Energy SystemEnergy System
As of today, 17% of energy need in Europe is covered by nuclear power. This is fed by 128 European and 56 extra European power stations. Nuclear energy production in the EU has been sharply decreasing over the past decade. But top European producers are now distancing themselves from the nuclear option. There are three main reasons behind this trend: security, costs and regulation. The nuclear option is excessively more expensive and slower to develop than renewable energy sources. It is worth considering that there is a new technology which may change things in the very next future by turning reactors into more fuel-efficient plants. When generators fulfill the following criteria they can be called Fourth generation reactors: Do not release radioactive wastes to the surroundings. And the quality of the nuclear material within the fuel cycle is too poor to serve as weapon material (uranium and plutonium are never separated but rather mixed together with other elements. to serve as a weapon-efficient reactors.
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What is the carbon footprint of space travel?
Two astronauts successfully left the earths atmosphere to dock with the international space station on a semi re-usable rocket. This was clearly an incredible achievement and returned the USA to the forefront of space travel. In addition this significant step moves us closer to manned.
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Could Ammonia be an energy black swan?
Ammonia is produced under super high pressures from Hydrogen and Nitrogen. The feed stock for Ammonia (NH3) is simply Nitrogen and Hydrogen. Potential early applications for ammonia as a fuel include shipping and maybe even aviation.
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How will energy look in 2030? My 10 predictions for the next 10 years!
Ten years ago Matt Cardle was Christmas number one (anyone remember Mr Cardle?) and David Cameron had just started his 6 years in office. The UK Government predicted in its base case energy scenario that in 2020 electricity generation would be delivered with 75T.
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Ceramics industry and the transition to a Circular Economy
The EU ceramic industry represents an annual production value of around €30 billion. The EU Emissions Trading System covers over 1200 ceramic installations. Ceramic products can be reused, recycled or recovered after their end-of-life.
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EUROPEAN ALUMINIUM: sustainable industrial recovery plan
2019 data show primary production in Europe is flat, despite a growing demand for aluminium products. This is due to tensions on the aluminium supply chain caused by trade issues at global level and high energy prices. There are 15 smelters in the EU,.
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CEMBUREAU’s roadmap towards #Cement2050 – a Carbon Neutrality Roadmap
The European Cement Association published its Carbon Neutrality Roadmap. Roadmap sets out the cement industry's ambition to reach net zero emissions by 2050. By 2030, CEMBUREAU aspires to be in line with the Paris Agreements two.
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How Energy Efficiency and Renewables will benefit from COVID-19
Since 1900 only three events had a greater impact on global energy demand than COVID-19: the Spanish flu, the Great Depression and World War II. Can we already predict the near and/or long term impact? Likely not. But we need.
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Two walls may beat one for solar-panel nanotubes
Engineers already knew that size matters when using single-walled carbon nanotubes for their electrical properties. Until now, nobody had studied how electrons act when confronted with the Russian doll-like structure of multiwalled tubes. Now, researchers have calculated.
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Escaping the horns of a dilemma
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance has written a blog about the hydrogen economy. He argues that electrifying everything is the right way to go. Using hydrogen in the gas grid is an understandable effort by the gas industry to maintain their position.
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