on nuclear will divert investment away from renewables or that there isn't enough uranium in the world to supply the world energy shortfall after PO.

[PowerSwitchJames]

What happens when a country runs short on electricity?

Well, maybe this?

North Korea has the potential to generate about 7,800 megawatts of power, but fuel shortages have cut output to just over 2,000 megawatts. The shortage has kept more than two-thirds of its industrial facilities idle.

[newmac]

Any news on exactly when the JESS report will be published? From previous years it should be sometime in November......unless they sit on it.

[peaky]

Nuclear fission energy is a proven and reliable technology that will inevitably have a key role in a future clean energy mix.

Well, in my books nuclear is clean only in that its CO2 emissions are low - as for mining, transporting, building and certainly waste and decomissioning it seems a rather elastic use of the word

[biffvernon]

There was clearly dissent on the nuclear question. The first line in the nuclear section reads:

Marked differences of opinion ? arising largely from philosophy of approach - remain over whether nuclear should be considered as an option.

but that wasn't emphasised by the BBC's reports.

[clv101]

This report in The Guardian didn't even mention nuclear! Is this a case of the Guardian selectively reporting the story so as not to encourage nuclear? Often, what people don't say is more telling than what they do say...

Sorry for the formatting, I got this on email and couldn't see it on Guardian Online.

Energy to cost more warns report
> Press Association
> Thursday November 10, 2005 1:48 PM
> Scarce and expensive energy supplies are set to become a permanent feature
> of life in the UK, leading academics predict.
> The warning comes with the publication of a new multidisciplinary report
> which the author says aims to provide the Government with a coherent
> feasible solution to problems of the country's looming energy gap.
> The document is written by John Loughead, executive director of the UK
> Energy Research Centre and follows a meeting between 150 scientific,
> technical,economic and sociological experts at Burlington House last month
> under the auspices of The Geological Society of London.
> The meeting was co-sponsored by five sister societies and institutes.
> The report distils the conclusions of the meeting and is independent of all
> its sponsoring bodies.
> It says energy will inevitably become less available and more expensive
than
> it has been for the last few decades.
> But the change will be permanent and adapting to this scenario while
> maintaining the UK's standard of living, will require fundamental changes
in
> the way we produce and use energy. All sources of energy will be needed.
> Other findings are that fossil fuels will remain our most important source
> for the next 50 years, despite a growing role for renewable energy. Clean
> systems, including carbon capture and storage, should be pursued urgently.
> Renewable energy sources will play a growing role but will require
continued
> support in development and deployment, if they are to match the cost levels
> of conventional systems.
> And it says government has the key role to play by providing consistent
> market signals, reinforced by structured and affordable incentives,
> implementing regulatory structures to bring about changes in the energy
> system and taking responsibility for an effective engagement of the public
> in the process.
> C Copyright Press Association Ltd 2005, All Rights Reserved.

[isenhand]

The prime minister said the "blunt truth about the politics of climate change" was that no country would want to sacrifice its economy to meet the challenge, although they all knew they must develop on a "sustainable basis"

.

That was interesting. By doing nothing are we not sacrificing our economy? Are we looking at an ostrich with its head in the sand or at a dodo to be?

[biffvernon]

The Guardian didn't even mention nuclear! Is this a case of the Guardian selectively reporting the story

The Geological Society report has 5 sections: Demand, Nuclear, Fossil Fuels, Renewawables and Impact.
To give a balanced report they should mention all five or none. The Guardian chose none whilst the BBC chose one. Therefore I suggest the BBC was being selective whilst the Guardian was not.

[DamianB]

Did they ever follow up on that vote for Peak Oil being the number one topic people voted to see/hear about?

I spoke to someone from the BBC at the Oct. Conf. and she said that they realised that the poll was 'rigged' to a certain extent and therefore ignored the results - though many people at the BBC are aware of PO.