58 3Energy 58 3Energy 59 Energy 3 Energy 60 e rely on energy in every aspect of our lives, taking Wfor granted that we will have access to heat, power and fuel. But with declining gas, oil and coal production, and ageing nuclear power stations Britain is at a crossroads. The threat of climate change also requires us to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by cutting fossil fuel use. Government expects industry to respond to this ‘green’ agenda, but we will all have a role to play. A strategy is urgently needed that sets out a vision for our future energy security – one based on sustainable development and diversity of supply. Humberside’s King’s Dock, imported coal bunker, credit to: Getmapping energy 1 61 How secure is our energy supply? Could Selby flood more often? Climate change predictions for the Yorkshire and Humber region For the last few decades the UK has The floods in 2000 and 2002 2050-2080 been relatively self-sufficient for resulted in millions of pounds of energy. Plentiful supplies of coal, damage to homes and businesses Sea levels: Rise of up to 82 cm oil and gas kept power stations go- across North Yorkshire. Selby Dis- resulting in higher tidal surges ing, the lights switched on and our trict residents have felt the economic and greater salinity homes warm. However, with declin- impact as homes and businesses Temperatures: 1.6 to 3.9oC ing reserves of North Sea gas and have become more difficult and warmer resulting in more oil, and the decline of our coal indus- costly to insure. Millions of pounds frequent water shortages and a try in the face of foreign competition, have already been spent on addi- greater need for irrigation the UK is now a net importer of tional flood defences by the Environ- Rainfall: 10-20% less annual energy. Recent events in the Middle ment Agency, and more investment rainfall resulting in more frequent East and Russia and South America 60% CO2 cuts by 2050? may be needed in the future. Whilst water shortages and a greater have served to highlight the potential we can’t directly attribute the floods need for irrigation threat of relying on energy from “In my view, climate change is the to climate change, a combination of Seasons: More extremes of wet politically unstable countries. As a most severe problem we are facing heavier seasonal rainfall and rising and dry weather, increasing the result there are increasing concerns today, more serious even than the sea levels could result in more fre- frequency of flood events and about our energy security and af- threat of terrorism.” Sir David King, quent flooding in the Selby District. increasing the need for irrigation fordability. The government’s Energy Government’s Chief Scientific Advi- It could also influence patterns of in summer Review raises the prospect of new sor agricultural production in the district. nuclear stations, but there is public On the positive side, the floods backing for a greater emphasis on In 1997 the UK signed the Kyoto inspired campaigns such as ‘Planet renewables. Protocol and agreed to cut its CO2 York’, which successfully encour- emissions by 12.5% by 2012. How- aged households and businesses to Where does our energy come ever, in the longer term we may need ‘do their bit’. from? to cut CO2 emissions 60% by 2050 to avoid dangerous climate change. Coal (15%): Whilst 50% of our The Government’s 2003 Energy coal is still mined in the UK, the White Paper adopted this as the UK’s rest is imported from countries target. This will require a fundamen- such as South Africa, South tal change in the way we use energy, America and Australia. Eco- with reduced reliance on fossil fuels. nomic deep mines reserves are A combination of solutions will be estimated at 10 years. needed including energy efficiency, Oil (35%): North Sea reserves clean fossil fuel technologies and have begun to decline; we import renewable forms of energy. oil from Norway, the Middle East, North Africa and increasingly Fiscal measures such as carbon Russia. taxes and quotas may be needed to Gas (39%): North Sea reserves influence behaviour. On the positive will decline over the next 20 side, significant economic benefits years; we are increasingly com- - such as highly skilled new jobs ing to rely on gas from Russia, - are predicted from the shift to a the Middle East and North Africa. ‘low carbon’ economy. The planning Uranium (9%): Our nuclear pow- system also has a key role to play, er stations will need replacing by with North Yorkshire County Coun- 2020, and we rely on uranium cil’s Renewable Energy Study (RES) from Africa, Australia and Russia highlighting the importance of local - where mining has significant planning frameworks in ensuring the environmental impacts. delivery of national targets. credit to: UHC collective 62 he energy industry has come to dominate the district’s Tlandscape, with large-scale in- terventions delivering national energy security and demonstrating the best of British technological innovation. Energy was identified early on as a key Renaissance theme. The loca- tion in the district of two of the UK’s largest coal fired power stations - Drax and Eggborough - the Selby ‘superpit’ mining complex and Kel- lingley Colliery has placed energy at the heart of the local economy for over three decades. This theme has continued with development of the UK’s first willow-fired power station, and one of the EU’s largest low energy glass manufacturing plants. Stillingfleet miners, credit to: UK Coal, Martyn Pitt energy 2 63 Central Planning Creating Markets Changing Priorities 1 Post-war - 1970’s 2 1980’s - 1990’s 3 2000 and beyond The era of post-war nationalisation The era of privatisation and the crea- End of an era The era of growing climate change Eggborough plant produces special of the coal and electricity industries. tion of liberalised energy markets. Selby Mine complex decline and energy security threats. The heat trapping glass, responding to Projects in the national interest were A ‘dash for gas’ saw its share of (1990’s-2004): Despite initially decline of North Sea gas and oil demand created by stricter UK Build- planned and developed by Brit- electricity generation growing from realising the expected production of resources, coal imports and ageing ing Regulations. ish Coal and the Central Electricity virtually nothing to nearly 30% in 10 million tonnes a year, production nuclear capacity have raised issues Generating Board (CEGB). Coal was less than a decade. Falling electric- began to decline during the 1990’s about our energy security. In 2003 Which way will the wind blow? seen as the main source of fuel for ity prices made it difficult for private because of geological problems. the Government’s Energy White Humberhead wind farm electricity generation, and North Sea investors to viably operate coal fired The high fixed costs of operating Paper prioritised both of these issues proposals (2004-ongoing): There gas was introduced for domestic power stations. The coal industry Gascoigne Wood drift mine at under and set a radical target to reduce are 15 wind farm proposals in the Humberhead area, including a 24 heating and cooking. struggled to compete with cheaper capacity became a financial burden. CO2 emissions by 60% by 2050. foreign coal. Environmental regula- The quality of the coal was also low, The introduction of the Renewables MW wind farm in Selby District. The The UK’s most productive mine tions designed to tackle acid rain requiring investment in coal washing Obligation in 2003 has begun to intensity of development proposed in Kellingley Mine (1965): Redevel- began to place additional pressure to meet the power stations require- stimulate the market for renewable the area has prompted debate about oped by British Coal in the 1960s on the coal industry. ments. Competition from imported electricity, particularly wind energy, merits of wind power. Kellingley was one of the first UK coal was the final blow and with in- but it is likely that Government may mines to produce more than 2 mil- Changing hands creasing losses the new owners UK give the go ahead for new nuclear lion tonnes of coal/year. With the Drax and Eggborough: Post privati- Coal decided to close the complex in generation capacity. closure of the Selby mine complex sation the two power stations have 2004 with 2,000 job losses. it became one of only three remain- changed hands several times as ing deep mines in Yorkshire, all now utilities and investors have changed Tackling acid rain operated by UK Coal. strategies and priorities. Originally Drax Flue Gas Desulphurisa- owned by generators National Power tion plant (1996): An EU Directive and Powergen, Drax was purchased resulted in national targets to tackle by US investors AES in 1999 and acid rain. For power stations to burn Eggborough by British Energy in British coal with high sulphur content Big plans for electricity generation 2000. Financial difficulties in 2003 requires expensive pollution control Eggborough Power station (1967) saw Drax and AES part company equipment. The first to be installed in Drax Power Station (1974 and with the formation of Drax Power the UK, the Drax FGD plant removes 1986): Constructed by the Central Farming the oil field Ltd to take control. The company at least 90% of the sulphur dioxide Electricity Generating Board (CEGB), Whitemoor Business Park (2005): was listed on the stock exchange in - a major cause of acid rain - from these stations were long term A group of companies are consider- December 2005. waste gases, producing up to three investments designed to burn British ing building a 10 MW oil seed power quarters of a million tonnes/year coal and provide a secure supply of station at UK Coal’s Whitemoor of gypsum for the manufacture of electricity for decades to come.