Home  5  Books  5  GBEzine  5  News  5  HelpDesk  5  Register  5  GreenBuilding.co.uk
Not signed in (Sign In)

Categories



Green Building Bible, Fourth Edition
Green Building Bible, fourth edition (both books)
These two books are the perfect starting place to help you get to grips with one of the most vitally important aspects of our society - our homes and living environment.

PLEASE NOTE: A download link for Volume 1 will be sent to you by email and Volume 2 will be sent to you by post as a book.
Buy individually or both books together. Delivery is free!


powered by Surfing Waves




Vanilla 1.0.3 is a product of Lussumo. More Information: Documentation, Community Support.

Welcome to new Forum Visitors
 Join the forum now and benefit from discussions with thousands of other green building fans and discounts on Green Building Press publications: Apply now.




Renewable Energy: Co-firing

Bottom of Page

1 to 22 of 22

  1.  
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeAug 20th 2013
     
    Why are we switching from coal to coal/biomass power stations

    Wood and biomass is no longer accepted as zero carbon nor is is it sustainable

    Then there are the pollution, health and reduced life expectancy issues

    http://www.blog.clientearth.org/green-claims-up-in-smoke-as-coal-power-plant-switches-to-wood/

    http://www.blog.clientearth.org/public-funding-request-for-unsustainable-biomass-station-dropped/
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeAug 20th 2013
     
    All I can think of is that it is better than burning coal only. But not by much.
    • CommentAuthorTriassic
    • CommentTimeAug 20th 2013
     
    Our local power station, chp plant, will be burning 1/2 million tonnes of household waste, can't get greener than that can you!!!
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeAug 21st 2013
     
    depends on how much it finishes up as airborne pollution
  5.  
    Chimney filters ? what's being used, what could be used ?
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeAug 21st 2013
     
    The most dangerous particles are very difficult and very expensive to catch as they go through most filters and the filters clog up too easily too. Then there are the organic molecules too which are a problem.

    It could be done but isn't done properly yet.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeAug 21st 2013 edited
     
    it is the problem with any combustion. My car as a particulate filter, still smokes though.
    Would CCS have the advantage of catching particulates as well? Or more of them anyway.
    • CommentAuthorSeret
    • CommentTimeAug 21st 2013
     
    Posted By: tonyWhy are we switching from coal to coal/biomass power stations


    Because simply closing all the coal plants immediately isn't an option because the capacity to replace them doesn't exist, and because keeping them running on 100% coal isn't a great idea either. Don't forget we've got a squeeze on nuclear generation, we need to keep some big cheap thermal plants running for now.

    It's a stopgap measure Tony, nobody is suggesting it's the way forward long-term.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeAug 21st 2013 edited
     
    Posted By: Seretnobody is suggesting it's the way forward long-term.
    Depends which paper you read :wink:

    I think that the problem is that it drags out the change over to non thermal (nuclear excepted).
    • CommentAuthorSeret
    • CommentTimeAug 21st 2013
     
    It was never going to be quick to change such a large amount of fundamental infrastructure (especially if the incumbents are quite happy with the status quo). Decarbonising the grid will be a multi-generational issue, we won't see it sorted in our lifetimes.
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeAug 21st 2013 edited
     
    Posted By: TriassicOur local power station, chp plant, will be burning 1/2 million tonnes of household waste, can't get greener than that can you!!!
    No, that's a v poor practice.
    1) Waste is full of toxics that don't get captured but spew into the atmosphere
    2) The resultant 'bottom ash' is also toxic and there's a hunt on for old quarries etc it can be dumped into - at least they pretend it's going to be converted at such sites to saleable aggregate, but the market doesn't seem to want that product so 'unfortunately' the ash in fact just gets dumped, at great threat to aquifers and wildlife.
    3) Waste burning is just a cheap get-out for councils that can't get organised to recycle their waste. It's ironic that Devon, with exemplary recycling, is neighboured by Plymouth's waste burner, and now Exeter's about to start, and the toxic products are spewed over and dumped in Devon, or maybe trucked all the way to Avonmouth.
    4) Waste is too valuable to be burnt - in future as price of all 'virgin' commodities rise, or supplies withheld in economic warfare, we'll be recovering every last scrap of present stock, upgrading back to 'pure' - recycling like we've only scratched the surface so far. Waste should be stockpiled now, for future 'quarrying', not vapourised.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeAug 21st 2013 edited
     
    Posted By: fostertomIt's ironic that Devon, with exemplary recycling, is neighboured by Plymouth's waste burner, and now Exeter's about to start, and the toxic products are spewed over and dumped in Devon, or maybe trucked all the way to Avonmouth.
    :rolling:
    Classic, the two cultural centres are now not in Devon
  13.  
    So what is the actual energy plan going forward these days? Does anyone actually know. As far as I can tell not much is going on generally to either build new nuclear or decarbonise. Apart from Hinkley that is. 7% of our needs only.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeAug 21st 2013
     
    Not sure that Hinkley is going to happen any time in the next 20 years.
    I think the plan is gas and offshore wind (there are two targets to hit, one is reduction and the other is renewables).
    Not such a bad medium term plan when coupled with energy reduction and local load shedding.
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeAug 21st 2013
     
    Posted By: SteamyTeathe two cultural centres are now not in Devon
    AFAIK Exeter still is, nominally, tho it did try to abandon its child.
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeAug 21st 2013
     
    Posted By: SteamyTeawhen
    you mean 'if'.
    • CommentAuthorjms452
    • CommentTimeAug 22nd 2013
     
    Posted By: SteamyTeaNot sure that Hinkley is going to happen any time in the next 20 years.
    I think the plan is gas and offshore wind (there are two targets to hit, one is reduction and the other is renewables).
    Not such a bad medium term plan when coupled with energy reduction and local load shedding.


    There's an acceleration of (big) PV and the tail end of onshore wind too but as you say gas and offshore will end up dominating as they are the most scale-able.

    With a bit of luck we'll get Hinkley and some tidal too.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeAug 22nd 2013
     
    Didn't Sizewell B (or may have been C) take over 25 years to become operational, and that was government financed.
    So even allowing for the 6 or 7 years that Hinkley has been in planning, it is still a long way off, and if we are to become even 20% greener, we probably need 5 or 6 Hinkleys.

    Think we can blame our planning system, lack of government support for infrastructure, public apathy, current cheap energy, an 'easy fix' attitude (why lots of people think co-firing is the answer), our national policy on energy really is a shambles. But we will have an election soon, so who know what will be promised for the future.

    Off to feed the Unicorn beans now.
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeAug 22nd 2013
     
    Posted By: SteamyTeaif we are to become even 20% greener, we probably need 5 or 6 Hinkleys
    Pull the other one!
    • CommentAuthorskyewright
    • CommentTimeAug 22nd 2013
     
    Posted By: SteamyTeaBut we will have an election soon, so who know what will be promised for the future.

    Maybe we'll get a "Greenest government ever"?
    Hmmm, where have I heard that phrase before... :confused:
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeAug 22nd 2013
     
    Greener than the last one, and the one before that.
    If an MP is arrested should they be allowed to carry on as an MP?
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeAug 22nd 2013 edited
     
    .

1 to 22 of 22

  1.  
Add your comments

    Username Password
  • Format comments as
 
Back to Discussions Top of Page
   
The Ecobuilding Buzz
Site Map    |   Home    |   View Cart    |   Pressroom   |   Business   |   Links   
Logout    

© Green Building Press