I am prepared for many objections .However , the fossil fuels crisis is so severe that I feel justified in floating the idea at least as a happy coincidence.---------------
Trump has broken the oil industry and one happy result may be that nations now invest much more in renewable power.
Gransnet forums
News & politics
Superstitious Idea About Trump
(109 Posts)I'd agree with you, Caleo.
Here is Labour's opportunity to push, and vigorously invest in alternative energy production. It would not only cushion us against future oil shocks, but also provide much needed jobs and domestic industry.
I also agree, Labour has the opportunity to invest in renewables.
Will they though?
Are they willing to breakaway from RR’s economic model, and invest in the training of our young (and retraining of us oldies) along with the infrastructure, and new production centres (factories) needed?
Have you seen this (BBC News website)
Developers will be required to install solar panels and heat pumps in all new homes in England as part of updated planning requirements published by the government.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czjw7klkjm2o
About time, too. I've been saying for years that all new homes should have solar panels. Heat pumps takes it a bit further.
(I note that the author of the news item is a bit confused. Firstly saying that small plug in solar panels will soon be available for purchase, then, later, saying that they're not currently sold because they don't meet safety regulations. [hm]
But approval for their sale was announced a week ago because they do meet safety requirements..
oops, my
went wrong. 
Can there ever be a happy coincidence to a situation that has taken the lives of innocent men, women and children?
Far from breaking the oil industry, there is growing speculation that Trump is using this to line his own pockets.
I saw that on my newsfeed, it comes into effect 2028.
Nice if they could be fabricated in UK
Smileless2012
Can there ever be a happy coincidence to a situation that has taken the lives of innocent men, women and children?
Far from breaking the oil industry, there is growing speculation that Trump is using this to line his own pockets.
The wording of the OP might be infelicitous, but the result of Trump's catastrophic self indulgence is good if it promotes greater independence in producing energy.
Trump ,might well be breaking the oil industry if the results make more countries turn to producing alternative energy sources and reduce global dependence on oil.
Sadly, it won't bring the thousands of dead back to life...
Renewables need to go a long way before they can provide sufficient power for industry to flourish again.
eazybee
Renewables need to go a long way before they can provide sufficient power for industry to flourish again.
For industries to flourish again the U.K. needs a government (regardless of colour) to invest in them and to make investment attractive to others.
all new homes should have solar panels
That’s all very well, but they have to be suitable for solar panels.
No use if the roof faces north, with not the right pitch, or overshadowed by trees, buildings, ….
I’ve be just read that within months “plug in solar panels” with be available for households within months.
I’m scratching my head at the description “plug in” haha, however, I will probably buy a couple.
eazybee
Renewables need to go a long way before they can provide sufficient power for industry to flourish again.
That is true, but if renewable energy is increasingly used for homes and vehicles, it will make traditional energy sources more available, and cheaper hopefully, for industry in the interim.
Unfortunately the sun and wind are not going to shine and blow to order.
Wave power is also a good alternative source of energy. Green energy has not reached working efficiency without additional use of fossil fuels at the moment .
GrannyGravy13
I also agree, Labour has the opportunity to invest in renewables.
Will they though?
Are they willing to breakaway from RR’s economic model, and invest in the training of our young (and retraining of us oldies) along with the infrastructure, and new production centres (factories) needed?
In my area green energy has been the revitalisation, to a certain extent, of our towns. Nearly two decades of investment, training, dedicated college, training by Orsted and others. We are now one of the leading areas supplying and maintaining wind farms etc.
My worry is solar farms everywhere, to the detriment of farmland, and the countryside, next is massive pylons, to carry electricity to the south east. As a county we are being used to the detriment of our beautiful countryside, and told to put up with it. What do we do with all these highly processed panels when they only last 25 years, where do we dump them.?
Same with wind turbines 30 years max life, output falls, blades are not recyclable. So in Millibands overzealous rush to turn us all green, causing high costs, the environment for our descendants could still turn out to be non friendly.
The key is going to lie in constantly improving the technology, surely Freya5? It won’t be a case of purely investing in what is now available. There is plenty of innovation.
Casdon
eazybee
Renewables need to go a long way before they can provide sufficient power for industry to flourish again.
That is true, but if renewable energy is increasingly used for homes and vehicles, it will make traditional energy sources more available, and cheaper hopefully, for industry in the interim.
That was my reasoning.
And I was thinking globally rather than of our own situation here in the UK. There are large numbers of countries where the sun shines more than it does in the UK which could exploit solar energy. Besides which, solar technology has developed panels which don't need sunlight to work, just light and, battery storage uses the excess generated during daylight to cover the hours of darkness.
There are initiatives such as district heating schemes which could be further developed and geothermal schemes which exploit the higher temperatures lower in the earth's crust.
I think we both underestimate human ingenuity and have been comfortably living on fossil fuels for so long that we can't see far beyond them.
eazybee
Renewables need to go a long way before they can provide sufficient power for industry to flourish again.
I was thinking more of the industries needed to produce alternative energy equipment, rather than power for all industries.
Calendargirl
^all new homes should have solar panels^
That’s all very well, but they have to be suitable for solar panels.
No use if the roof faces north, with not the right pitch, or overshadowed by trees, buildings, ….
My house is unsuitable in that way, Calendargirl. I wondered if solar panels can be set up in the south sloping back garden , and the captured energy relayed into the house. I have seen pictures of solar panel farms.
Freya5
GrannyGravy13
I also agree, Labour has the opportunity to invest in renewables.
Will they though?
Are they willing to breakaway from RR’s economic model, and invest in the training of our young (and retraining of us oldies) along with the infrastructure, and new production centres (factories) needed?In my area green energy has been the revitalisation, to a certain extent, of our towns. Nearly two decades of investment, training, dedicated college, training by Orsted and others. We are now one of the leading areas supplying and maintaining wind farms etc.
My worry is solar farms everywhere, to the detriment of farmland, and the countryside, next is massive pylons, to carry electricity to the south east. As a county we are being used to the detriment of our beautiful countryside, and told to put up with it. What do we do with all these highly processed panels when they only last 25 years, where do we dump them.?
Same with wind turbines 30 years max life, output falls, blades are not recyclable. So in Millibands overzealous rush to turn us all green, causing high costs, the environment for our descendants could still turn out to be non friendly.
One does worry about those side effects of power sources. Coal mines had a horrible effect on green valleys . The need for energy sources has been constant especially since the industrial revolution. one hopes that more trees and less concrete will be planted now people are generally more woke.
If house roofs, warehouse and industrial buildings roofs are used, plus putting them over car parks (as they are at French supermarkets) I don't see why we have to have massive solar farms on green field sites. I think that if the government were a bit more proactive and initiated and financed, or contributed some finance to, the sort of installation which didn't use agricultural land, instead of leaving it 'to the market', we could possibly get this done more effectively.
As for 'pylons in the southeast' 
How does your electricity get to you now, * Freya*?
Maizie: Apparently Lidl are going to be selling the "plug in" solar panels for a couple of hundred pounds. The reporting was a tad shambolic but I understood that they were already available in Germany. Might be quite wrong
MaizieD
If house roofs, warehouse and industrial buildings roofs are used, plus putting them over car parks (as they are at French supermarkets) I don't see why we have to have massive solar farms on green field sites. I think that if the government were a bit more proactive and initiated and financed, or contributed some finance to, the sort of installation which didn't use agricultural land, instead of leaving it 'to the market', we could possibly get this done more effectively.
On this I agree 100% 👏👏👏
It would also get more people onboard with solar power (I think)
The sun isn’t shining here today.. …
Join the conversation
Registering is free, easy, and means you can join the discussion, watch threads and lots more.
Register now »Already registered? Log in with:
Gransnet »

