tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19508699.post115191771650001859..comments2024-03-13T18:55:49.391+00:00Comments on Energy Balance: Energy Efficiency to Limit Nuclear.Professor Chris Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12060542089215379056noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19508699.post-1152002599116711372006-07-04T09:43:00.000+01:002006-07-04T09:43:00.000+01:00I guess "nuclear" is a hot political pawn, and bot...I guess "nuclear" is a hot political pawn, and both sides (Labour and Conservative) are playing it off against each other regarding public opinion. Nulcear has less friends that opponents in opinion polls! However, my own position is (1) we maximise energy efficiency, so to do with less "energy" overall. Then (2)we provide electricity and space heating and energy for industry etc., probably using a mix of (I'm with you - thorium fuelled) nuclear, renewables, and, if the governments of the world are serious about limiting CO2 emissions, using any windfalls (up to 50% might ultimately be saved) from "efficiency" to cut fossil fuel use for electricity generation. CHP systems and solar applied on the local "micro" scale could do much to supply overall domestic energy, and for some commercial enterprises too.<BR/>But we need a proper balance sheet worked out, with real timescales not just rhetoric, first.<BR/>(3) The remaining problem is fuel for transportation, and as I have written a number of times in these postings, and comments to them, that would best be achieved through "fuel efficiency" - localised lving, to cut down on the necessary carriage of goods and people - and linking local communities "pods" through electric tram systems, such as work well in European cities (Prague is a good example). That kind of meso-scale ifrastructure could be powered using electricity from nuclear - or other means, e.g. tidal and offshore wind, where that facility does not require an immense and inefficient "national grid".Professor Chris Rhodeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12060542089215379056noreply@blogger.com