Energy Shift: consider the case for nuclear

Plus: Bloomberg puts $500 million to ‘beyond carbon’ campaign (off coal, gas)

Hi Everyone,

When everyday life around us isn’t changing fast enough, some of us are feeling the urgency of climate change in a visceral way. It’s why we’re reading about the ‘Extinction Rebellion’ movement, declarations of a ‘climate emergency’, framing of the problem as the ‘climate apocalypse’ and experiencing ‘ecological grief’. The rapid, far reaching and unprecedented changes called for by the latest IPCC report to meet the ambition of the Paris agreement to limit warming to 1.5C are simply not taking shape. As fast as renewables are growing, they still represent a small fraction of the overall energy picture. Not including hydroelectricity, renewables provided 1.8% of global energy demand in 2017 according to IEA. Yet 80% percent of the energy the world uses emits greenhouse gases (oil, coal and gas), with non-emitting sources making up the other 20%. Energy demand is projected to grow as more of the developing world rises into middle class consumption. And while we would dearly love to have our stuff designed with circularity in mind, advancements have yet to break into the mainstream.

So what are we to do? Like most, I dismissed nuclear as simply having too many issues to be considered a way to ‘quickly’ decarbonize the energy system. However, before you hit unsubscribe, let’s contrast France and Germany for a moment. France gets about 80% of its electricity from nuclear. Germany has been replacing coal with renewables at an incredible pace. Yet electricity prices in Germany now double that of France. Plus, renewables are not without their own environmental footprint: in the lifecycle of the materials used, the space they occupy and the ecological impacts. Wind turbines kill bird and bats. Solar alters ecosystems and land use, plus the panels are hard to recycle. Offshore wind is altering marine ecosystems too.

So can I ask that you suspend judgement of nuclear and watch the two videos below (in the order presented). It is the same speaker – a self-proclaimed renewable energy activist – but he covers different angles in the two. Then tell me what you think.

If you think ‘Energy Shift’ is another ‘best kept secret’, forward on to a family member, friend or colleague and encourage them to subscribe.

Have a great week!
Peter

The case for nuclear

The Backlash to Plastic Has Oil Companies Worried | Bloomberg via Yahoo

Excerpt: As the world strives to wean itself off fossil fuels, oil companies have been turning to plastic as the key to their future. Now even that’s looking overly optimistic.

James Cameron sees global salvation in plant-based investing | Financial Post

Excerpt: “One person eating one plant-based meal a day for a year saves 200,000 gallons of water and the carbon equivalent of driving from Los Angeles to New York,” Amis Cameron said. “Every time they look at what they’re putting on their plates, they can make a difference. That’s really empowering.”

Comment: Shifting global diets to less energy intensive ones is another lever being pulled to address climate change. We are eating beef less often, but giving up a summertime barbequed tenderloin steak altogether is a hard ‘ask’. How about less frequently??

Canadian Solar Secures Its Largest Order as Bifacial Modules Gain Traction | Greentech Media

Excerpt: EDF Renewable Energy will buy 1.8 gigawatts of modules from Canadian Solar as the Investment Tax Credit phases down, in a sign that developers are growing more comfortable with two-sided solar technology.

Renewables set to outspend Oil and Gas Exploration & Production in Asia Pacific | Rystad Energy

Excerpt: Renewables energy investment in Asia excluding China will overtake spending on upstream oil and gas projects in the region as soon as next year, according to Rystad Energy.

Opinion: The Bank of Canada declared climate change a financial risk. Now what? | The Globe and Mail

Excerpt: This month, the Bank of Canada released its 2019 Financial System Review. For the first time, it listed climate change as one of six major vulnerabilities facing Canada’s economy.

Comment: Watch for other central banks to do the same, if they haven’t already – and ‘more of the same’ trend of greater acknowledgement that the financial system is taking climate change seriously.

Michigan opens 3.3M farmland acres to bee-friendly solar projects | Utility Dive

Excerpt: Whitmer’s decision allows farmland owners to enter into a lease agreement with solar developers for up to 90 years, which they receive a tax break on. The land has to meet a score of at least 76 on Michigan’s pollinator friendly checklist, developed by the Michigan State Department of Entomology.

Comment: Finally. Its good to see this opportunity to make better ecological use of land occupied by solar panels. Even with professional certifiers to confirm plant selections meet the criteria. It’s an interesting context too where farmland is protected.

Coal-free fortnight: Landmark record set as UK goes two weeks without coal | Current News

Excerpt: This has also had a lasting effect on the last week’s average energy price, which current sits at just £28.04/MWh. In comparison, the average energy price for the same period last year was more than double that at £57.57/MWh.

The Netherlands is building 2 gigawatts of floating solar | Solarplaza

Excerpt: Thanks to the Floating Solar rotation system, the panels follow the sun, generating 30 percent more power than traditional PV installations.