Are we warming to wind?
Renewables, particularly wind and solar feature prominently as part of the UK’s future energy mix. Energy independence from unstable international prices and political independence in terms of secure imports, providing economic growth and the creation of jobs are some of the driving factors. With subsidies, many companies jumped at the opportunity as a viable commercial […]
Which renewable energy sources should continue?
This month I ask: What role do renewables, such as wind and solar, have to play in the future of the UK energy mix? Renewable energy sources are increasing their presence within the UK energy mix. To be exact, in 2014 a grand total of 19% of electricity generated in the UK, came from renewables and […]
Powering the Northern Powerhouse
For UoM Policy Week I was involved in an event called ‘Powering the Northern Powerhouse’. This was a hypothetical scenario in which energy policy was devolved to the Northwest and the think tank ‘Potentia North’ was tasked with implementing an energy strategy. Four proposals based on current research were presented to the public, to spark […]
The UK’s Energy Future
Currently, the UK produces around 15% of its electricity from renewable sources, with a further 20% being generated by nuclear power and the rest coming from fossil fuel sources. To put this in to perspective, this year Costa Rica has gone 75 days straight using renewable sources for 100% of its electricity and Sweden, a […]
Reducing carbon emissions by 80%
The UK has committed to reducing carbon emissions by 80% over the next 35 years.1 Balancing supply with demand while achieving this reduction is extremely challenging. Play the UK government’s ‘My 2050’ to see if you can do it.2 Renewable energy (wind, solar and bioenergy) surpassed coal for the first time in supplying the UK’s electricity for […]
The two faces of radiation
As the deadline for this blog post approached, my anxiety about it ratcheted. The reason being, that the issue of radiation, its perceived safety for living organisms, and whether or not there can ever be a safe dose threshold is at the very core of the fears, concerns, and controversies that have dogged civil nuclear […]
How much is too much radiation?
Ionising radiation can be unnerving. I hate the idea that something I can’t see could do me harm, even do enough harm to kill me! But there are plenty of other things in life that can be bad for me if I get too much of them. We’re told sitting in the sun for too long, or […]
We are woefully under informed
By Annie Dickinson Writing as somebody from outside the world of nuclear research, I (and I’m sure that many others would agree) feel woefully under informed, not only about the risks associated with ionising radiation, but about ionising radiation itself. My knowledge of the subject comes partly from a barely remembered GCSE in physics, but […]
It is time to abandon the concept of ‘acceptable dose’
By Adam Fuller During the height of the Fukushima crisis back in 2011 there was a lot of discussion and fear over the effects of radiation on humans and wildlife. In an attempt to reassure the general public the Japanese and international media focused a lot on dose limits. Dose limits are the levels of […]