O/T:- Planet of the Humans

[MAD_MAGPIE]

The real test is how many days the coal was really needed. We were near the brink of using all available and imported power a couple of times over the winter. Too many things in this country are running too close to the limit including NHS, Rail, Roads, Power, major airports, water supply, sewage, to name a few. A puff of wind, drop of snow or a good soaking and we're in trouble.

I agree with this. Whilst it’s great that we are not using coal and are having coal free days in the U.K. we still have some way to go.

According to link to the grid watch approximately 36% of our electricity is generated by Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT). I presume this is Natural gas generated power? If so that is a fossil fuel so we still need to do more as a nation to limit this use. Also we need to be less reliant upon natural gas being imported from the continent and beyond and become self sustaining.

We need to increase the amount of hydroelectric power we generate here in the U.K. This country is blessed with many rivers, lakes, streams and is an island surrounded by water. It rains a lot here compared to many countries around the world as well.

If we really want to become a totally green nation then this is where we need to look. Infrastructure projects such as reservoirs and dams would also help with flooding in some areas and could control the flow of water into Rivers whilst also generating electricity.

Likewise dealing with our waste by creating Biogas to use to provide power for homes and transport using the anaerobic digestion process.

Here in Nottingham the city is very much at the forefront of Biogas usage with Nottingham City Transports buses being the largest bus company in the world to run vehicles using Biogas. We have the anaerobic digestion plant at Colwick.

The big question is what businesses and government are going to invest in these kind of technologies and projects?