Archive for July 2011
Dr Roy Spencer and the Gaping Hole
July 29, 2011 | 
Author The latest announcement of the death of global warming . . .
Today the usual suspects in the conspiracy to deny global warming splashed the internet with the headline: ‘New NASA Data Blow Gaping Hole In Global Warming Alarmism’
The paper in question comes from the University of Alabama and is entitled “On the Misdiagnosis Of Surface Temperature Feedbacks From Variations In Earth’s Radiant Energy Balance” ~ Spencer and Braswell 2011
Let’s get one thing straight right at the start – this is not a NASA report, it is one man’s interpretation of a limited data set from one satellite used to prop up his publicly stated preconceived position. Spencer has been suggesting for years that global warming is mostly natural, and that the climate system is quite insensitive to humanity’s greenhouse gas emissions and aerosol pollution.
The use of phrases like ‘alarmist computer models’ would in any event suggest that Dr Roy Spencer is not exactly neutral on the subject. He is – like all the other contrarians’, ‘sceptics’ or whatever you want to call them – a fanatical proponent of free market economics and bitterly opposed to all forms of regulation, environmental and otherwise. His website is currently pushing his latest book, ‘FUNDANOMICS: The Free Market, Simplified’.
(Conveniently Spencer – like so many of his ‘contrarian’ buddies – forgets that his own comfortable professional existence has been spent in government-sponsored institutions and not out in the cold hard free market.)
To the crux of the report: near the end:
While this discrepancy is nominally in the direction of lower climate sensitivity of the real climate system, there are a variety of parameters other than feedback affecting the lag regression statistics which make accurate feedback diagnosis difficult. These include the amount of non-radiative versus radiative forcing, how periodic the temperature and radiative balance variations are, the depth of the mixed layer, etc., all of which preclude any quantitative estimate of how large the feedback difference is.
So – rather than ‘blowing a gaping hole’ in current understanding of climate forcing due to CO2 Spencer is saying that there are difficulties in actually calculating it. This is why the currently generally accepted figure for a global temperature rise based on a doubling of CO2 is 3 degrees plus or minus 1.5 degres – i.e. in the range 1.5 degrees (disruptive) to 4.5 degrees (downright dangerous). This study is yet another attempt by one scientist with a political agenda to obfuscate the issue.
There are discrepancies between the calculated forcing and the currently observed temperature trend, but these are more likely to be a result of uncertainties in the heatsink capacity of the world’s oceans, a fact which which somehow escapes Spencer somehow fails to notice when he notes towards the end of the ‘report’ that there is a discrepancy between the data and the forecasts . . . especially over the oceans !
As further background, readers might be interested to know that Spencer believes in intelligent design rather than evolution, and as such his opinions on other subjects are liable to be equally out of step with reality.
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RWE Pulls Out Of Siadhar Wave Project
Voith Wavegen still hoping to go ahead with Siadhar
RWE npower Renewables has announced that is pulling out of the Siadar wave energy project on the Isle of Lewis. The scheme was to have been a joint project between RWE and Wavegen.
The proposal consisting of an “active breakwater” which would harness power from the Atlantic waves in Siadar Bay to generate up to 4 megawatts of electricity using the Oscillating Water Column (OWC) principle. The near shore structure would contain 10 concrete caissons housing 36 to 40 Wells turbines, connected to the shore by a causeway.
RWE’s retreat from investment in the project makes it less likely that it will go ahead although the other developer, Inverness-based Voith Hydro Wavegen, has said it still intends to go ahead.
Wavegen are world leaders in oscillating water column technology, having already developed and commissioned the world’s first commercial wave power device to be connected to the UK National Grid. Built in 2000, it is located on the coast of Islay and feeds up to 500 kW into the grid. Matthew Seed, CEO of Voith Hydro Wavegen, said: “Voith is continuing to pursue the Siadar project. We are discussing it with several possible partners.”
Last year the Siadar scheme received £6m of Scottish government money, making it the biggest winner from a £13m fund. Now though RWE is no longer convinced of the viability of this kind of wave technology and has said it prefers to concentrate on tidal technologies that offer faster development times and greater returns. The company said that it remained committed to researching how best to “harness marine energy off the Scottish coast, and in particular, in the waters off the Orkney Islands”.
Achany Wind Farm Stop Notice
Achany wind farm stop notice – clarification from SSE
The stop notice issued by Highland Council for Achany wind farm was temporary and was lifted on 10 June, four days after it was served. This followed a meeting with the Highland Council at which it was agreed that the issuing of a stop notice had been inappropriate. SSE has been actively dealing with noise concerns from two local residents, which occur under very specific conditions, and has a good relationship with these residents.
There are a number of other inaccuracies in the media coverage including: the number of turbines, the capital cost for the project, the stop notice remaining in place for a month, suggestions that the noise complaints originate from the start of generation and an impression that SSE had dismissed local residents’ concerns.
SSE prides itself on its record of being a good neighbour to communities around our wind farms, working within the noise parameters set out by Scottish Government and are fully committed to responding to any concerns on the operation of our sites.
(Source: press release from SSE website)
Sainsbury’s Scottish Stores in Wind Power Revolution
Sainsbury’s source wind energy to power all its Scottish stores
Sainsbury’s is set to generate enough wind energy to power all of its Scottish stores and depots using Scottish renewable energy by next year.
Sainsbury’s already generates enough renewable electricity to power well over half of its Scottish stores, having purchased all of the electricity from two installations (Muirhall and Lochhead), situated just outside Glasgow. It is now on the brink of securing another site that will ensure it generates enough to power all 47 of its stores, as well as its depots in Scotland.
By agreeing to buy all of the energy from a wind energy site before it is built, Sainsbury’s provides renewable energy companies with the guaranteed income they require in order to secure start-up funding. As such, Sainsbury’s is a leader in the renewable energy industry.
Mike Coupe, Sainsbury’s group commercial director, comments: “We have a long history of investing in renewables, particularly in Scotland. Now, our investment is such that we will soon be able to say that we generate enough to offset all of the power used by our Scottish operations. This is a great achievement, and one that will have a significant impact on our carbon footprint. In fact, this deal could well make us the greenest grocer in Scotland.”
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead welcomed the announcement. He said:
“It’s great to see a company like Sainsbury’s making a public commitment to Scotland’s renewables revolution. The Scottish Government aims to generate 100 per cent of Scotland’s own electricity demand from a mix of renewable sources by 2020. By then we intend to be generating twice as much electricity as Scotland needs – just over half of it from renewables, and just under half from other conventional sources.”
Sainsbury’s has pioneered an innovative type of energy deal which has made this announcement possible. Known as a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), the energy is purchased in advance at an agreed cost providing guaranteed income for the renewable energy company, and protection from the volatility of the energy market for Sainsbury’s.
Mike added: “We believe this deal represents a great example of how being green can make good business sense and we are currently looking for other power generators with whom we could make similar arrangements.”
The Lochhead windfarm was commissioned two years ago, while the Muirhall wind farm was commissioned this April. Sainsbury’s is planning to announce the addition of a third windfarm next year.
Alex Hensher, founder of A7, the company that owns the Lochhead wind farm, said: “Power Purchase Agreements are an innovative way that independent generators can get renewable energy projects off the ground, whether they are biomass, waste-to-energy or in this case, wind turbines.
“With a shortage of generation capacity looming in the UK, the ability to reduce exposure to price risk by contracting directly with developers is becoming an increasingly attractive option for large energy consumers like Sainsbury’s.”
The Lochhead windfarm was commissioned two years ago, while the Muirhall wind farm was commissioned this April. Sainsbury’s is planning to announce the addition of a third windfarm next year.
Alex Hensher, founder of A7, the company that owns the Lochhead wind farm, said: “Power Purchase Agreements are an innovative way that independent generators can get renewable energy projects off the ground, whether they are biomass, waste-to-energy or in this case, wind turbines.
“With a shortage of generation capacity looming in the UK, the ability to reduce exposure to price risk by contracting directly with developers is becoming an increasingly attractive option for large energy consumers like Sainsbury’s.”
Sustainable Eigg
A short film about the community-owned Isle of Eigg
Investment in wind, solar and hydroelectric has brought mains electricity to the 87 inhabitants of the Hebridian island of Eigg. The investment of £1.6 million – equivalent to £18,391 capital outlay per person – means that residents no longer have to run diesel generators when they need power.
Links
Electric Dreams - BBC article.