My views on renewable energy production in Cornwall.
I favour more renewable energy generation to reduce our dependence on fossil
fuels and nuclear energy. However we shouldn’t approve planning applications
for solar schemes on triple-cropping land in West Cornwall or wind turbines that
impact on historic landscapes. We need a positive approach to all our natural
resources controlled by and for the Cornish people. There are great opportunities
and inventive genius in Cornwall but Westminster has a narrow focus on
subsidising investor-led large-scale onshore wind and solar. Instead we need
support for schemes that are householder and community-led and those that tap
into our immense wave, micro-hydro and geothermal resources. The early
industrial revolution in Cornwall was driven by water power with many small
streams driving between ten and twenty mills, stamps and pumps. Appropriately
placed off-shore structures could enhance fishing prospects for our inshore fleet
but Scotland and Portugal are now outpacing Cornwall in wave and offshore wind
power. Cornwall was at the forefront of developing both deep geothermal and
ground source heat pumps but these technologies are now mainly sold abroad
by Cornish consultants. At home sustainable energy generation opportunities are
being wasted due to lack of support and financial investment from a short-
sighted Government.
I favour more renewable energy generation to reduce our dependence on fossil
fuels and nuclear energy. However we shouldn’t approve planning applications
for solar schemes on triple-cropping land in West Cornwall or wind turbines that
impact on historic landscapes. We need a positive approach to all our natural
resources controlled by and for the Cornish people. There are great opportunities
and inventive genius in Cornwall but Westminster has a narrow focus on
subsidising investor-led large-scale onshore wind and solar. Instead we need
support for schemes that are householder and community-led and those that tap
into our immense wave, micro-hydro and geothermal resources. The early
industrial revolution in Cornwall was driven by water power with many small
streams driving between ten and twenty mills, stamps and pumps. Appropriately
placed off-shore structures could enhance fishing prospects for our inshore fleet
but Scotland and Portugal are now outpacing Cornwall in wave and offshore wind
power. Cornwall was at the forefront of developing both deep geothermal and
ground source heat pumps but these technologies are now mainly sold abroad
by Cornish consultants. At home sustainable energy generation opportunities are
being wasted due to lack of support and financial investment from a short-
sighted Government.
This is such rubbish! Let me point out just a few of the more obvious errors and misunderstandings:
ReplyDelete1."I favour more renewable energy generation to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and nuclear energy. However...". Typical of all anti-renewable advocates. Pretends to care, but presents loads of nonsense objections. Either you want to preserve the planet in a fit state to support human civilization or you do not. If you do, than you will not object to renewable technology on any grounds. Full stop.
2. "we shouldn’t approve planning applications for solar schemes on triple-cropping land in West Cornwall or wind turbines that impact on historic landscapes". That's exactly what we have to do, regardless on the so called impact on historical landscapes. You need a planet before you can have Cornwall and landscapes!
3."Westminster has a narrow focus on subsidising investor-led large-scale onshore wind and solar". Really? You do know that subsidies for small installations are far, far greater than subsidies for large, investor led installation, don't you?
4. "schemes ... that tap into our immense wave, micro-hydro and geothermal resources". Yet another howler. As yet there is no wave power technology at commercial scale. Micro-hydro is particularly expensive and thus need very large subsidies. Geothermal is impossible as a community scheme due to the extremely high initial costs and in any case has low potential in Cornwall. In Iceland yes, in Cornwall very doubtful.
5. "ground source heat pumps but these technologies are now mainly sold abroad by Cornish consultants". There are at least 20 Cornish companies selling ground source heat pumps and anyone can buy them at any time and you get Government subsidies on them. What are you talking about?
6."At home sustainable energy generation opportunities are
being wasted due to lack of support and financial investment from a short-
sighted Government.". What, 20 year index linked subsidies for 45p/kWh is not enough for you?
Why don't you go and talk to somebody who can explain to you some of the basics of why renewables are essential, more so than views, and how they are supported in Cornwall. Dear Lord, I hope you don't get elected!
Dear Paul
ReplyDeleteAs someone who has actively promoted renewable energy schemes all my life and who was instrumental in helping set up the renewable energy degree at Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter in Cornwall I totally refute the allegation that I don't know what I am talking about. The issues with Government paying lip-service to community-led and domestic schemes while ploughing money into business led schemes that provide no economic benefit to Cornwall (although of course there is an environmental benefit) are real and are preventing the development of genuinely sustainable renewable energy schemes in Cornwall. The issues that I am raising are not about the technologies but about the economics and community benefit. Why aren't more people and communities buying in to renewable energy schemes in Cornwall - the economic system preferentially favours the large scale onshore schemes (because they are easier and cheaper to do than individual community led schemes and therefore more economically viable)
I am in contact with distributors of ground source heat pumps and they express considerable frustrations about most of their business being outside of Cornwall.