A global good news story.

[otherclive]

It’s been predicted for a couple of years but globally in the first half of 2025 renewables provided more electricity than coal. Uptake in less develop areas such as Africa and the sub continent is growing rapidly. China’s long term strategic view is showing a positive benefit not only for that country but globally. Regrettably Europe and the US have slid backwards. Britain at least no longer uses coal, moving some years ago to cleaner gas to provide electricity, and this is reducing too.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2rz08en2po

 

[Buckman]

It’s been predicted for a couple of years but globally in the first half of 2025 renewables provided more electricity than coal. Uptake in less develop areas such as Africa and the sub continent is growing rapidly. China’s long term strategic view is showing a positive benefit not only for that country but globally. Regrettably Europe and the US have slid backwards. Britain at least no longer uses coal, moving some years ago to cleaner gas to provide electricity, and this is reducing too.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2rz08en2po

Not sure where they got their information as many Africa countries plus China rely on coal for energy whether used in a power station or not. Some how I have my doubts?

 

[RogerL]

Not sure where they got their information as many Africa countries plus China rely on coal for energy whether used in a power station or not. Some how I have my doubts?

China is moving on, it's coal-burning period was only ever intended to be short-term.

 

[otherclive]

Although China is building new coal power stations they are cleaner and capable of ramping up more quickly to meet demand increases. But provincial governments build them often to boost local jobs. Now they are increasingly finding that with overcapacity their utilisation is reducing.

 

[otherclive]

Not sure where they got their information as many Africa countries plus China rely on coal for energy whether used in a power station or not. Some how I have my doubts?

The report doesn’t dispute that coal is still burned for electricity production but its usage is being reduced due to renewables. It never claimed that African countries do not burn coal, but their usage of renewables especially solar is giving them cheaper cleaner energy sources.

 

[Buckman]

The report doesn’t dispute that coal is still burned for electricity production but its usage is being reduced due to renewables. It never claimed that African countries do not burn coal, but their usage of renewables especially solar is giving them cheaper cleaner energy sources.

However very misleading report as renewables is still way down the list if you take into account use of fossil fuel and nuclear power. So not a big deal that renewables are outstripping the use of coal, but at the same damaging the local environment. At the moment we are fighting a campaign to prevent a solar farm from being established down the road from us. Hopefully we will have some success and make it very hard for them as they have to use narrow rural lanes.

 

[otherclive]

However very misleading report as renewables is still way down the list if you take into account use of fossil fuel and nuclear power. So not a big deal that renewables are outstripping the use of coal, but at the same damaging the local environment. At the moment we are fighting a campaign to prevent a solar farm from being established down the road from us. Hopefully we will have some success and make it very hard for them as they have to use narrow rural lanes.

Difficult to predict how your campaign will go, as in Wiltshire there are a lot of solar farms in rural areas. But the developers have worked with the planners and come up with workable solutions for the construction phase. After that access requirements are minimal. One thing I read is that if a county council refuses planning consent on certain categories of project, and that decision is appealed to the Government Planning Inspectors and they overrule the council, then if that happens too many times the council can loose its authority to decide on future development applications. Then such applications go between the developer and the Government Planning Inspectors.

 

[Beardy]

At the moment we are fighting a campaign to prevent a solar farm from being established down the road from us.

Would you prefer them to build a gas fired powerstation down the road from you?

 

[GUMPY]

Would you prefer them to build a gas fired powerstation down the road from you?

I expect a Coal or Nuclear power station would be the preferred option 🫣

 

[Buckman]

Difficult to predict how your campaign will go, as in Wiltshire there are a lot of solar farms in rural areas. But the developers have worked with the planners and come up with workable solutions for the construction phase. After that access requirements are minimal. One thing I read is that if a county council refuses planning consent on certain categories of project, and that decision is appealed to the Government Planning Inspectors and they overrule the council, then if that happens too many times the council can loose its authority to decide on future development applications. Then such applications go between the developer and the Government Planning Inspectors.

The roads around us are narrow and if there is a tractor coming from the opposite direction, you need to squeeze as tightly as possible to the verge without scratching the car. Either that or it is reversing if possible. In some areas coming off the main roads, only one car can pass through. The fight has been ongoing for about 2 years with traffic being used as the main objection. The proposal is for the solar farm right next to a "protected" woodland area.

 

[Buckman]

In my opinion solar and wind farms should be removed as they are a blight on the environment. Why can't they install these wind farms in cities as plenty of hot air to keep the blades turning or why not install solar panels in town parks as there a re plenty of them and they are only used for people walking in them.

 

[otherclive]

The roads around us are narrow and if there is a tractor coming from the opposite direction, you need to squeeze as tightly as possible to the verge without scratching the car. Either that or it is reversing if possible. In some areas coming off the main roads, only one car can pass through. The fight has been ongoing for about 2 years with traffic being used as the main objection. The proposal is for the solar farm right next to a "protected" woodland area.

Be interesting to see the outcome. We have tractors,HGVs farm machinery cruising Wiltshire roads too. Can’t understand how a solar farm would affect an adjacent area of native woodland. We live virtually next door to a WWT woodland reserve, surrounded by houses and bounded by a trunk road currently being upgraded to dual carriageway. Three years ago the wood was closed for two years to allow felling of a large number of diseased ash. Special arrangements were made for access of works machinery and for removing the timber. Now one year on bird life has resumed and the woods are once again accessible. Nature if given a chance is robust.

 

[Buckman]

Be interesting to see the outcome. We have tractors,HGVs farm machinery cruising Wiltshire roads too. Can’t understand how a solar farm would affect an adjacent area of native woodland. We live virtually next door to a WWT woodland reserve, surrounded by houses and bounded by a trunk road currently being upgraded to dual carriageway. Three years ago the wood was closed for two years to allow felling of a large number of diseased ash. Special arrangements were made for access of works machinery and for removing the timber. Now one year on bird life has resumed and the woods are once again accessible. Nature if given a chance is robust.

I think with this particular area it has historical connections dating back to Charles II fleeing Cromwell and a battle in the area? It has been awhile since I read up why there are objections which so far have been upheld.

 

[otherclive]

I think with this particular area it has historical connections dating back to Charles II fleeing Cromwell and a battle in the area? It has been awhile since I read up why there are objections which so far have been upheld.

Ours too has a medieval ditch, is classed as ancient woodland and is SSI but regrettably no royal connections. 🤴

 

[Beardy]

Why can't they install these wind farms in cities as plenty of hot air to keep the blades turning or why not install solar panels in town parks as there a re plenty of them and they are only used for people walking in them.

They'd probably get objections from the city and town dwelling NIMBYs, and there are more of them than there are rural NIMBYs.