Public over-estimates the contribution from renewables, say engineers

LONDON, England, April 20, 2005 (Refocus Weekly)

Residents of the UK over-estimate the contribution that wind turbines and other renewable energy technologies can make to the generation of electricity, according to a recent survey.

Renewables would generate nearly one-third of Britain’s electricity by 2020, according to 516 responses in a telephone survey commissioned by the Institution of Civil Engineers, whereas the level is likely to be 15% “at its very best.”

The public is unaware of the “urgent need” to address sources of future energy supply, with only one-in-four supporting construction of new nuclear reactors, says chairman David Anderson. “Nuclear power is an extremely reliable form of energy; it would be highly irresponsible for the government to dismiss this option for future energy supplies. Failure to consider nuclear could lead to over dependency on imported energy sources.”

Nuclear reactors, which currently generate 22% of the UK's electricity, are closing down and, by 2023, eleven will have shut down and only one operating reactor will be left in the country.

“It is even more concerning that (the public) place so much reliance and faith in renewable sources,” he adds. “These have been presented as a panacea for the UK's looming energy gap.”

“The truth is that, without massive investment, we will be reliant on burning gas from overseas to create electricity within 15 years,” he says. “Everyone supports renewable energy, but there is no way that renewables can currently plug the gap left by the demise of nuclear power stations.”

ICE is calling for a national debate among the public, government and interested parties, on the future of energy supplies and the role of nuclear energy.

"It is worrying that the majority of the public cannot even hazard a guess at how many wind turbines are needed to replace the output of just one nuclear station,” with 54% of respondents unable to estimate the number of turbines required to match the output of one nuclear reactor. Of those who did give an estimate, the spread was relatively even from 5% stating 100 turbines are needed, up to the same percentage that estimated 100,000 turbines would be needed to replace a nuclear plant. The average of responses was 20,600 turbines for each reactor.

The highest estimated average (32,400) was from respondents in Wales and the lowest (9,900) from the West Midlands and Greater London.

When asked about windfarm construction, 77% supported construction, with 89% of 16-to-29 and 85% of 30-to-40 year olds, compared with 73% of 45-to-59 and 68% of over-60 year olds. Support was weakest in Scotland (65%) and the southwest (67%) compared with other areas (86% in Wales, and 84% in East Anglia, North West and West Midlands).

Among those in favour of windfarms, 72% approved because they believed wind to be environmentally friendly, 55% because wind reduces global warming and is a renewable source of energy, 48% for low cost, 7% thought turbines were attractive and 4% for other reasons.

Of the 17% of respondents who did not support construction of windfarms, 56% denounced them for appearance, 36% because turbines are an unreliable source of energy, 27% because of noise, 18% because of high cost and 11% because they affected wildlife.

The Institution of Civil Engineers was established as a learned society in 1818, and has 70,000 civil engineer members.

http://www.ice.org.uk/news_events/newsdetail_ice.asp?PressID=272&NewsType=Press