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CHINA AND MALAYSIA: Social and economic effects of petroleum development
Conference reports~Book reviews were benefitting from careful control of their wastes.
Photovoltaics Finally, in this series of brief presentations came a paper on photovoltaics by Dr McVeigh. The direct conversion of solar energy into electrical energy has been studied since the end of the last century. In 1954 came a break through, with the production of a silicon solar cell. That signalled more active research and today photovoltaics is recognized as a mature and expanding technology. It is rapidly gaining acceptance in a wide variety of applications in industry. Commercial activity is still somewhat limited with any large scale use of technology in the UK, because of the low levels of solar radiation, 100 watts/m. In France the figure averages some 200 watts/m and in north Africa, higher than 300 watts/m. Nevertheless, a number of projects have been put in hand and these are giving good returns in energy savings. Examples are swimming pool heating coupled with heat pumps, horticultural heating, and some telecommunications projects.
Hook and colleagues, who are committed to advancing what they see as a clear and unequivocal case for more wind power in the UK. It would not be possible here to describe in any detail the claims made; suffice it to say, that somewhat exaggerated points were made in order to make an economic case of it. Much revolved around the question of the economics of wind power against all others. To be fair, Dr Swift-Hook and his team did explain the complexities of the economic case well and in some detail. They looked at real rates of return on capital, operating costs, with comparisons to other energy sources.
However, to the observer one single question remains over wind energy schemes. It is extremely difficult to see how in the UK, there could be any public acceptance for the huge monstrous towers that would have to be constructed to obtain even a small percentage of our present national demand. It is far easier to prove a case for an island site such as the Orkneys. Supporters of wind power often forget that one still has to distribute the electricity. Is this to be by way of underground or overhead lines?
John L. Bindon Bangor, UK
Book reviews China's new energy realities
Round table discussion Session two of the one day programme was a useful debating period when Sir Herman Bondi chaired a Round Table discussion. This was meant to cover environmental, legal, institutional and social requirements for the development of the renewable energy sources outlined during the first session. The discussion could have been better structured. The questions or comments were voiced in a random manner and this led to difficulty derving any general conclusions. In his summary, Sir Herman Bondi felt that the last 10 years had seen a large growth in interest, but the obstacles to progress were still there and greater than they need be. It would seem that it is easier to talk about various kinds of energy production than about energy use and its efficiency. The final session was designed to see how renewable sources might best be integrated into existing energy networks. In this session, the main presentation came from Dr Don Swift-
318
CHINA: Energy sector outlook byTodd Johnson
The Economist Intelligence Unit Special Report No 1809, EIU, London, UK, 1987, lOO pp, £150 CHINA AND MALAYSIA: Social and economic effects of petroleum development by Peter Hills and Paddy Bowie
International Labour Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 1987, 160 pp, Swiss Francs 22.50 by Peter Hills and Paddy Bowie CHINA'S POTENTIAL IN INTERNATIONAL COAL TRADE by Guy Doyle
Intemational Energy Agency Coal Research, London, UK, 1987, 98 pp, £85.00 This year marks the end of the first decade of China's economic and social reforms introduced by Deng Xiaoping two years after Mao Zedong's death. There have been many undeniable successes, none of them more important than the achievement of basic staple food self-sufficiency a mere five years after the beginning of de facto privatization of the country's farming. China's average p e r capita food availability is now less than 10% behind the Japanese rate, an impressive performance considering the more than 40-fold difference in their GNP/ capita. Other profound changes include explosive growth of light industries in both rural and urban areas absorbing the labour force liberated by farm reforms; rising disposable incomes
ENERGY POLICY June 1988
Photovoltaics Finally, in this series of brief presentations came a paper on photovoltaics by Dr McVeigh. The direct conversion of solar energy into electrical energy has been studied since the end of the last century. In 1954 came a break through, with the production of a silicon solar cell. That signalled more active research and today photovoltaics is recognized as a mature and expanding technology. It is rapidly gaining acceptance in a wide variety of applications in industry. Commercial activity is still somewhat limited with any large scale use of technology in the UK, because of the low levels of solar radiation, 100 watts/m. In France the figure averages some 200 watts/m and in north Africa, higher than 300 watts/m. Nevertheless, a number of projects have been put in hand and these are giving good returns in energy savings. Examples are swimming pool heating coupled with heat pumps, horticultural heating, and some telecommunications projects.
Hook and colleagues, who are committed to advancing what they see as a clear and unequivocal case for more wind power in the UK. It would not be possible here to describe in any detail the claims made; suffice it to say, that somewhat exaggerated points were made in order to make an economic case of it. Much revolved around the question of the economics of wind power against all others. To be fair, Dr Swift-Hook and his team did explain the complexities of the economic case well and in some detail. They looked at real rates of return on capital, operating costs, with comparisons to other energy sources.
However, to the observer one single question remains over wind energy schemes. It is extremely difficult to see how in the UK, there could be any public acceptance for the huge monstrous towers that would have to be constructed to obtain even a small percentage of our present national demand. It is far easier to prove a case for an island site such as the Orkneys. Supporters of wind power often forget that one still has to distribute the electricity. Is this to be by way of underground or overhead lines?
John L. Bindon Bangor, UK
Book reviews China's new energy realities
Round table discussion Session two of the one day programme was a useful debating period when Sir Herman Bondi chaired a Round Table discussion. This was meant to cover environmental, legal, institutional and social requirements for the development of the renewable energy sources outlined during the first session. The discussion could have been better structured. The questions or comments were voiced in a random manner and this led to difficulty derving any general conclusions. In his summary, Sir Herman Bondi felt that the last 10 years had seen a large growth in interest, but the obstacles to progress were still there and greater than they need be. It would seem that it is easier to talk about various kinds of energy production than about energy use and its efficiency. The final session was designed to see how renewable sources might best be integrated into existing energy networks. In this session, the main presentation came from Dr Don Swift-
318
CHINA: Energy sector outlook byTodd Johnson
The Economist Intelligence Unit Special Report No 1809, EIU, London, UK, 1987, lOO pp, £150 CHINA AND MALAYSIA: Social and economic effects of petroleum development by Peter Hills and Paddy Bowie
International Labour Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 1987, 160 pp, Swiss Francs 22.50 by Peter Hills and Paddy Bowie CHINA'S POTENTIAL IN INTERNATIONAL COAL TRADE by Guy Doyle
Intemational Energy Agency Coal Research, London, UK, 1987, 98 pp, £85.00 This year marks the end of the first decade of China's economic and social reforms introduced by Deng Xiaoping two years after Mao Zedong's death. There have been many undeniable successes, none of them more important than the achievement of basic staple food self-sufficiency a mere five years after the beginning of de facto privatization of the country's farming. China's average p e r capita food availability is now less than 10% behind the Japanese rate, an impressive performance considering the more than 40-fold difference in their GNP/ capita. Other profound changes include explosive growth of light industries in both rural and urban areas absorbing the labour force liberated by farm reforms; rising disposable incomes
ENERGY POLICY June 1988