Memorandum submitted by Mr George Aggidis
(CRED 14)
UK RESEARCH ON WET RENEWABLE ENERGY MARINE
AND HYDRO
Comments like: "I am sure that climate
change is the biggest problem that civilisation has had to face
in 5,000 years" and "Climate change is the most severe
problem we are facing today, more serious even than the threat
of terrorism", from leading scientists like Professor Sir
David King reinforce the fact that the current exploitation of
fossil fuels cannot continue without serious future consequences
for the planet and for human activity as we know it (Stern Review
2006). Understanding the importance of Climate change, increasing
energy prices over the past two years, questions about security
of supply, the available UK resource, and the recognition that
the UK is likely to fail to meet the CO2 emission targets, have
emphasised the importance and focus of work in this area. The
UK is planning to increase its share of energy generated from
renewable sources over the next decade and existing technology
is not equipped to meet this desire. The 2003 UK energy white
paper and the 2006 energy review report propose the increase of
energy generated from renewable sources to 20% by 2020. The Tyndall
Centre for climate change claims that nuclear power "cannot
tackle climate change", and "we can easily deal with
climate change without nuclear power". Wider use of energy
efficiency measures such as house insulation and fuel-efficient
cars could almost halve energy demand.
Oceans cover over two thirds of the planet and
represent a massive resource. Worldwide wave energy resources
have been estimated by the World Energy Council to be 2 TW, equivalent
to an annual available resource of 17,500 TWh (Thorpe, 1999).
If a small fraction of this could be economically harnessed and
integrated with other renewable sources such as wind, tidal, hydropower
and more conventional generation methods, it would contribute
a significant percentage of the world's energy requirements, vastly
lowering emissions. If implemented, in conjunction with energy
saving schemes and microgeneration of hydro electric power for
single dwellings and small communities, the demand could be reduced
significantly, lessening the need to build further non renewable
energy power stations. The results from the Marine Energy Challenge
(CTC601, 2006) showed that marine energy has the potential to
become competitive with other forms of energy. By 2020, 3% of
the UK's energy could be derived from wave or tidal energy, providing
up to 1/6 of the UK government aspiration of 20% renewable energy
by this time.
I would like the opportunity to address the
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee inquiry into "climate
change": how each of us can make changes in our lifestyles
and take action to save energy and combat climate change, how
individuals and communities can be encouraged to help tackle climate
change and how government can make greener choices easier. My
background is in Mechanical Engineering, Fluid Machinery and Renewable
Energy (FIMarEST, FIMechE), I am a Senior Lecturer and Director
of Lancaster University Renewable Energy Group and Fluid Machinery
Group. I have research interests and experience in energy, renewable
energy, wave energy, tidal energy, hydropower, climate change,
energy policy and fluid machinery. Projects I have been involved
cover all six areas of interest highlighted by the committee:
Energy efficiency and reducing energy consumption; Low-carbon
alternatives to traditional domestic energy sources, to cut CO2
emissions from the home; Microgeneration, Awareness of climate
change and the role individuals can play; The role of community
projects in schools and other institutions and The obstacles faced
by people and households who are trying to make a difference.
Mr George Aggidis
January 2007
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