News archive - Week ending 20th July 2007

Scheme to Grow Biofuels

ScottishPower has launched a scheme which could see more than one-tenth of Scotland's agricultural land used to grow crops for fuel. The Company is seeking contracts with farmers to produce 250,000 tonnes of energy crops, such as fast growing cereals or willow coppice, to displace the coal burned at its Cockenzie and Logannet power plants. Woodchips are already in use as part of a renewable energy programme.

If successful this move, which has been welcomed by the National Farmers Union, will involve up to 12% of Scotland's farming land but, according to ScottishPower, would have a minimal effect on land used for food crops.

Burning of the specially-grown fuel crops will begin in 2009, and the Company hopes that by 2013 the crops will have replaced 5% of the coal it uses. Frank Mitchell, Generation Director at ScottishPower, said: "This is a significant step in our renewable energy programme ultimately displacing 300,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per year."

First Minister Meets with EU Energy Commissioner

Following talks with Europe's Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, First Minister Alex Salmond decalered him "a firm friend of Scotland". Mr Salmond said the discussion had been about how to mobilise Scotland's energy potential for the benefit of both Scotland and the rest of Europe.

The talks had also included the possibility of resurrecting a revolutionary carbon-capture project at Peterhead. Mr Salmond said that although the London Government had delayed supporting carbon capture, which was a great set-back, it was important not to give up on what has the potential to be world-leading technology.
Also discussed, was the future potential of offshore grids of electricity linking the clean energy producing areas of Scotland with their potential customers across the North Sea. Mr Salmond said, "We have a vast future as an energy powerhouse for Europe and we must now think big about how to bring it into being."

The House of the Future

A report from Alliance & Leicester Mortgages and the Centre for Future Studies (CFS) predicts that up to one-third of all British homes will be built between 2007 and 2050 and the changing environment will bring a revolution in property usage over the next two decades.

New properties could be very different to those lived in today, with flood-risk properties likely to be built on stilts and others incorporating 'green' features such as extensive water recycling facilities. The study also claims that solar panels will help cool down living spaces as the climate becomes hotter, while wind power is expected to provide a significant proportion of energy as public awareness of climate change increases.

Large Carbon Footprint Not a Guarantee of Happiness

New research using an innovative measure of carbon efficiency and real economic progress reveals that Europe is less efficient now at delivering human well-being than it was 40 years ago. The European Happy Planet Index links 30 European nations' individual carbon efficiency with the well being of their citizens. This ranking reveals a very different picture of the health and wealth of European nations. The New Economics Foundation (NEF)'s analysis, published in association with Friends of the Earth, also looks back over the last 40 years and reveals that Europe is less carbon efficient now than it was in 1961.

Across Europe people report comparable levels of well-being whether their lifestyles need the resources of six and a half, or just one planet like Earth. The study concludes that people are just as likely to lead satisfied lives whether their levels of consumption are very low or high and therefore politicians should not be afraid of policies to reduce demand.

To calculate the European Happy Planet Index, NEF first ranked countries separately for their carbon footprint, life expectancy and life satisfaction. Then countries were ranked for the efficiency with which their resource use translates into relatively long and happy lives.

North European countries like Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, Finland and Sweden did best in terms of life satisfaction. Iceland was the highest scoring nation. Overall countries that have most closely followed the Anglo-Saxon, strongly market-led economic model show as the least efficient. "These findings question what the economy is there for. What is the point if we burn vast quantities of fossil fuels to make, buy and consume more and more, without noticeably benefiting our well-being?" said Andrew Simms, NEF's Policy Director.

The UK came 15th in both the league table for life satisfaction and that for life expectancy; just ahead in terms of life satisfaction, of Germany (16th) and France (19th) but behind on life expectancy with France in 7th place and Germany just ahead in 14th place.

Luxembourg is the worst country for its carbon footprint per person, followed by Finland and Estonia; the UK comes in fourth from the bottom. The Scandinavian nations have some of the lowest per capita carbon footprints in Europe, despite also being amongst the richest and happiest nations. Some of the differences can be explained by access to domestically available renewable energy sources, but not all. Even wealthy, high consuming Switzerland has only the ninth largest footprint.

When all the indicators are put together a picture of relative carbon efficiency and well being emerges which does not appear to show the UK in a good light.

Whisky Production Goes Green

The first major distillery to be built in Scotland for 30 years will be the most energy-efficient and innovative development of its type according to the owners Diageo.

Detailed plans for the distillery at Roseisle on Speyside have been lodged with Moray Council. It is hoped building work will start later this year and the first mature spirit will be ready in 2012.

The plans show that the Roseisle distillery will be built using modern environmental and distilling techniques and will use the latest energy-efficient technology. It has a target of being both water and fossil fuel neutral.