Posted by: sustainadelic
on 14 Feb, 2012
Even if you're worried about fracking and water pollution, the gas lobby tells us, gas is the cheapest low-carbon energy source and therefore essential to stop global warming. But a new study presents the strongest case yet of what looks like an inconvenient truth about natural gas: when it comes to emissions, it may be little or no better than other fossil fuels.
Researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the University of Colorado, Boulder have found that natural gas producers around Denver lose about 4 per cent of their gas to the atmosphere during production - what's known as "fugitive emissions".
That's double the industry's estimate of 2 per cent but in line with another independent study published last year. (And note the study excludes leakage in transmission pipes and by the end-user - both almost impossible to measure but potentially also significant.)
These figures are critical because natural gas - methane - has roughly 25 times the greenhouse effect of carbon dioxide. By some calculations, anything above 2 per cent leakage of methane makes natural gas worse than coal in terms of global warming.
When I reported on this in a previous post I said natural gas could be humanity's suicide note. Read why here.
Posted by: sustainadelic
on 25 Sep, 2011
The gas boom of the past couple of years is the biggest story on the planet right now, for it is central to whether or not we can halt global warming.
Posted by: sustainadelic
on 17 Jul, 2011
If you want to know what a government really thinks, look at Treasury forecasts. These show that the Gillard government expects - as a result of its carbon tax package - that Australia's emissons will increase by 50 million tonnes by 2020, and will be 545 million tonnes a year by 2050. That's only 30 million tonnes less than we produce now.
Posted by: sustainadelic
on 02 May, 2011
With the nuclear industry on the back foot after the Fukushima reactor crisis in Japan, natural gas is now being positioned as the "only realistic" clean energy option. In the last few years, billions have been poured into gas exploration and development - far more than has gone into developing renewables such as solar or wind. Natural gas is is claimed, generates half the greenhouse gas emissions of coal, making it a valuable transition fuel in any strategy to reduce emissions. But is this true? It's a key question, because if the world invests for gas it will inevitably delay the development of low or zero-carbon renewables such as solar and wind. So if gas doesn't lead to a lower-emissions future, we're in big trouble.
As I've blogged before, it's been suggested that if as little as 2 per cent of gas escapes into the atmosphere - called "fugitive emissions" - the global warming impact of gas could be just as bad than coal. That includes leaks during extraction, flaring to burn off excess gas, leaks while the gas is piped to the user, and even in your home - if, say, you turn your stove on then fumble for a match. Maybe it's no accident that figures for gas leakage are almost impossible to find, but some studies suggest it is not far off the 2 per cent mark. One US Enivonmental Protection Agency study put leakage at 3.3 per cent.
The hot new frontier in the fossil fuel world is shale gas, or coal seam gas - gas trapped in layers or earth and rock, including coal seams, and extracted by a process called hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking", which involves cracking open underground rocks to release the trapped gas. China is about to get into shale gas in a big way.
The Guardian has just produced a special report on shale gas.
Last week, SBS screened a documentary about fracking called Gasland, which has also just been released on DVD in Australia. Coal seam gas featured in a recent Four Corners report.
Critics of fracking say it can release methane locally (as well as carcinogenic chemicals used in the extraction process) including into underground aquifers. Gasland shows methane coming out of the kitchen taps of local residents. Maybe that would be a necessary evil if it reduced emissions. But now a new study claims the fugitive emissions from shale gas might make it worse than coal in terms of emissions.
Ironically, within a decade or two solar power is likely to be competitive with coal and gas. But by then gas extraction, along with coal, may have pumped enough greenhouse gases into the atmosphere to set off disastrous feedback mechanisms, such as the release of methane currenly locked into the frozen tundra in northern Siberia and Canada, that would make global warming unstoppable. Far from saving us, going for gas could turn out to be the greatest mistake in history. With stakes this high, we mustn't just take the word of the gas lobby. Greenhouse emissions from gas must be given the closest scrutiny possible.
Posted by: sustainadelic
on 24 Apr, 2011
Last week union boss Paul Howes threatened to oppose the carbon tax if it led to the loss of one job in the steel industry. Australian industry, sensing a weakened Government, is queuing up to demand special treatment.
Posted by: sustainadelic
on 13 Mar, 2011
Climate change legislation is dead in the United States. So dead that President Obama didn't even mention global warming in this year's State of the Union address.
So who will save the planet?
Posted by: sustainadelic
on 12 Feb, 2010
This list includes current federal and state rebates and grants. There may also be rebates and grants available from local councils. Retailers of solar panels/hot water and rainwater tanks should also know about rebates. We haven't listed remote region rebates - see the state sites below to check if any are available.
Posted by: sustainadelic
on 28 Aug, 2009
`Sentence first, verdict afterwards,' said the Queen in Alice in Wonderland, and I suspect Kevin Rudd might have said something not entirely contrary-wise to Environment Minister Peter Garrett about the massive Gorgon natural gas project off the coast of northwest Australia.
Posted by: sustainadelic
on 06 Aug, 2009
The British government has announced funding for up to four "smart grid" cities. It is the first step to rewiring the UK's energy grid to make it more flexible and able to integrate small, localised renewable power sources such as rooftop solar panels. Many experts say smart grids will be essential for future electricity systems based on lots of small, variable power sources - such as solar and wind turbines.
Posted by: sustainadelic
on 08 Jul, 2009
A new report, the Happy Planet Index, ranks nations according to the quality of life they deliver for the least environmental harm. Costa Rica was first. Australia comes in a magnificent 102nd.
Posted by:
on 11 Apr, 2009
With winter approaching I've been investigating energy-efficient heating options for our home. Close examination of past electricity bills showed our electricity use trebled in winter, suggesting our existing portable oil heaters chew through energy.
Posted by:
on 26 Feb, 2009
UK environmental activist and columnist George Monbiot has come out with provisional support for nuclear power. This is a surprise, given Monbiot's previous opposition to nuclear power. However, the piece is worth reading, as are the comments - one of the less hysterical debates about nuclear power.
Posted by:
on 13 Jan, 2009
There are a number of good value bulk-buying solar panel schemes around at the moment. They take advantage of three things: 1) economies of scale; 2) the $8000 Federal Government rebate and 3) $1000 of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs).
Posted by:
on 23 Nov, 2008
Two UK pioneers of the Transition Town concept will be visiting Australia to conduct two two-day workshops in January and February 2009 as part of a "world tour". The two venues are the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and Bowral in the NSW Southern Highlands. Full details can be found here.
Posted by:
on 23 Oct, 2008
Some big guns in the US are beginning to throw their weight behind renewable energy. Over there, the issue is often presented as "energy security" and reducing dependence on foreign oil imports, rather than reducing climate change, but never mind.
Posted by: John McGuinness
on 13 Sep, 2008
Our German cousins over at Solarserver.de report some developments on the manufacturing front in the solar industry.
Posted by:
on 10 Aug, 2008
You wake up to a beautiful day, blue skies and birds singing. Then you read something like this, an article about oil exploration in the western Amazon. In Peru, 72 per cent of the country's Amazon region has been approved for oil exploration - most of it since 2003.
Posted by:
on 09 Aug, 2008
Far from fading away, coal is enjoying a revival - as this article from The Guardian explains. A hundred new coal-fired power stations are being built around the world, half of them in China. Germany, much-lauded for its leadership in renewable energy development, is commissioning 10 new coal-fired power stations. Britain is currently poised to join the global rush for coal.
