The Real Danger of Shale Gas - Fugitive Emissions

The Real Danger of Shale Gas - Fugitive Emissions - Intro

To many the thought of shale gas or fracking is unpleasant, after all shattering the earth to release gas seems drastic, and  many are upset at the thought of the "go anywhere" mineral rights that allow fracking companies grab resources.

There is also the question of are continued use of fossil fuels, and their contribution to global warming. Burning the gas (methane) releases CO2, which has been proven to raise global temperatures.

It is all rather ugly.

But these observations pale in comparison to the real risks generated from production of methane in this way, and that is  Fugitive Emissions.

The Real Danger of Shale Gas - Fugitive Emissions - What are Fugitive Emissions?

Fugitive Emissions are when methane that has been released from the rocks in which it has been trapped for millions of years, leak out in to the atmosphere, instead of be collected up for use as energy.

The main aim if fracking is to extract as much shale gas a s possible from the ground, but inevitably large quantities will escape, migrating to the surface.

The Real Danger of Shale Gas - Fugitive Emissions - Why is this  Problem?

Methane has 72 times the global warming potential of CO2, per unit is holds in 72 time more heat than CO2.

In the UK Shale Gas Extraction / Fracking is still very small scale, but in the US where it is a large concern very high volumes of methane leak in to the atmosphere. Recent studies indicate 30 - 60% of methane from human sources comes from Shale Gas Exploration in the US alone.

Imagine the impacts if the rest of the world were to begin extraction at the same level. . . 

"The Aliso leak (US Fracking Well) spewed enough methane into the atmosphere to equal the greenhouse gases emitted by more than 440,000 cars in a year."

It is impacts like this that lead many experts to believe that shale gas is worse than coal when it comes to global warming. 

The Real Danger of Shale Gas - Fugitive Emissions - Future of UK Fracking

Even before we burn shale gas in a power station or to cook our pasta, it has already done a great deal of damage.

A report has been written by the climate change quango in the UK (CCC), which likely contains these doubts, yet the Conservative Government have  purposefully delayed its release, until after the issue of the first fracking license in the UK. . . .

The current conservative government seems to take its environmental responsibilities very lightly, and unless they come under significant pressure from the public the fracking industry in the UK will likely continue to grow.


Methane from Meat Production 

Dulverton Hydro Power Plant - December 2015

Dulverton Hydro Power Plant

You may have noticed a little shack on the right as you go in to Dulverton from Tiverton Direction. This is a micro hydro power plant which works on the archimedes' screw principal.

Dulverton Hydro Power Plant - Photos

Dulverton Hydro power Plant - Video

Tory Hatchet Job on Low Carbon Initiatives Continues

Tory Hatchet Job on Low Carbon Initiatives Continues

George Osborne and the party he represents continued their hatchet job on the UK low carbon economy yesterday with deep cuts revealed in key areas following the chancellors comprehensive spending review. The only logical explanation for this thorough and wide spread merge, must stem from fossil powered lobbying. The Conservatives are normally described as "the nasty party" but when it comes to the Low Carbon agenda, they are just plain weak.

Recent moves demonstrate the Tory's deep lack of understanding of climate change and the urgency required in dealing with carbon emissions. It also sends out a confusing message to the world community ahead of the Paris Climate Change Talks, with potential to inflict cumulative damages from lost confidence, which will resonate world wide.

• DECC spending cut 22% over next five years
• £1bn Prise for Carbon Capture and Storage Scraped 
• Renewable Heat Incentive cut by 700 million

Osborne has also pledged to lower household bills by £30 a year. Energy saving measures are suggested, although it is likely these will be no more popular than the "Green Deal" which must be considered a failure. Presumably then the savings on Energy Bills will come from the continued subsidisation of coal fired power stations, whilst renewable energy subsides are slashed.

So we see the continued trend of the last few months as we the Tory bend over backwards to help big business maintain their strangled hold on the energy sector, whilst ignoring the overwhelming scientific consensus that climate change is on track to produce dangerous warming effects beyond the 2 degree rise many consider should be a maximum.

The mind boggles. How short sighted and ignorant can a government be. Very.

Where can I find evidence to support global warming?

Is Man-made Global Warming all a big Con?

Bank of England Boss: "Catastrophic Climte Risks"

Bank of England Boss: "Catastrophic Climate Risks"

James Carney the Bank of Englands Boss has warned of catastrophic climate risks, and the need to protect the UK's economy from the cumulative impacts of climate change.

The Governor of the BoE raised these concerns during a London dinner event held for bankers. But his views are backed up with reporting carried out by the Bank of England.

He has warned that many of or top businesses are in "carbon rish" sectors and that the the required decarbonsitaion of the economy could lead to to a shift, with these corner stone businesses becoming less sucessful.

Investment is green tech needs to quadrupedal said Carnry, and that it could no longer afford to be considered a niche market.

Watch the video of the speech below.

Full details at Bank of England.

Environmental Consultants London

List of Wiltshire Council Environmental Policies

List of Wiltshire Council Environmental Policies

Wiltshire's New Core Strategy is a bit of Mammoth at 380 pages. So to save you to the troubkle below is a none exhaustive lits of environment policies:

On a local level, the Wiltshire Core Strategy was adopted in January 2015. Relevant policies include:

• Core Policy 52 – Green Infrastructure
• Core Policy 55 – Air Quality
• Core Policy 56 – Contaminated Land
• Core Policy 57 – Ensure High Quality Design
• Core Policy 68 – Water Resources

Saved Policies:

• NE18 – Noise and Pollution
• C 39  - Environmental Enhancement

Hope useful!

Environmental Consultants Bristol

Aermod Software Compared 2015

Aermod Software Compared 2015

Aermod is a Gaussian based dispersion model, and there are various bits of software that use it.

Order in ascending price below.

EPA - Aeromod (Free)

The basic program  is available for free from the EPA website.

This is pretty tricky stuff though, and you will need to be OK with working at command prompt to get on with this.

Beeline Software - BEEST ($1350 )

BEEST includes all the parts you need for an AERMOD, ISCST3 and ISC-Prime analysis.

It has a GUI, and so input of data is far easier than the command prompt EPA version.

 Breeze Aermod  - ($1495)

AERMOD is a steady-state Gaussian dispersion model that represents the current state-of-science and promulgated dispersion model from the U.S. EPA. BREEZE AERMOD is an enhanced version of the EPA-approved AERMOD that provides modelers with the tools and functionality required to perform air quality analyses and that help to address both permitting, regulatory, and nuisance issues as well as perform academic research. BREEZE AERMOD/ISC offers the most complete air quality modeling system available on the market today. No other application is used by more air quality professionals around the world.Odour Management Plan

 

AERMOD is a steady-state Gaussian dispersion model that represents the current state-of-science and promulgated dispersion model from the U.S. EPA. BREEZE AERMOD is an enhanced version of the EPA-approved AERMOD that provides modelers with the tools and functionality required to perform air quality analyses that help to address both permitting, regulatory, and nuisance issues as well as perform academic research. BREEZE AERMOD/ISC offers the most complete air quality modeling system available on the market today. No other application is used by more air quality professionals around the world

Sample Frequency for WAC Testing

Sample Frequency for WAC Testing

Took forever to look this up so please find below handy table for working out how many samples you need to take per ton when taking samples for WAC Testing. WAC or Waste Acceptance Criteria are the levels of contamination found in waste relevant to the type of disposal facility it would have to go to, inert, general or hazardous.

  

 Waste Recovery Plan