Energy conservation in the UK

This study starts with an analysis of past energy ‘conservation’ by relating energy use to output in the period 1900–1980. The results of a survey in manufacturing industries and local authority services are then presented, aimed at assessing the conservation effort since 1973 and that planned for the near future; the emphasis is on the measures and their results that can be realistically expected. Obstacles to conservation are analysed on the basis of the sample survey. Among the other consuming sectors transport and household use are discussed in some detail,with the conclusion that energy requirements in the UK are unlikely to exceed the 1979 level during the decade to 1990.     

Energy pricing policies in developing countries

Government energy pricing policies have multiple and often conflicting objectives: economic efficiency, government revenues (for both parastatal supply companies and the treasury), maintenance or improvement of income distribution, promotion of particular sectors (such as industrial exporters and local resource development) demand management and security of supply. It is important to examine the impacts on and the trade-offs between these objectives resulting from alternative policies in order to assist in policy selection. This article discusses the more important objectives and their conflicts and outlines an approach for the quantitative examination of alternative policies.     

Energy use in UK industry

This paper presents the results of a series of interviews with large industrial energy users in the UK held between October 1975 and January 1976, and is part of an ongoing study on industrial energy use. The aim is to cast light on the factors affecting current and future patterns of industrial energy use, and the medium term prospects of the individual fuels. Oil will probably remain the residual industrial fuel in the medium term but natural gas will continue to increase its share of the market, perhaps leading to an absolute decline in the consumption of other fuels unless there is government intervention in depletion policy.     

Energy conservation in low-energy intensive firms in the UK

This study deals with energy management in UK industry and, using the findings of a survey of the UK light engineering sector, establishes a profile of energy conservation for a selection of companies. The cost function and production function of the firms are described and the possibility of factor substitution is discussed. Attention is paid to the long- and short-term effects of energy conservation at national and company level. Areas where conservation measures are feasible are identified and a review is given of factors governing the implementation of energy management techniques. Finally policy implications for the UK light engineering sector are also considered.     

Energy efficiency in the UK iron and steel industry

An analysis of the present pattern of energy use in the United Kingdom iron and steel industry is presented: it draws on detailed information from published statistics. Account is taken of structural changes in the industry, together with the likely uptake of energy efficiency measures, to examine the prospects for improved energy efficiency in this industry up to the year 2000. This analysis suggests that energy requirements in the iron and steel industry could well decline, from the present 20 GJ per tonne of crude steel to levels some 18–24 per cent lower, by the year 2000.     

The UK Renewable Energy programme

The UK Government has supported a programme on Renewable Energy since 1975. In 1988 progress was reviewed and this led to some redirection of the programme with greater emphasis on the commercial development of renewables, as published in Energy Paper 55.The climate in which Renewable Energy operates has been influenced recently by a number of factors including privatisation of the UK electricity supply industry, when the Government introduced the New Fossil Fuel Obligation and publication of the Government's 1990 White Paper on the Environment which noted that the Government is working towards a figure of new renewable energy generating capacity of 1000 MW by 2000.The paper aims to give an overview of the present state of development of the renewable technologies in the UK and to discuss some of the factors - technical and non-technical - which will affect their likely future development.     

Energy sector pricing: On the role of neglected nonlinearity

Modern economies have been subjected to a number of shocks during the past several years such as the burst of the Internet bubble, terrorist attacks, corporate scandals, the war in Iraq, the uncertainty about energy prices, and the recent subprime mortgage crisis. In particular, during the last few years, the energy shock has caused concerns for potential stagflation for both the United States and numerous other countries. We perform numerous univariate tests for non-linearity and chaotic structure using price data from the energy sector to resolve whether the sector's fundamentals or exogenous shocks drive these prices.     

Energy efficiency interventions in UK higher education institutions

This paper provides an insight into energy efficiency interventions studies, focusing on issues arising in UK higher education institutions (HEIs) in particular. Based on a review of the context for energy efficiency and carbon reduction programmes in the UK and the trends in higher education sector, existing external and internal policies and initiatives and their relevant issues are extensively discussed. To explore the efficacy of some internal intervention strategies, such as technical, non-technical and management interventions, a survey was conducted among UK higher education institutions between February and April 2008. Consultation responses show that there are a relatively high percentage of institutions (83%) that have embarked on both technical and non-technical initiatives, which is a demonstration to the joined-up approach in such area. Major barriers for intervention studies are also identified, including lack of methodology, non-clarity of energy demand and consumption issues, difficulty in establishing assessment boundaries, problems with regards to indices and their effectiveness and so on. Besides establishing clear targets for carbon reductions within the sector, it is concluded that it is important to develop systems for effectively measuring and evaluating the impact of different policies, regulations and schemes in the future as the first step to explore.     

英国提高能源效率的政策取向

能源效率是一个环境优先选择概念,它对于气候变化和可持续发展战略的实施至关重要.提高能源效率一直是英国能源政策的重点目标之一. 英国负责能源效率的政府部门设置如图1所示.     

Energy substitution in the UK, 1948–64

In this paper translog specification is used to investigate the extent of interfuel substitution in the UK during the period 1948–64. The results indicate that relative changes in energy prices had significant effects on energy consumption.     

Energy policy and the privatization of the UK energy industries

This article considers a number of issues arising from or associated with the UK government's policy of privatization/liberalization of the public sector industries in relation to the formulation and implementation of energy policy. The analysis presented suggests that, if the policy of privatization progresses very far, there may be a change in the weights attached to various instruments used for the implementation of energy policy.     

英国能源政策的抉择与后果

英国政府最近公布的能源法案为我们提供了一个了解该国能源政策走向及其潜在影响的机会。笔者认为能源政策的困难,在于现代能源系统必须满足多方面的不同要求,并且必须在不确定的动态环境下实现这一点。这意味着拥有更多的政策选项非常重要。如果你不知道天然气价格的走向,就不要建立以其为基础的能源系统。你需要做的是去投资那些可以增加灵活度的技术选项:如能源效率,智能电网,需求侧管理,储能技术,跨国电网和电动汽车。尽管这些技术可能目前表面看起来成本效益并不是最大化的,但是,他们提供了灵活适应未来能源系统条件的机会。     

Energy R&D A UK perspective

Energy R & D is essential for countries wishing to lessen their dependence on imported oil and to widen their long-term options for energy policy. Accepting that energy R & D must be viewed in an international context, Mr Surrey and Mr Walker review the UK coal, gas, oil, nuclear and electricity supply industries' programmes, examine the role of government and suggest guidelines for a national strategy. They call for more positive direction of energy R & D by the Government in order to balance the interests of the nationalised fuel industries where they conflict or overlap, and to ensure consistency of energy R & D policy with industrial policies.     

Energy conservation and official UK energy forecasts

Behind the latest UK official forecasts of energy demand are implicit assumptions about future energy price elasticities. Here David Pearce examines the basis of the forecasts and finds that the long-term energy price elasticities which they imply are two or three times too low. The official forecasts substantially understate the responsiveness of demand to energy price rises. If more realistic price elasticities were assumed, the official forecasts would imply a zero primary energy demand growth to 2000. This raises the interesting possibility of a low energy future being brought about entirely by market forces.     

A Review of UK Wind Energy Activities

Wind energy activities in the UK have so far concentrated on comprehensive studies of system integration aspects and a detailed assessment of offshore wind energy systems. There is particular interest in offshore systems, which could provide a significant proportion of Britain's electricity needs. Many small wind turbines have been built and tested, but the design and construction of large wind turbines has proceeded more slowly. However, two industrial groups are developing large wind turbines, one horizontal axis and one a novel vertical axis design, with Department of Energy support. The first UK multi-megawatt wind turbine (3 MW rated, 60-metres diameter, horizontal axis) will be operational in 1984/85, with several medium-sized wind turbines (20–25-metres diameter), due for completion in 1982 and 1983. Electricity utilities in the UK are showing considerable interest in the use of wind energy and are participating actively in developments.     

英国可再生能源义务法令介绍及实施效果分析

英国是采用可再生能源配额制度来促进可再生能源发展的国家之一。本文介绍了从2002年开始实施的英国可再生能源义务法令产生的背景、配额制度的主要特点和实施效果,对制度的优缺点进行了分析,说明配额制度的实施需要完善的电力市场机制做保障,它是有利于低成本的可再生能源技术的应用和有利于大企业发展的政策,但也存在增加融资难度、不公平竞争等问题。本文最后总结了该法令和配额制度对我国可再生能源政策制定的借鉴意义。