LIVERPOOL’S WEALTH AND WELL BEING OVER MANY CENTURIES HAS COME FROM THE USE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY, CHIEFLY THAT OF HER FOLK, AND THE WINDS THAT POWERED HER SHIPS.
WITH THE CULTURE OF TODAY HEADING RAPIDLY FOR A REVIVAL OF RENEWABLE ENERGY USE, WITH ALL IT’S CONNOTATIONS FOR EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING AND LOCAL ENERGY INCOME A LOCAL SITE FOR TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION, DEMONSTRATIONS AND TEACHING WOULD SEEM VERY WORTHWHILE AND TIMELY. THIS IS THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE GRUNHAUS PROJECT
RENEWABLE ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING
THE POTENTIAL FUTURE WEALTH OF BRITAIN
Money is the paper representation of Energy
OVERVIEW
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From time immemorial Britain has prospered from Renewable Energy in the form of Agriculture, Flowing Water, and Wind. It is only in the last 200 years or so that this "income" expenditure has been superseded by "capital" expenditure, first by indigenous coal, and then by imported oil and gas.
A return to Renewable Energy offers very considerable opportunities for British Agricultural, Industrial and Commercial development. Thus once again tapping into the energy "income" sources all around us, currently are under exploited. While at the same time countering problems of Climate Change. Which may be more grave and immediate than many realise. BUT
Before heavy expenditure is incurred it is imperative to first find out how energy is at present used throughout Britain, and then to ensure that it's use is at a minimum for any specific application, through stringent energy conservation measures. Else any capital expenditure to capture Renewable Energy Income will in part be wasted.
See presentation click here.
Men do not realise often enough the great revenue to be gained from economy (Marcus Tullius Cicero)
Prof LJS Lesley, Moss Lane, Liverpool, Director, email ljslesley-at-aol.com
A F Stobart, BSc (Chem Eng), A Ferrand Stobart & Associates, Secretary Grünhaus project
Bower Orchard, Church Lane, Orleton, Nr. Ludlow, UK, tel +44(0)1 568 780837
Email ferrand-at-care4free.net
THE PROSPECTS FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THE UK HAVE BEEN GIVEN A CONSIDERABLE BOOST RECENTLY WITH THE DRAFT CLIMATE CHANGE BILL’s PUBLICATION
The Industrial opportunities are as yet largely un-appreciated. For the UK too much Renewable Energy Equipment is being imported, and too little made - and in some cases - installed, by local firms.The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee’s reports on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in the 2005-2009 session of Parliament make this very plain, see www.parliament.uk/hlscience
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200506/ldselect/ldsctech/ldsctech.htm
1999 ETSU/AEA at Harwell assessed the market for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technologies at £1560bn. The Liverpool area has suffered over many years from a lack of industrial and commercial development, leading to un-employment, deprived areas, and a general lack of the progress now seen elsewhere in the UK
It should be remembered that in principle Renewable Energy is “anti-inflationary”, the value of the energy income rising in line with inflation of other energy prices. It is also “tax free” and in the hands of a concern which pays tax on earned profits, the cost of investments in Renewable Technology, and it’s maintenance can be offset against tax liabilities under normal taxation rules
SOME RECENT COMMENTS ON SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
In the Daily Telegraph Business Section for 5 Feb, page B4, Klaus Schwab executive chairman and founder of the World Economic Forum writes
Let us not talk about "alternative" energy ever again, there is only sustainable energy that will fuel the economy of the future
Sir Jeremy Beecham, the Local Government Association's vice chair,said: "Creating a low carbon economy will create thousands of new jobs, support small businesses and develop new markets. At a time when we are seeing more and more redundancies, a Green New Deal would boost the economy and help fight fuel poverty."
The Fabian Society has published a pamphlet
The Green Crunch: Why we need a new economics for Britain's environmental challenge by Sir John Harman
As Britain heads towards recession, many on the left fear that the politics of the environment will get lost amid the clamor for short-term economic solutions. But former Chairman of the Environment Agency Sir John Harman argues that now is the right time to fundamentally rethink our economics to meet the environmental challenges we face.
HONG KONG, Jan 19 2009 (Reuters) - Asia-focused asset manager Bowen Capital Management Ltd is hunting for winners among alternative energy and waste management companies, and says the financial crisis may prove to be beneficial for some firms in the sector. Jeremy Higgs, who manages Bowen's $30 million Green Dragon Fund, said the financial crisis has prompted governments to commit to fiscal stimulus packages that will drive spending on environmental technology.
And on the subject of Climate Change, Dr Vicky Pope Head of the UK Met Office Climate Prediction Programme http://www.metoffice.gov.uk has written a most interesting article in the Guardian newspaper:-
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/feb/11/climate-change-science-pope
She finishes:-Our concerns about climate change arise from the scientific evidence that humanity's activities are leading to changes in our climate. The scientific evidence is overwhelming.
GRÜNHAUS ON LINE DATABASE OF SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY,
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
The Database Project is envisaged as a Research Project to compile a compendium of concise Technical Descriptions of all Sustainable Technologies. Old, now and new. Maximum use is to be made of diagrams. A similar type of publication is (say) the classification of animals or plants. The whole to be published as a Website contained in a fully sustainable building in Liverpool, with demonstration and teaching facilities, as part of the 2008 City of Culture programme.
BASIS OF DATA DISPLAY
If there is available an International Coding or Reference System, then this will be used. As far as possible ALL engineering and technology to be included eventually, whether ancient, current, experimental, undeveloped, or just so far a figment of someone's (patented) imagination.
DATA AVAILABILITY
While the present “manual” limited information service is free, once detailed technical specifications are available “on line” only general details will be available free, full specifications will be charged for, either by credit card, or by setting up an account with monthly invoices.
Suitable references to be provided for each entry. Including other Website references where appropriate. The Project will be on going, to update data with the latest developments. Offers of data input help welcome. ALL ENQUIRIES TO THE SECRETARY Much detailed information is already on file and can be sent by email.
In advance of the implementation of the full Database, one page of general information is included for eight technologies Biomass, Energy Conservation, Fuel Cells, Hydropower, Solar Heat & PV, Sustainable Buildings, Tidal & Wave Power, Wind Energy Plus an introduction covering current Renewables activity. These pages will be updated from time to time.
Plus a collection of useful websites for each of the above technologies can be found on the Grunpixel Page, on which companies and individuals can also place advertisements for their specific organisation, services and research facilities. [System not yet initiated]
Since this website was first launched over two years ago, it is clear that there is much duplication of effort and “re-inventing the wheel” in the World’s Renewable Energy Community.
Equally there are many people who are starting out in this field, and are looking for technical help
A recent interesting example is the re-emergence of interest in the “Stream Mill”, one was put in on a UK farm in 1850, and they died out about 1900 !!
Another example is the use of wind energy for building heating, pioneered on a domestic scale over 30 years ago in UK by the Trimblemill [see WIND section.]
The Grühaus aim, long term, is to provide a universal “one stop shop” for such enquiries, while collating all appropriate technologies. Old, Now and New.
There are however some other very good general websites already in existance, which may in time become merged with Grünhaus, meantime they can be reached from these URLs:
A final important point. While Sustainable Energy is a potential source of Wealth, it’s deployment on a large scale is also an important counter measure to Climate Change. For those who do not consider that Climate Change is due to Man’s activity, it is nevertheless a demonstrated fact that the Carbon Dioxide content of the atmosphere is increasing rapidly. The acidification effect on the Oceans has been noted, as has the possible harmful effect on all air breathing life, see
www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A11109133 www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/climatechange_grunhausproject.pdf
