Thursday 22 September 2011
UK energy policy has been floundering for over a decade and needs to be straightened out, an energy expert has advised. Dr Cedric Rodrigues, Divisional Managing Director for efficiency solutions firm ENER-G, said: "The UK has lacked a proper energy policy now for a good ten or fifteen years."
Mr Rodrigues told ELN: "The debate about nuclear versus renewables has gone on for far too long. We've allowed our basic generating capacity to dwindle to a point now where there's an additional factor that's going to influence market prices. That is the potential shortage of power generation."
He said that a gap between supply and demand was on its way because old nuclear power stations are being retired and it could be at least ten years until the new ones are ready.
The problem that needs to be addressed is wind's intermittency, he argued: "The whole concept that wind will fill that gap is erroneous. It's a very valuable, renewable resource but it will not fill that gap on a consistent basis day and night. That is where we need to address our policy."
The emphasis should fall on efficiency and load management for the future, suggested Mr Rodrigues.
Other Ener-G stories:
North West gets green jobs boost
ENER-G wins private business of the year