UK energy industry abandons defence of fossil fuels, officially supports coal phase-out and low-carb - Polidicks

[url]http://gu.com/p/4h4yc[/url] [quote]The UK’s biggest energy lobbying group has shifted its position on green energy and will start campaigning for low-carbon alternatives for the first time, in what environmental campaigners are describing as a watershed moment. Lawrence Slade, the chief executive of Energy UK, which represents the big six providers and has been regarded as a defender of fossil fuels, said the shift was urgent in order not to be left behind. “No one wants to be running the next Nokia,” he said, referring to the mobile phone company that was overtaken by forward-looking rivals. “I want to drive change and move away from accepted (old-style) thinking.” This is a major turnaround for an organisation that has historically been criticised by consumer and green groups as a dinosaur protecting the vested interest of incumbent supply companies such as British Gas, SSE and others. Energy UK now officially supports the government’s phasing out of coal-fired power stations and is critical of ministers over the way they have cut subsidies to wind and solar power so deeply and suddenly.[/quote]

[quote]“No one wants to be running the next Nokia,” he said, referring to the mobile phone company that was overtaken by forward-looking rivals. [/quote] slammed

Good. Maybe the rest of the world can learn a page from the UK's book on this.

Its been a long time coming, about time to be honest.

[QUOTE]Slade also believes urgent action is required to encourage power companies to keep existing gas-fired plants running, as well as the provision of aid to make it worthwhile for new ones to be constructed. [/QUOTE] So not really abandoning the "defence of fossil fuels". Just coal, so going along with the Torries existing plans.

[QUOTE=draugur;49830079]Good. Maybe the rest of the world can learn a page from the UK's book on this.[/QUOTE] We´re years ahead of ya mate.63% of our energy was renewable in 2014.We´re only dependant on petroleum and natural gas(also coal but it´s use is steadily declining).

[QUOTE=Morgen;49830247]So not really abandoning the "defence of fossil fuels". Just coal, so going along with the Torries existing plans.[/QUOTE] Coal is expensive anyways, this gives them the PR and an excuse

Australia is happy with their national fleet of 3315's! :disgust:

[QUOTE=Sableye;49830359]Coal is expensive anyways, this gives them the PR and an excuse[/QUOTE] I'm not sure how calling for subsidies for a fossil fuel is good PR. Incentivising gas when the government just cut solar subsidies to a third of what it was just three weeks ago is absurd.

[QUOTE=Morgen;49830504]I'm not sure how calling for subsidies for a fossil fuel is good PR. Incentivising gas when the government just cut solar subsidies to a third of what it was just three weeks ago is absurd.[/QUOTE] It's all an information war, they know people want green energy, they're trying to lump gas in as green energy because look, it's better than coal!, so they can continue business as usual, build a new generation of gas plants to replace aging coal, claim they've helped the environment and call it a day. The reality of it is, yes you are helping by replacing coal with gas but the problem is you are still making CO2 and other emissions

[QUOTE=Sableye;49830541]It's all an information war, they know people want green energy, they're trying to lump gas in as green energy because look, it's better than coal!, so they can continue business as usual, build a new generation of gas plants to replace aging coal, claim they've helped the environment and call it a day. The reality of it is, yes you are helping by replacing coal with gas but the problem is you are still making CO2 and other emissions[/QUOTE] Yup. Increasing the ratio of our power coming from gas will help in the short term but it's not very good in the long term. The government will meet it's short term emissions targets and then say hey look we don't need these renewable subsidies anymore and gut them even more. Here's a table that shows the percentage difference between last November's predictions by the DECC and the previous years predictions for new power generation being added. [IMG]http://assets.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Percentage-difference-between-2014-and-2015-forecast-for-cumulative-new-build-power-capacity-in-gigawatts.png[/IMG]

[QUOTE=draugur;49830079]Good. Maybe the rest of the world can learn a page from the UK's book on this.[/QUOTE] USA companies next please? 😐