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End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2024 2:33 pm
by CaptJohn
I see that electricity generation using coal fired power stations is set to cease in the UK this week. End of an era for sure. I can recall living through the smogs of the 50s & 60s much of which was caused by pollution from coal fired power stations. The air is certainly cleaner these days but I can't help but think that our country's eagerness to be one of the first major economies to stop using coal is a mistake. By all means slow down the usage but have it as a back up "when the sun don't shine and the wind don't blow!"
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2024 2:56 pm
by ecc
The war in Russia has reconfigured the energy landscape. Whilst fossil fuels were on the way out, panicking has become the norm (understandably).
Germany has significantly stepped up its use of coal:
These figures are from last year:
"Around one fifth of electricity produced in Germany comes from coal, and it’s been increasing.
The German government says that between July and September last year over a third came from coal, up 13.3% on the same period in 2021"
(Source: Channel 4)
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2024 3:02 pm
by Clovius Boofus
Coal has been on its way out in the UK, regarding generating electricity, for years. I worry more about the rush to cease gas-fired production. We are importing gas from around the globe, yet it's there right under our own feet.
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2024 4:42 pm
by KateR
it's always going to be a difficult mix in these times, but I think coal everywhere should be the main target for reduction, but many countries are still almost completely dependent upon coal unfortunately
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2024 5:41 pm
by mdd2
I think Germany made a big mistake rejecting nuclear power and our stance in the Blair era held nuclear power back a number of years, but if the sun doesnt shine the wind doesnt blow and there is no power from tides due to the lack of technology we need an alternative source of power. Hadnt realised until today that Thos Edison helped construct our first Power station in 1882 which as we all know was a very good year for us on UTC.
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2024 5:47 pm
by dougcollins
mdd2 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 30, 2024 5:41 pm
but if the sun doesnt shine the wind doesnt blow and there is no power from tides due to the lack of technology we need an alternative source of power
Still only around 40% of our requirement from these sources. On a good day.
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2024 5:47 pm
by CaptJohn
India and China are building new coal fired power stations like crazy to ensure energy security so the fact that we have chosen to close them is baffling. As someone said the resource is below our feet so there are no transport costs and certainly no security or disruption issues to supply. I just hope that we are not suddenly thrust into a scenario where we do not have sufficient power generation and the lights go out. I am aware that one of our biggest suppliers of gas are Norway and they are pretty reliable but it's supplied via pipelines and we know that they can get sabotaged. Fracking anyone? There's a whole heap of gas beneath the "Trough of Bowland."
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2024 5:49 pm
by Rowls
CaptJohn wrote: ↑Mon Sep 30, 2024 2:33 pm
I see that electricity generation using coal fired power stations is set to cease in the UK this week. End of an era for sure. I can recall living through the smogs of the 50s & 60s
much of which was caused by pollution from coal fired power stations. The air is certainly cleaner these days but I can't help but think that our country's eagerness to be one of the first major economies to stop using coal is a mistake. By all means slow down the usage but have it as a back up "when the sun don't shine and the wind don't blow!"
I think the city smogs (notably London in 1952) were caused by mass burning of cheap coal in domestic houses.
Even back then, the power stations were not causing smog in the same manner as domestic burning - they had much taller chimneys and they burned fuel at much higher temperatures. Obviously they polluted but they weren't ever responsible for smog in the way that mass domestic burning of coal was.
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2024 5:56 pm
by Stonehouse
Britain going green will have as much an impact on the rest of the world as The Royal Dyche banning smoking would have on the rest of England .
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2024 6:05 pm
by NottsClaret
Not sure the line about 'there's no point us doing anything because whatabout China' holds true now, and certainly won't soon. They're becoming a world leader on renewables. Coal and gas down 5% on last year. Suggestions their CO2 may 'peak' next year now, rather than 2030.
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2024 6:41 pm
by evensteadiereddie
Stonehouse wrote: ↑Mon Sep 30, 2024 5:56 pm
Britain going green will have as much an impact on the rest of the world as The Royal Dyche banning smoking would have on the rest of England .
So what?
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2024 6:58 pm
by CaptJohn
Stonehouse wrote: ↑Mon Sep 30, 2024 5:56 pm
Britain going green will have as much an impact on the rest of the world as The Royal Dyche banning smoking would have on the rest of England .
I agree. Completely pointless and very expensive.
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2024 7:10 pm
by Stonehouse
It’s more like So what’s the point ? It’s similar to when Gordon Brown convinced everyone that diesel was best ,how is our contribution to nett 0 going to save the planet?
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2024 8:00 pm
by Caballo
NottsClaret wrote: ↑Mon Sep 30, 2024 6:05 pm
Not sure the line about 'there's no point us doing anything because whatabout China' holds true now, and certainly won't soon. They're becoming a world leader on renewables. Coal and gas down 5% on last year. Suggestions their CO2 may 'peak' next year now, rather than 2030.
This renewables world leader has built more coal fired power stations this year to date, than the UK has ever had since the invention of electricity. They've also promised not to build any more after 2030! Not stop using, stop building. We're ******* in the wind.
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2024 8:19 pm
by bfccrazy
CaptJohn wrote: ↑Mon Sep 30, 2024 5:47 pm
India and China are building new coal fired power stations like crazy to ensure energy security so the fact that we have chosen to close them is baffling. As someone said the resource is below our feet so there are no transport costs and certainly no security or disruption issues to supply. I just hope that we are not suddenly thrust into a scenario where we do not have sufficient power generation and the lights go out. I am aware that one of our biggest suppliers of gas are Norway and they are pretty reliable but it's supplied via pipelines and we know that they can get sabotaged. Fracking anyone? There's a whole heap of gas beneath the "Trough of Bowland."
And one of the main suppliers for nuclear fuel is in the North of England if we're talking about transporting it.......
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2024 8:46 pm
by AfloatinClaret
More accurately, the end of 'direct' coal power in the UK. A large proportion (majority?) of the manufactured goods we consume will continue to be produced using coal fueled Asian electricity
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2024 9:05 pm
by mdd2
we need to produce electricity that doesnt cost the present 35p/kw or whatever the price is at present. We are the most expensive in Europe
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2024 9:15 pm
by dougcollins
mdd2 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 30, 2024 9:05 pm
we need to produce electricity that doesnt cost the present 35p/kw or whatever the price is at present. We are the most expensive in Europe
It doesn't cost that much - that's what we're charged.
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2024 9:33 pm
by Roger1960
China is installing more solar panels every year than the rest of the world put together, they are getting ahead of the game whilst also adding more coal power as they have a billion people with ever growing demand for energy as the country continues to develop to keep happy . We have a much more stable and smaller population , moving to renewables is the future for the uk
CaptJohn wrote: ↑Mon Sep 30, 2024 5:47 pm
India and China are building new coal fired power stations like crazy to ensure energy security so the fact that we have chosen to close them is baffling. As someone said the resource is below our feet so there are no transport costs and certainly no security or disruption issues to supply. I just hope that we are not suddenly thrust into a scenario where we do not have sufficient power generation and the lights go out. I am aware that one of our biggest suppliers of gas are Norway and they are pretty reliable but it's supplied via pipelines and we know that they can get sabotaged. Fracking anyone? There's a whole heap of gas beneath the "Trough of Bowland."
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2024 10:02 pm
by Boss Hogg
Let’s hope we don’t replace coal with Nuclear which isn’t clean and contaminates the land for thousands of years and for many future generations. This is before the risk of accidents are considered.
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2024 10:19 pm
by Bullabill
Roger1960 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 30, 2024 9:33 pm
................................ as the country continues to develop to keep happy .
Continues to develop? They've got a bloody space station !!!!!!
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2024 4:41 am
by Shaggy
We have an abundant of natural resources yet our establishment has grossly mismanaged these for close to 50 years.
Someone is making a lot of money out of it though and we are paying for it.
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2024 9:34 am
by fatboy47
I guess most contributers on here dont figure on having grandchildren.
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2024 11:12 am
by Colburn_Claret
Coal powered electricity stations from the 50sand 60s weren't designed to be green. Modern stations are, which is why the likes of Germany still use them.
We appear to be using the errors of the past to stop us from moving forward. We all understand we need to be greener, but it does seem to be a knee jerk reaction.
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2024 1:41 pm
by Dazzler
fatboy47 wrote: ↑Tue Oct 01, 2024 9:34 am
I guess most contributers on here dont figure on having grandchildren.
I have a granddaughter & I'm more concerned about her future finances than climate change.
Senator Mike Lee asks Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm what the 275 trillion dollars needed to get to net zero buy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT9DsBNecko&t=310s
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2024 1:43 pm
by ŽižkovClaret
Dazzler wrote: ↑Tue Oct 01, 2024 1:41 pm
I have a granddaughter & I'm more concerned about her future finances than climate change.
Senator Mike Lee asks Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm what the 275 trillion dollars needed to get to net zero buy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT9DsBNecko&t=310s
Could buy a lot of levees, sea walls and stilts tbf
Re: End of coal power in the UK
Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2024 2:02 pm
by RicardoMontalban
Dazzler wrote: ↑Tue Oct 01, 2024 1:41 pm
I have a granddaughter & I'm more concerned about her future finances than climate change.
Senator Mike Lee asks Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm what the 275 trillion dollars needed to get to net zero buy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT9DsBNecko&t=310s
Perhaps her future finances and climate change are more linked than you suppose.