Councillors, you need to grasp the energy nettle…
This week the United Kingdom became the first G7 country to stop producing electricity from burning coal with the closure of the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station. England was the birthplace of coal fired electricity. In 1882, the first coal fired power station opened near Holborn Viaduct – and High Holborn was the first road with electric streetlights. It is a few minutes’ walk from The CCP HQ and for me, it holds a very special link as my late father was an electrical engineer whospecialised in the high voltage (400kV) outputs from coal fired power stations.
Electricity is completely integrated in our entire existence, and we can’t even comprehend what the world pre-1882 must have been like with no electricity to make our lives function. And our lives are increasingly becoming more reliant on electricity as petrol cars and gas central heating etc are being phased out.
What I find most extraordinary is the weekly reports on Councillors and Planning Committees refusing planning permission for renewable energy sources. The previous Government went as far as to ban onshore wind farms, something the new Government reversed literally on day one in office. These graceful wind turbines will allegedly chop birds up (complete nonsense) and the gentle “swish-swish” if the blades will keep whole communities awake. I would say they won’t be able to hear it over the sound of EastEnders on TV, but of course without the electricity, they won’t be able to watch it.
You mention a solar farm and immediately there is an outcry about the loss of farmland. Never mind the fact that the solar farms are actually perfect for growing delicious, juicy grass for sheep and cattle and provide them with shelter and they can very happily live under the solar panels and indeed flourish in harmony.
Those that do move past wind turbines and solar farms then forget that when the wind stops or the sun sets, there need to be some stored electricity to use. Enter the poor old Battery Energy Storage System (or BESS). These facilities consists of some batteries hidden in a field near an existing electricity substation, for that is where they need to be for practical reasons. They will blend seamlessly into the background soon and keep your internet going and your electrical heating running.
So, dear Councillor, the next time you get the urge to object to a renewable energy source, do please engage your brain. Electricity is not a luxury item, it’s not something that can happen somewhere else away from you and the NIMBYs moaning about it. Your choice is fairly simple – either you support it vocally and loudly or you need to start imagining life without electricity.
We do help lots of renewable energy providers to help educate communities and accept that they do want to live with electricity. So, get in touch!
Until next week,
Henry