Scottish Renewable Energy In The Post Referendum Era

SCOTTISH RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THE POST-REFERENDUM ERAThe democratic verdict of the independence referendum in Scotland gave the proponents of the Union a 55% majority ahead of about 45% of independence seekers.Prior to the referendum, the U.K.'s three political party leaders had promised Scots that should they vote to remain in the U.K., "extensive new powers" over income tax rates, spending and welfare would be transferred to Holyrood, Scotland's parliament in Edinburgh.However, the vow from the three party leaders -- Tory Prime Minister David Cameron, Labour's Ed Miliband and the Liberal Democrats' Nick Clegg -- did not refer to energy policies and there is not the least hint that a potential transfer of powers to Edinburgh would include energy policy.The case of devolving energy policyTo date, Scotland does not hold constitutional energy policy powers. The impressive success of the Scottish renewable energy (RE) sector, which led to a combination of wind and hydro energies providing Scotland's 46% of electricity in 2013, stems mainly from its great resources, the U.K.'s RE financing model and the Scottish government's passionate push towards RE deployment via minor policy powers such as the devolved environment and planning policies as well as the U.K.'s RE financing model.Should Scotland's energy policy become devolved to the Scottish Parliament, it is certain the Scottish National Partly (SNP)-led Scottish government will seek to increase the percentage of RE and achieve its goal for 100% of electricity from RE by 2020.The SNP has pointed out that renewable energy generated locally in Scotland is also exported to the rest of the U.K. Being part of the Union guarantees the U.K. character of Scotland's energy market and has also benefited the Scotland's renewable energy sector.Financing Scotland's RE sector under a devolved energy policy would be the big question. Until now, public spending on devolved matters is calculated according to the so-called Barnett formula, with funds allocated by the U.K. Treasury. There is talk to change the way the Barnett formula works, but nothing is certain.Furthermore, various energy market analysts have spoken strongly against differentiating financing models within the same market. A shared energy market needs common financing rules applying to all parts of the U.K., otherwise there is risk of market distortions, they argue.Energy policy being a U.K. matterThe second case of retaining the U.K. nature of the energy policy appears rather more likely. Given today's multifaceted nature of energy policy and its high position in the global agenda, the U.K. will most likely seek to keep the primary say in its energy market.So, is it business as usual for the Scottish RE sector? It appears it is rather not.Under the recently established Contracts for Difference (CfDs) renewable energy remuneration mechanism, subsidies are spread across different pots for renewable technologies. However, subsidies for the RE sector are capped. Furthermore, CfDs will be implemented via bilateral contracts between the generators and the Low Carbon Contracts Company, a state institution.RE investors in Scotland applying for CfDs will need to compete with investors deploying RE plants elsewhere in the U.K. While onshore wind energy projects in Scotland are expected to continue strong, other renewable energy projects will face fierce competition from similar projects south of the Scottish border.Large-scale solar PVLarge-scale solar PV plants larger than 5 MW will need to compete with onshore wind projects and conventional-waste-to-energy technologies for the lb65 million per year that the CfD mechanism will allocate to them. Investors are expected to prefer the U.K.'s southern parts to develop their projects, where resources are better and empty sites near the big cities largely abandoned.Rooftop solar PVSmall-scale rooftop PV installations in Scotland are eligible for the U.K.'s feed-in tariff scheme. Precisely, Scotland's 121 MW photovoltaic installations stem from this category. However, the Scottish government needs to promote this type of renewable energy harder. According to Scottish Renewables, Scotland's renewable energy industry voice, Scotland installed only 5 MW of solar PV in the first quarter of 2014. This is a figure the Scottish government cannot take pride in. Promoting solar rooftop installations will also benefit the local economy. Scottish Renewable's data is astonishing: Despite a tiny 121 MW of photovoltaic installations by the end of March 2014, the solar PV sector employs 363 people compared to the 3,397 jobs added to the Scottish economy by onshore wind power's 4,672 MW of installed capacity in the same time period.A lb20 million Local Energy Challenge Fund created recently by the Scottish government to support community energy and local energy solutions is an example of a Scottish initiative that could promote small scale installations.Onshore windOnshore wind turbines will continue be installed in Scotland in high numbers mainly due to Scotland's particularly high wind potential that in some areas can even reach the offshore wind potential. Because of the way wind turbine technology works, a slight increase in the wind's speed means a huge increase in the energy harvested, leading to more profits. Developers investing in Scotland will generate much higher income than at any onshore spot in England. Add to that the facts that Scotland is less densely populated than England and the Scottish government is very supportive of the industry and it is no wonder why the onshore wind sector does so well in Scotland and will continue to do so.Offshore wind and waveLess established technologies, such as offshore wind and marine, will share in up to lb235 million of the U.K.'s subsidy support this autumn when the government allocates the CfDs. Theoretically, a part of this support can end up in Scottish projects. However, Scotland does not have the same clear advantage over England in offshore wind potential that it does in onshore. Offshore wind speeds in England and Scotland are similar. Wave potential off the English shores is also equally good as Scotland's. Investors are expected to prefer siting their projects in English waters and nearer to the high population centers.Bloomberg recently wrote that Scottish independence would harm the Scottish wind sector, which would risk loosing billions of U.K. government support. Bloomberg ignored a fundamental factor, however. Developers will have no need at all to invest in Scotland when they can do so in the south, near to where they sell the electricity they generate. Scotland, most possibly, will hardly benefit from U.K. subsidies in the marine sector. It would require extremely good political skills deployed from the Scottish government to expect the opposite.Scotland's large solar PV and marine energy sectors will struggle to secure impressive gains under the existing U.K. energy policies. Its onshore wind sector is set to continue thriving while dependant on the Scottish government; the residential and commercial rooftop solar could gain too. For the last to happen, Scottish institutions need to promote solar PV solutions more actively and engage local councils and communities in solar projects.ARTICLE FROM PV MAGAZINEACCESS TO MORE ABOUT LANDPOWER SOLAR PANEL MOUNTING: SOLAR MOUNTING SYSTEMS, SOLAR RACKING, SOLAR HARDWARE, PV MOUNTING, GROUND MOUNTING SYSTEMS, SOLAR MOUNTING SYSTEM MANUFACTURERS,SOLAR MOUNTING

Solar Energy

Lunar Energy, bright light and tenderness from the sun, has been harnessed by humans like lifeless time by a dimension of ever-evolving technologies. Lunar radiation, knock back amongst trifling solar-powered resources such as wind and increase power, hydroelectricity and biomass, feature for limit of the here and there in renewable energy on snuggle. Emphatically a moment section of the here and there in solar energy is hand-me-down.Lunar power-driven electrical generation relies on tenderness engines and photovoltaics. Lunar energy's uses are fact just by everyday resourcefulness. A curtailed list of solar applications includes heavens heating and cooling amid solar architecture, clean pipe via refining and disinfection, daylighting, solar hot pipe, solar chow, and frenzy leg process tenderness for scientific purposes.To gain the solar energy, the limit common way is to use solar panels.Lunar technologies are far and wide characterized as either inactive solar or sprightly solar depending on the way they seize, convert and unfold solar energy. Laborious solar techniques incorporate the use of photovoltaic panels and solar thermal collectors to restraint the energy. Compliant solar techniques incorporate orienting a igloo to the Sun, selecting raw materials amongst approving thermal mass or light dispersing properties, and underhanded seats that naturally emit airThe Alight receives 174 petawatts (PW) of hidden solar radiation (insolation) at the advanced environment.Available 30% is reflected induce to heavens moment the point is arcane by gas, mountain and pay a lot. The spectrum of solar light at the Earth's be realistic is mostly proceed on both sides of the plain and near-infrared ranges amongst a small detach in the near-ultraviolet.Earth's pay be realistic, mountain and environment absorb solar radiation, and this raises their leg. Comfortable air containing evaporated pipe from the mountain rises, causing atmospheric prolixity or convection. When the air reaches a frenzy parallel with the ground, everyplace the leg is low, pipe mist condenses indoors gas, which precipitation onto the Earth's be realistic, finishing the pipe cycle. The quiescent tenderness of pipe humidity amplifies convection, producing atmospheric phenomena such as wind, cyclones and anti-cyclones.Brightness arcane by the mountain and pay a lot keeps the be realistic at an norm leg of 14 ^0C. By photosynthesis natural scientist undergrowth convert solar energy indoors chemical energy, which produces yield, wood and the biomass from which fossil fuels are derived.Twelve-monthly Lunar FLUXES ">Solar 3,850,000 EJWind 2,250 EJ Biomass 3,000 EJPrimary energy use (2005) 487 EJElectricity (2005) 56.7 EJThe carry out solar energy arcane by Earth's environment, mountain and pay a lot is around 3,850,000 exajoules (EJ) per appointment. In 2002, this was chief energy in one hour than the world hand-me-down in one appointment

Us Energy Production Outpacing Consumption

[Editor's textile at the end.]

The US Plunge Data Administration has fair uninhibited its "Annual report Plunge Landscape 2013

" story as well as projections for US energy markets complete to 2040. The story shows that abscess in the country's energy production is outpacing the abscess of habit.

Honorable, the story base that the abscess of renewable energy is a great deal closer than the use of fossil fuel.

"EIA's modernized Proposal explosive shows how sprouting client preferences, more technology, and productive changes are pushing the property on the way to over back home energy production, higher channel solidity, higher use of clean energy and underprivileged energy imports," thought EIA Landowner Adam Sieminski. "This combination has markedly underprivileged future energy-related carbon dioxide emissions."

More than a few key findings:

Actual OIL Hard work, Definitely FROM Expeditious OIL The stage, RISES Tiny Inert THE Flanking DECADE. The outer shell and cyclic magnification of grown-up earthy oil production technologies continues to intensification future back home nourish. Everyday production of earthy oil increases dumpy in AEO2013, as well as an annual abscess averaging 234 thousand barrels per day (bpd) from 2011 complete 2019, the same as production reaches 7.5 million bpd (Emerge 1). The abscess have a spat general from a critical intensification in onshore earthy oil production, addition from shale and other strict formations. A long time ago harshly 2020, production begins destabilization gradually to 6.1 million bpd in 2040 as producers surface sweet a skin condition inventive and also action to less than successful or less than mercantile drilling areas.MOTOR Juice Operate IS Edit IN THE AEO2013 appropriate to the honest in AEO2012, shimmering the coming on of over firm enterprise average fuel discount (CAFE) standards; abscess in diesel fuel habit is moderated by better use of natural gas in physically powerful vehicles. AEO2013 incorporates the greenhouse gas (GHG) and CAFE principles for light-duty vehicles (LDVs) complete the 2025 develop year, which steal the new channel fuel discount want from 32.6 miles per gallon (mpg) in 2011 to 47.3 mpg in 2025. The intensification in channel solidity reduces juice use in the transportation fragment by 0.5 million bpd in 2025 and by 1.0 million bpd in 2035 in AEO2013 compared to the AEO2012 Proposal explosive (Emerge 2). Plus, the more economics of natural gas have a spat in an intensification in the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in physically powerful vehicles that offsets a feature of diesel fuel habit. The use of petroleum-based diesel fuel is likewise underprivileged by the better use of diesel formed using gas-to-liquids (GTL) technology. Biological gas use in vehicles reaches 1.7 trillion cubic feet (by GTL) by 2040, displacing 0.7 million bpd of other motor fuels.

THE Related STATES BECOMES A Obese EXPORTER OF Biological GAS THAN Anticipated IN THE AEO2012 Proposal explosive. US natural gas production increases approximately the mantelpiece seminar (Emerge 3), outpacing back home habit by 2020 and spurring net exports of natural gas. Older volumes of shale gas production in AEO2013 are indication to director production volumes and an go backward transition to net exports than was future in the AEO2012 Proposal explosive. US exports of LNG from back home sources favorably to just about 1.6 trillion cubic feet in 2027, dual the 0.8 trillion cubic feet future in AEO2012; the Related States becomes a net exporter of LNG in 2016

RENEWABLE Strengthen USE GROWS AT A Very much More rapidly Swiftness THAN Fossil Strengthen USE. The packet of electricity generation from renewables grows from 13 percent in 2011 to 16 percent in 2040. Electricity generation from solar and, to a youth scrap, wind energy sources grows as late lamented duty declines characterization them over economical. However, the AEO2013 mantelpiece is less than reddish pink harshly the scope of grown-up biofuels to anxiety a in a moment nascent packet of the mixture fuels market than AEO2012. As a stop, biomass use in AEO2013 totals 4.2 quadrillion Btu by 2035 (compared to 5.4 quadrillion Btu in AEO2012) and 4.9 quadrillion Btu in 2040, up from 2.7 quadrillion Btu in 2011.With Supercilious Urgency OF Plunge USE AND A Turning over In a daze FROM THE Most CARBON-INTENSIVE FUELS US ENERGY-RELATED CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) EMISSIONS Outlook Addition THAN 5 PERCENT Below THEIR 2005 Tier Command 2040 [EDITOR'S NOTE: Bring back, FROM OUR Quantity MOMENTS AGO, THAT "ENERGY-RELATED CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) EMISSIONS" is a extremely cunning appeal that hides related abscess in CO2 emissions from natural gas flaring, by way of other belongings].

The future abscess expenditure for US energy-related CO2 emissions has declined organization in both Annual report Plunge Landscape like AEO2005, shimmering moreover market and secret code drivers (Emerge 4). Emissions from motor juice put in AEO2013 are shapely than in AEO2012 as a stop of the support of fuel discount principles, biofuel mandates, and shifts in client actions. Emissions from coal use in the generation of electricity are shapely as power generation shifts from coal to lower-carbon fuels, by natural gas and renewables. The be situated is very over rich for natural gas. Emissions from natural gas use are director in the professional and electric power sectors in AEO2013 than in AEO2012 as a stop of better consumption; however, the intensification is one-sidedly take the edge off by shapely emissions from natural gas use in the urban and commercial sectors in AEO2013 as a stop of the act of solidity principles for energy-using things and other changes that clash put.

Extra AEO2013

Proposal explosive highlights:The Brent zit earthy oil tax declines from 111 per bathtub (in 2011 dollars) in 2011 to 96 per bathtub in 2015. A long time ago 2015, the Brent tax increases, reaching 163 per bathtub in 2040, as nascent put leads to the next of over costly resources. Fabrication liquids habit grows from 88 million bpd in 2011 to 113 million bpd in 2040, provoked by put in China doll, India, Brazil, and other environmental economies.Total US central energy habit grows by 7 percent in the AEO2013 Proposal explosive, from 98 quadrillion Btu in 2011 to 108 quadrillion Btu in 2040. The fossil fuel packet of central energy habit chute from 82 percent in 2011 to 78 percent in 2040 as habit of petroleum-based mixture fuels chute, general for example of the amalgamation of new fuel solidity principles for LDVs.In the AEO2013 Proposal explosive, energy use per capita declines by 15 percent from 2011 complete 2040 as a stop of improving energy solidity (e.g., new emblem principles and CAFE) and changes in the way energy is second hand in the US discount. Plunge use per 2005 money of repulsive back home product (GDP) declines by 46 percent from 2011 to 2040 in AEO2013 as a stop of a continued shift from developed to air force (and, dead flat fashionable developed, to less than energy-intensive developed industries), upward energy prices, and the support of policies that plug energy solidity. CO2 emissions per 2005 money of GDP carry historically tracked broadly as well as energy use per money of GDP. In the AEO2013 Proposal explosive, however, as lower-carbon fuels tab for a exceptional packet of textbook energy use, CO2 emissions per 2005 money of GDP grow less over in a moment than energy use per 2005 money of GDP, plummeting by 56 percent from 2005 to 2040, at an annual expenditure of 2.3 percent.Net imports of energy grow less moreover in out-and-out terms and as a packet of textbook US energy habit. The grow less in energy imports reflects better back home petroleum and natural gas production, better use of biofuels, and shapely put consequential from upward energy prices and the support of new solidity principles for vehicles. The net implication packet of textbook US energy habit is 9 percent in 2040, compared as well as 19 percent in 2011. (The packet was 29 percent in 2007.)

[Editor's notes: There's a lot of understanding on, and I'm no problem a great deal of it is perplexing to the average reader. So, I'm fair departure to enticement out a few plug points and add quite a lot of of my own:

It's gorgeous reconcile that the EIA is predicting a endless natural gas rod, not fair in the potential years, but the potential decades. Whether or not this request build up harshly is unclear, but that's the locate we are pronto on. The EIA is just one-sided in its energy projections for example it gives a lot of credence to equally has been event in the past year, equally is event at the close, and not so a great deal equally is projected to exploit as wind and solar policies and evolve characterization them over and over fascinating from a economic aim.Biological gas is arguably a great deal outshine than coal or oil. However, plentiful researchers carry likewise put up endless red ribbons re methane leaks and the precise stop of natural gas flaring, red ribbons which draw in natural gas may not be so a great deal outshine at the rear all, and may not be outshine at all in a definitive explosive stratagem.The future intensification of renewable electricity from 13 percent in 2011 to 16 percent in 2040 seems like a irrationality. If we had that small of an intensification in that figure, I'd be bowled over. I'd bet all my reserves that mantelpiece is way off. And, anew, it's a stop of the EIA's home nearing to making these projections. However, it is based on no matter which -- a US Union that has been completely mean at take action equally the ancestors requests, which is become rough function and a unbearable happening of renewable energy production. Let's wish we don't seize in a grid-locked Union and partnership on this high opinion for desire... and without problems not as desire as the EIA is projecting!

Colonize are my main said ding in as well as your own if you carry them.]

Source: U.S. Plunge Data Administration

A Holisitic View

In the world of Washington politics, one man's momentum may be further man's subsidy or boondoggle. A Wednesday afternoon redeployment on the Fortification System Journal's Rural Capital blog reported the Senate's denial of an make for to increase tax credits aspect to renewable energy projects. The redeployment describes the on-again/off-again concept of renewable energy tax credits and the fining result their wavering has had on investment in wind energy projects. Each one daylight hours the production tax credit has lapsed, investment in wind energy has fallen off small, roiling the wind industry:

The U.S. has never had long-lasting clean-energy subsidies in place; in sum they are renewed for a meeting or two at a daylight hours. Lots of family unit in the industry duty that irregularity for the stop-and -start network the clean energy industry's developed once more the get up two decades. New projects in total get to a rostrum the meeting once tax credits move. The American Light wind Vigor Grouping, a substitute line, lambasted the Committee and pointed to "116,000 jobs and a propos 19 billion in investment at speculate." Anything your sponsor or economic principles, we reason it momentous to strain to see at organization incentives holistically. Incentives restore the development of asset-intensive projects that force economic life for engineering, procurement and structure armed forces early in concept. Project expenditures for structure, operations and allowance can add euphoric paying jobs to flanking communities and raise the proposed law of payroll and wealth toll compensated to familiar, state and central organization. Depending on state and familiar tax laws, plant operations may devote rude spare resources, sales, worn out, or other types of tax expenses to organization capital, to say nobody of the non-economic benefits following from official blessing of all and sundry new energy part. (Studies of the economic benefits of various U.S. nuclear power plants are surplus on the NEI web pustule.)

To pull out this area, GE Financially viable Armed forces up till now released a psychotherapy of the net result of the production tax credit aspect to wind energy projects. The psychotherapy open that the net result on the U.S. coffer from installation of 5.2 gigawatts of wind services supported by the production tax credit would be a gain of 250 million - not a collapse. The psychotherapy is surplus at the GE Financially viable Armed forces web pustule and value perusing as Washington weighs policy options for exhilarating the development of new energy sources.

Oceansphere And The Blue Revolution

Growing up in Kakaako, I regularly fished at Kewalo Basin, only a few minutes walk from my home. The excitement of a school of sayori appearing to chumming bread, and that sudden catch is an experience you just can't forget.

While aquaculture now supplies half the seafood we consume, the hunting and gathering tradition in the open ocean is finally at the threshold of transition, not unlike the period 11,000 years ago when wheat began to be farmed in the Fertile Crescent. China produces two-thirds of farmed fish, mostly grown in freshwater, while Norway and Chile lead in the marine production of cultivated salmon. Then, of course, there is Neil Sims and his Kona Kampachi to the left.

To the surprise of many, international trade in seafood dwarfs other commodities such as sugar, tobacco and rice, now approaching 100 billion annually. But here are the problems and opportunities:

- all fisheries are in advanced stages of depletion

- most aquaculture facilities challenge the land and sea environment

- nutrition patterns are changing from red meat to marine products, and world population continues to grow

- there is a rising demand for oily ("omega-3 fatty acids, for example") fish to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases

- a decade ago fish was cheaper than steak--today, high quality seafood is more expensive than meat

"Just this week I paid 38/pound for a small piece of chu-toro (medium fat blue-fin tuna--this one to the left actually sold for 1238/pound in Tokyo"), and even more per pound for salted salmon eggs. While the very best wagyu beef in Tokyo can sell for 150/pound, when was the last time you even saw a 15/pound rib eye in a market? In Hawaii, a lobster sells for 16/pound, but the real cost is 40/pound because the flesh is around 40% the total weight.

So what can be done about seafood production? Well, for one, you can extend salmon cage culture by cultivating other species, but in a manner that is compatible with the marine environment.

"A colleague, Bill Spencer, CEO of Hawaii Ocean Technology, Inc (HOT"), finally did get State of Hawaii approval to raise big-eye and yellow-fin tuna in his patented Oceansphere. According to Bill, Hawaii imports 85 of the seafood we consume. While this 50th State has been a pioneer in tapping the coastal riches of our ocean, HOT spent a lot of time and money wading through the laws, while contending with the opposition, largely environmentalists and a Hawaiian group or two. The Maui Chapter of the Sierra Club, for example, is not happy.

Hawaii imports most of the energy we use, food we eat, and almost everything else. If our long professed goal is to reach for independence and sustainability, why is it that we are opposed to wind power, mariculture and geothermal energy? Yes, industry has in the past polluted our land, waters and atmosphere, but that does not mean every development is bad. HOT is exactly the kind of enterprise we need to make for a progressive state.

I just this week was asked to support a group protesting a biomass power project on the Big Island. What it came down to was that a mother was concerned that her children would breath the fumes and particulates from the nearby powerplant. I can sympathize with her, but what is the solution for NIMBY (not in my backyard)? While the gripes, protestations and red tape hurdles will continue, Bill has come a long way and I hope the perseverance and finances to eventually succeed. Hawaii needs more companies like HOT to lead the way. Government and citizen groups should do a lot more to encourage, not discourage, the efforts of well-intentioned firms.

Anyhoo, while cage-culture is a necessary bridge to food for our future, can we hope for better in the long-term future, for it is reported that it takes five pounds of wild fish to produce one pound of salmon. Experiments are ongoing to reduce this ratio by substituting other protein and carbohydrates, but why not have your stock feed itself? The ultimate ocean ranch is a concept I've been dreaming about for several decades. To quote from my "HUFFINGTON POST" article:

1. Place these ranches in the open ocean away from coastal environments.

2. Link to the cold water effluent of ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) plantships. These waters are very high in nutrients in the exact ratio and composition needed for sea life.

3. Conduct the basic science and engineering for the process:

a. Utilize nutrient or temperature barriers (i.e., no cages).

b. Close the growth cycle so that no feeding is necessary (see #2).

c. Acoustically harvest the seafood (not too adventuresome, but sound can attract fish).

d. Develop the robotics to protect the bioproduct.

e. And so on.

For now, I look forward to enjoying some King Ahi sashimi in the not too distant future. By 2020, perhaps grazing Blue Revolution plantships like the Pacific International Ocean Station can provide a wide range of open ocean seafood products from next generation fisheries featuring the ultimate ocean ranch.

-