Public Interest Research Centre - PIRC

Regarding 10:10′s recent ‘No Pressure’ video, we recommend reading the analysis on our Climate Safety blog.

The Offshore Valuation is published today by the Offshore Valuation Group, chaired by the Public Interest Research Centre. It is the first comprehensive valuation of the UK’s offshore renewable energy resource over the long-term that explicitly assesses electricity exports to Europe.

The Offshore Valuation Group is an informal collaboration of government and industry organisations that has commissioned an independent report to address the question: what is the value of Britain’s offshore renewable resource? The group includes the UK, Scottish and Welsh Governments, The Crown Estate and eight companies across the energy sector.

It is widely acknowledged that within Europe, Britain holds the largest resource of offshore wind, wave and tidal power. Until now the full scale of the economic opportunity this represents has been unknown. The Offshore Valuation reveals that rapid development of the UK’s offshore resource – using fixed wind, floating wind, tidal stream, tidal range, and wave technologies – could by 2050 generate an amount of electricity equivalent to a billion barrels of oil per year, or the same as the average annual output of UK North Sea oil and gas production seen over the past four decades. If developed still further to tap their full practical potential, offshore renewables would allow the UK to power itself six times over at current levels of demand.

The study shows that the offshore resource has value to the UK whether we use the power ourselves or simply view it as an export commodity to Europe.

Three illustrative scenarios calculate the potential Net Present Value to the UK of developing this resource to maturity by 2050.

The report’s central scenario examines what would need to happen for the UK to become a net exporter of offshore renewable electricity. To do so, the UK would need to exploit just under a third of its total offshore wind, wave and tidal resource by 2050 – resulting in infrastructure with a positive Net Present Value of £35 billion. The supply chain necessary to realise the central scenario would have annual revenues of £62 billion in 2050, profits of £16 billion, and could employ around 145,000 people in manufacturing, installation and operations & maintenance. If fossil fuel prices rise higher than the Government’s central projections, the benefits would be larger still.

The report sets out a number of key enablers for Government and industry to ensure the UK is on a path that allows it to access its substantial and valuable resource:

• Make Round 3 offshore wind grid connections ‘super-grid compliant’ to avoid locking out potential future electricity sales to Europe;
• Take a leadership role in the current EU super-grid negotiations, to ensure that the UK derives maximum value from its design and implementation;
• Continue to develop the UK supply chain as key to deployment at scale and least cost;
• Develop new financing structures that complement the fundamental features of renewable energy infrastructure and can support the scale and speed of industrial growth required.

Tim Helweg-Larsen, Director of PIRC, commented, “This report seeks to present to the UK the true value of an energy resource right on our doorstep – at a time when concerns over security of supply and climate change are ever-present. To discover that we own a resource with the potential to return the UK to being a net power exporter, and on a sustainable basis, is genuinely exciting, and a wake-up call to those in a position to foster the further development of this industry”.

David MacKay, Chief Scientific Advisor at DECC, said: “Britain’s huge offshore energy resource is dominated by wind: offshore wind farms occupying a sea-area the size of Wales would deliver more electricity than Britain’s average electricity consumption today. The key question is what building and maintaining these wind turbines and their associated energy-storage and delivery systems would cost, in material and financial terms. For me, this helpful work brings home the crucial value of investment in innovation in wind machine designs, in floating wind turbine prototypes, in tidal stream, and in novel energy storage systems.”

The Offshore Valuation Group is comprised of a wide range of organisations representing government, industry and the public interest.

The full report is available for download from: www.offshorevaluation.org

Energy Intern

Applications Closed

We are looking for a budding, confident and enthusiastic Energy Intern to join our small and dynamic team based in Wales.

The successful candidate will work over a six-month period promoting research that demonstrates why a transition to a renewable-rich energy system in the UK is not only necessary, but also technically feasible, cost-effective and good for the economy.

Projects will include synthesising and promoting research which shows how the challenge of variability can be overcome; supporting our work on the value of Britain’s offshore renewable resource; and contributing to an analysis of the energy discourse in the UK.

The role will also involve:

• Opportunities to present material in meetings and seminars;
• Participation in project development sessions;
• Opportunities to liaise with policymakers and NGOs;
• Collective duties and some administrative work.

Requirements:

• Great organisational skills;
• Self-motivated & hard-working;
• Environmentally conscious;
• Ability to work individually & in a small team;
• Experience of copywriting an advantage;
• IT skills essential (Word, Excel,Email etc.. )

In return we offer a chance to make a significant contribution to our work; to gain in-depth knowledge of UK energy policy and the potential of renewable energy; experience of working for a small charity on environmental issues, and the supervision and support of our staff.

You would need to be based in mid-Wales for the duration of the placement. Within certain limits, PIRC will cover accommodation, travel and lunch expenses for volunteers.

About PIRC

PIRC is an independent charity integrating key research on climate, energy & economics – widening its audience and increasing its impact. Our most recent work includes “Climate Safety“, a report synthesising the latest climate science and its implications on policymaking and campaigning (climatesafety.org); “Coal in the UK“, an interactive map and website exposing and monitoring the proposed expansion of the UK coal industry (coalintheuk.org) and in 2007, “Zero Carbon Britain” a collaboration with the Centre for Alternative Technology on an ambitious 20 year decarbonisation plan for the UK (zerocarbonbritain.org).

PIRC has three permanent staff members, and a working model that minimises hierarchy, with all staff members sharing administrative tasks, as well as more interesting work!

Availability

6-month placement starting January
4th (some flexibility).

Interviews will take place on the 1st-2nd December.

Included

PIRC can cover accommodation, travel
and lunch expenses, within certain limits.

To Apply

Send a CV supported by a covering letter
that shows how your experience and skillset suits the position, to arrive
by 9am, Monday 23rd November, to:

Richard Hawkins
PIRC
Y Plas
Machynlleth
Powys
SY20 8ER

01654 702277
rich@pirc.info

Climate Intern

Applications Closed

We are looking for a budding, confident and enthusiastic Climate Intern to join our small and dynamic team based in Wales.

The successful candidate will work over a six-month period researching and communicating the latest climate science in order to influence policymakers and campaigners. Output will include writing briefing papers and reports, blogposts for our website Climate Safety, and preparing presentations.

The role will also involve:

• Opportunities to present material in meetings and seminars;
• Participation in project development sessions;
• Opportunities to liaise with scientists and NGOs;
• Collective duties and some administrative work.

Requirements:

• Great organisational skills;
• Self-motivated & hard-working;
• Environmentally conscious;
• Ability to work individually & in a small team;
• Experience of copywriting an advantage;
• IT skills essential (Word, Excel,Email etc.. )

In return we offer a chance to make a significant contribution to our work; to gain in-depth knowledge of climate science, UK climate policy; the experience of working for a small charity on environmental issues, and the supervision and support of our staff.

You would need to be based in mid-Wales for the duration of the placement. Within certain limits, PIRC will cover accommodation, travel and lunch expenses for volunteers.

About PIRC

PIRC is an independent charity integrating key research on climate, energy & economics – widening its audience and increasing its impact. Our most recent work includes “Climate Safety“, a report synthesising the latest climate science and its implications on policymaking and campaigning (climatesafety.org); “Coal in the UK“, an interactive map and website exposing and monitoring the proposed expansion of the UK coal industry (coalintheuk.org) and
in 2007, “Zero Carbon Britain” a collaboration with the Centre for Alternative Technology on an ambitious 20 year decarbonisation plan for the UK (zerocarbonbritain.org).

PIRC has three permanent staff members, and a working model that minimises hierarchy, with all staff members sharing administrative tasks, as well as more interesting work!

Availability

6-month placement starting January
4th (some flexibility).

Interviews will take place on the 1st-2nd December.

Included

PIRC can cover accommodation, travel and lunch expenses, within certain limits.

To Apply

Send a CV supported by a covering letter
that shows how your experience and skillset suits the position, to arrive
by 9am, Monday 23rd November, to:

Richard Hawkins
PIRC
Y Plas
Machynlleth
Powys
SY20 8ER

01654 702277
rich@pirc.info

Team Member

• Location: Machynlleth, mid-Wales
• Position Type: Paid / Full time / 1 year
• Closing Date: Applications Closed
  
• Contact: Richard Hawkins / 01654 70 22 77 / rich@pirc.info

We are seeking an enthusiastic and confident generalist with experience of project management, communications and research to join our small and dynamic team, based in Machynlleth, mid-Wales on a one-year contract.

PIRC is an independent charity integrating key research on climate change, energy & economics – widening its audience and increasing its impact.

Our recent work has included “Climate Safety“, a synthesis of the latest climate science and its implications on policymaking and campaigning; “Coal in the UK“, an interactive map exposing and monitoring the proposed expansion of the UK coal industry and “Zero Carbon Britain“, an ambitious 20 year decarbonisation plan for the UK in collaboration with the Centre for Alternative Technology.

We act as a bridge between the academic/scientific community and policymakers and campaigning groups, translating technical research into engaging materials including reports, briefing papers, presentations, websites, videos and animations.

Our future work will explore social and technical solutions to the challenges of climate change and energy security in the face of economic uncertainty. This will include: promoting the ability of renewable energy to provide the majority of our energy needs; critiquing the media’s role in climate change communications and exploring mechanisms which can finance the transition to zero-carbon infrastructure.

PIRC has three permanent staff members supported by a rolling internship programme. Our working model minimises hierarchy, with all staff sharing administrative tasks, alongside core/project work.

The successful applicant will become a core part our team, working on a number PIRC projects, both existing and upcoming as well as contributing to the overall running of the organisation, including administration and fundraising when necessary.

Applications Closed

It’s that time of year again, when we’re looking for a budding, confident and enthusiastic intern to join our small and dynamic team, in mid-Wales – applications to rich@pirc.info – details below:

The successful candidate will work over a six-month period on one or two of the following projects:

• Climate safety – a project synthesising the latest climate science and its implications on policymaking and campaigning;
• Coal in the UK – documenting the proposed expansion of the UK coal industry;
• Renewables can do it – a project promoting the potential for renewable energy to provide the majority of our energy needs;
• Core work – exploring mechanisms which can finance the transition to zero-carbon infrastructure.

This will involve:

• Independent research to support PIRC projects;
• Participation in project development sessions;
• Opportunities to present material in meetings and seminars;
• Collective duties and some administrative work.

Full training will be provided where necessary.

Personal & skills:

• Great organisational skills;
• Self-motivated & hard-working;
• Environmentally conscious;
• Ability to work individually & in a small team;
• Some experience of copywriting an advantage;
• IT skills essential (Word, Excel, Email etc.. )

In return we can offer a chance to make a significant contribution
to our work, to get experience of working for a small charity on
environmental issues, and the supervision and support of our staff.

You would need to be based in mid-Wales for the duration of the
placement. Within certain limits, PIRC will cover accommodation, travel
and lunch expenses for volunteers.

About PIRC

PIRC is an independent charity integrating key research on climate
change, energy & economics – widening its audience and increasing
its impact. Our most recent work has included “Climate Safety”, a
report synthesising the latest climate science and its implications on
policymaking and campaigning (climatesafety.org); “Coal in the UK”, an
interactive map and website exposing and monitoring the proposed
expansion of the UK coal industry (coalintheuk.org) and last year “Zero
Carbon Britain” a collaboration with the Centre for Alternative
Technology on an ambitious 20 year decarbonisation plan for the UK
(zerocarbonbritain.org).

PIRC has three permanent staff members, and a working model which
minimises hierarchy, with all staff members sharing administrative
tasks, as well as more interesting work!

Availability

6 month placement
Interviews will take place between the 19-21st February.

Included

PIRC can cover accommodation, travel and lunch expenses, within certain limits

To Apply

Send a CV supported by a covering letter that shows how your experience and skillset suits the position, to arrive by 9am, Monday 2nd February, to:

Richard Hawkins
PIRC
Y Plas
Machynlleth
Powys
SY20 8ER

01654 702277
rich@pirc.info

Helping People Change Their World

The Sheila McKechnie Foundation has opened applications for its 2008 awards, inspired by the legacy of Dame Sheila McKechnie.

The awards will begin a search among communities across the UK for
people of all ages who are campaigning to change their world locally
and globally. These will be the people with the potential to set the
agenda for politicians on issues ranging from climate change to support
for children with dyslexia.  

Tim Helweg-Larsen, a mechanical engineer won the 2007 Environment Award
for his campaigning on global climate change.  Tim launched
zerocarbonbritain, a radical vision of Britain

UPDATE:  Dieter Helm has published an excellent report attempting to answer this question, called "Too good to be true? The UK’s Climate Change Record, download it here.

The ESRC’s Research Group on Lifestyles, Values and Environment (RESOLVE) has just published an important initial analysis of the UK’s carbon footprint based on final consumption. From our research on CAT’s Zero Carbon Britain project we’re very aware that further research in this field is sorely needed.

Abstract

The UK Climate Change Bill proposes to establish legally binding targets for a 60% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. This paper discusses the challenges posed by measuring progress towards this target. It takes as a premise that the conventional production-based accounting framework, enshrined in the UNFCCC emissions accounting guidelines, is inappropriate for this task because it fails to account for the carbon