Hannah Pittick Assoc CIPD’s Post

From our nuclear ban to their potential surge of fossil fuels there are a million alternatives that support a sensible and sustainable (i.e. economically viable and aligned with de-carbonisation objectives) energy transition. Scientific advice never seems to be feeding the political agenda. Additional challenges for the 2030 objectives, hopefully the breeding ground for sensible progress in the middle of extreme approaches. One can hope

The UK's energy strategy needs to prioritize long-term sustainability over short-term politics. Investing in Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) from companies like Rolls Royce is a safe and clean solution to meet our energy demands. SMRs have used safely in Nuclear submarines around UK shores for the past 60 years. SMRs offer several benefits, including advanced safety features, flexibility, low environmental impact, and cost-effectiveness. They can be used not just for electricity production, but also for process heat, desalination, and supporting clean water supply. With significant research and investment, SMRs are poised to become a key part of our energy mix. Let's back British innovation and invest in a sustainable future. #Sustainability #CleanEnergy #SMRs #RollsRoyce #Innovation #EnergyStrategy

#USA: How the Inflation Reduction Act is transforming the US energy system The recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) signals a profound transformation for the US energy sector. With an anticipated infusion of over $430bn in climate and clean energy programmes over the next decade, these legislations are designed to expedite the shift towards a decarbonised energy system. Key stipulations encompass investments and tax credits specifically for zero-carbon electricity generation and storage, thereby stimulating the deployment of clean energy. This article assesses the potential impacts of the IRA and BIL on the US energy system, considering a myriad of policy implementations and market conditions. A crucial aspect of this examination will also be an exploration of the role of advanced nuclear reactors in this energy transition, offering a glimpse into potential market opportunities. Undeniably, the outcomes of this analysis will offer crucial insights into the practicality, costs, and benefits of cultivating renewable resources, electricity transmission, and carbon dioxide infrastructure under these fresh policy frameworks. https://lnkd.in/e2dZnQqM #inflationreductionact #US #energy #cleanenergy #investment #doe #renewableenergy #climatechange

The current stance on clean energy is slowly progressing through the net-zero five stages of grief: 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝟭: Build unreliable solar and wind power. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝟮: Realize solar and wind disrupt the grid and still require gas/coal. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝟯: Build massive storage to try to fix it. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝟰: Realize costs are astronomical and the problem remains unsolved. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝟱: Use proven solutions, build out nuclear.

The UK also admitted the colossal failure of solar and wind energy, joining the ranks of Germany and Texas in a desperate scramble to build gas power plants to stabilize their faltering grids. After the reckless and wild deployment of these unreliable power sources, the UK progressed to the second stage of the five stages of net-zero grief. The current stance on clean energy is slowly progressing through the net-zero five stages of grief: 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝟭: Build unreliable solar and wind power. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝟮: Realize solar and wind disrupt the grid and still require gas/coal. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝟯: Build massive storage to try to fix it. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝟰: Realize costs are astronomical and the problem remains unsolved. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝟱: Use proven solutions, build out nuclear. Steps 1-4 are optional… Most nations pushing intermittent sources like solar and wind are still in stage 1, believing their future will differ from early adopters. Germany, Texas, and the UK too exemplify stage 2. They have already found that expanding intermittent sources necessitates simultaneous expansion of a backup grid based on gas or coal. Last fall, Texas approved $7 billion and Germany $16 billion for gas generation systems to stabilize their grids. California has been in stage 3 since 2020, expanding its costly energy storage capacity from 4GW at the end of 2020 to 12GW by the end of 2023. Despite this, energy bills have soared, and solar and wind curtailment, demand response calls, and the grid’s carbon intensity have not improved 👉 https://lnkd.in/dA7mE3d3. All this is inevitably pushing California towards stage 4. France and Sweden bypassed all that drama with a remarkable transformation from coal to nuclear energy in just 14 years, a testament to the power of innovation and commitment 👉 https://lnkd.in/gAtbnceS. By 1993, France had invested FF 400 billion (approximately $136.5 billion when adjusted for inflation) to build 58 standardized reactors. These reactors now produce over 70% of the country’s electricity, highlighting the remarkable benefits of building nuclear plants in fleet mode. How long will it take for the rest of the herd to learn from the mistakes of these early solar and wind adopters and stop gambling on a fantasy?

Clear summary of what is happening out there...

“NRC, one of the largest papers in the country, published a lengthy piece on June 14 warning that the Netherlands’ green transition is driving up electricity demand more quickly than needed supporting infrastructure can be built, a situation that will likely lead to grid reliability issues if the status quo is maintained over the coming years. The authors describe how a transition away from affordable, reliable and conventional energy resources and toward green energy generation — like solar and wind — is teaming up with growing demand attributable to the country’s push to electrify industry and other parts of everyday life could overwhelm the country’s power system” Australians we have this problem coming too! Lift the nuclear bans.

Climate change and energy are yet to take centre stage in this election campaign, but further details have emerged on a central pledge of Labour’s - Great British Energy. We've taken a closer look at the initial priorities of Great British Energy, which would would set out to make the UK a world leader in floating offshore wind, nuclear power and hydrogen, and be one of the first steps a Labour government takes should it win the election on 4 July. We have also taken a look at some of the reaction to the plans from RenewableUK, The Association for Decentralised Energy and Offshore Energies UK. Would Great British Energy be effective in helping drive the UK's energy transition? Or is something else needed to support the UK's bid to reach net zero by 2050? #netzero #energytransition #election #generalelection #hydrogen #nuclear #offshorewind #greatbritishenergy

Very interesting article from BBC showing how the UK is still heavily dependent on fossil fuels. Gas is fundamental for the UK's energy needs today. This is about to change soon with the contribution of Hinkley Point C to the UK grid. The 3.26GW plant is predicted to produce 26TWh of electricity per year during its operational lifetime of 60 years, equivalent to 7% of Great Britain’s forecast electricity demand during the 2020s. This will surely reduce the consumption of fossil fuels. Sizewell C will have the same capacity. We are far from the Net Zero goal, but the plan is clear and we are on the right path! #Netzero #UkNuclear #HPC #Fossil #SZC

https://lnkd.in/gA3ANJbe Australia: 1. Multiple bans on safe reliable, dispatchable nuclear electricity, 2. Building a workforce for nuclear submarines (training reactor onshore banned!) 3(a) Government claims electricity from 2 days out of 5 wind power (German, Spanish and Danish vendors), is cheaper - forgot to mention the over-build! 3(b) Also solar + batteries will allow Aluminium Smelters and Green Steel to operate. 3(c) Never mentions AI, datacentres and sewerage pumping/processing.... 3(d) Will not disclose to full cost of the big DC Offshore to WT transmission, digital inverters and inertia providers! 3(e) DOUBLING the length of the main transmission and distribution grids to do all this. OUTCOME A. The AEMO "market operator/band-aid" PLAN is "sacred". B. The PLAN will seek to defy the laws of physics and the principles of engineering to achieve the dilute dreams of sawtooth 50Hz powa. B. The ABC (a 1984 mouthpiece) will double down and use Government talking points - based on their passion to be funded rather than fair and balanced. 🐑 C. Nuclear advocates across the political spectrum will be fact-based, occasionally satirical and peacefully provocative C1 (a) Noting the many are well to the left of the ABC, Albo-Bowen- Plibersek and the sTeal...