Displaying items by tag: energy

Cuba has had one of its toughest weeks in years, with a nationwide blackout leaving its ten million citizens powerless for days, alongside devastation from Hurricane Oscar. For many, energy shortages have become routine, but this prolonged blackout forced people to resort to firewood when regular gas supplies ran out. The government has blamed US sanctions for hampering infrastructure upgrades, while critics argue that mismanagement has directed funds to tourism instead of energy. President Miguel Diaz-Canel warned against protests, no doubt wishing to avoid a repetition of the widespread demonstrations over similar issues in 2021. The government suspended all non-essential work and schools for a week, to avoid another collapse on the grid. Electricity generation now meets only 60-70% of demand, and there has been a 25% production drop since 2019. Hurricane Oscar’s destruction further underscored the nation’s vulnerability, leaving Cubans braced for more challenges as the crisis continues.

The Government has revealed plans for the largest expansion of nuclear power in 70 years, aiming to reduce electricity costs, create jobs, and enhance energy security. By 2050 the UK will quadruple its nuclear generation capacity to 24 gigawatts (GW), equivalent to a quarter of the country's electricity needs. This includes exploring the construction of a GW-scale power plant and investing £300 million in advanced nuclear fuel production, reducing reliance on Russian sources. There are plans to secure 3-7GW of investment decisions every five years from 2030 to 2044 for new nuclear projects. Small modular reactors (SMRs) will play a crucial role in this expansion. The Government also seeks to streamline the development of new power stations and introduce smarter regulations to accelerate nuclear projects while maintaining safety standards. The nuclear sector could provide direct heat for industry, energy for green hydrogen production, and medical isotopes for cancer diagnosis and treatment. The expansion is expected to create around 80,000 skilled jobs in the civil and defence nuclear workforces.

Wind turbines have generated more electricity than gas for the first time in the UK. Imperial College London’s research revealed that 1/3 of UK electricity came from wind farms in the first three months of 2023. National Grid also confirmed that April saw a record period of solar energy generation. By 2035 the UK aims for all electricity to have net zero emissions. There are still many hurdles to reaching a completely fossil fuel-free grid, but wind out-supplying gas for the first time is a genuine milestone event. The majority of the UK's wind power comes from offshore wind farms. Installing new onshore wind turbines has effectively been banned since 2015. Under current planning rules, companies can only apply to build onshore wind turbines on land specifically identified for development in the land-use plans drawn up by local councils.

Ofgem has said that the UK is facing ‘a significant risk’ of gas shortages this winter due to Russia's war with Ukraine. It could possibly enter a ‘gas supply emergency’, leading to supplies being cut to the power stations using gas to generate electricity. This would place firms at risk of running out of money because of huge charges they must pay if they cannot deliver electricity. SSE,which operates four gas-fired power stations in the UK, is concerned that gas-fired power stations face millions of pounds worth of penalties ‘caused by events outside their control’.

When asked if he would allow fracking in the back garden of his home in Somerset, business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg said, ‘Yes, of course I would, particularly if I get royalties’. Fracking has been a controversial subject within local communities and amongst MPs due to its association with minor earthquakes. In 2019, at oil and gas exploration company Cuadrilla's Lancashire fracking site, over 120 tremors were recorded. Most were too small to be felt. The government recently published a new review from the British Geological Survey, considering any changes to the science around the practice. The report concluded, ‘Forecasting the occurrence of large earthquakes remains a scientific challenge for the geoscience community.’ Mr Rees-Mogg also said that the UK would build a prototype nuclear fusion power plant - ‘the first of its kind’ - in Nottinghamshire by 2040.