Energy Policy

Policy formation in this area is developed by representatives of interests under the direction of politicians. None involved have any understanding of the technical complexities but progress on the basis of the simplified generalisations spread by well meaning groups and media. Whilst occasional evidence is sought from professional institutions, they too have interests to protect and are cautious at revealing the emperor’s new clothes.

MIND YOUR LANGUAGE WHEN YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT RENEWABLES

Categories: Energy Policy, Policy

In their Comments feature, the Institution of Engineering and Technology published this article in Engineering and Technology in December 2016. In this critique, I highlight the misleading use of language and units in describing renewable generation technologies.
Typical claims for a percentage of electricity mean nothing, as you cannot have a percentage of something that is not a measurable unit. Similarly, using energy and power as interchangeable words for the same thing is deliberately misleading. The oversimplification has spread within the professional institutions; bodies that ought to be challenging the errors made in the public domain.

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The Economics of UK Energy Policy

Categories: Energy Policy, Policy

The evidence I gave to the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee was published in 2016. The report on their inquiry on the Economics of UK Energy Policy will be published in 2017. My message was that carbon reduction by energy policy was a technical challenge for engineers. Treating it as an exercise in economics will guarantee failure.

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ELECTRIC CARS: THE BETAMAX OF GREEN TRANSPORT

Categories: Energy Policy, Policy

In spite of their claims, electric cars are not zero emission. Not having an exhaust pipe does not mean that the energy used has come from a green source. This article asks just how green are electric cars and compares them with internal combustion engine cars. It goes on to take account of the carbon footprint of all cars and then their whole life emissions. The problems raised suggest that there is a doubtful future for electric cars. What are the alternatives?

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ENERGY POLICY: WHO’S IN CHARGE?

Categories: Energy Policy, Policy

This article highlights the problems of ‘depoliticisation’ in the policy formation process. Politicians instructing interests to deliver carbon reduction on the assumption that the market knows best are bound to fail as investment returns are in the opposite direction of carbon reduction.

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MORE POLITICS THAN ENGINEERING

Categories: Energy Policy

This is an opinion piece published by the Institution of Engineering and Technology highlighting the lack of expertise and direction of energy policy. Information is oversimplified in order to be understood by the non-technical in the policy formation process. This leads to unintended consequences.

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