Zero Carbon Britain Event (London 9th April 2014): Can renewables keep the lights on?

(1973)

(2014)

“Voices from a disused quarry”

www.publications.cat.org.uk

www.cat.org.uk

www.zerocarbonbritain.org

Can we ‘keep the lights on’ with a 100% renewable and carbon neutral energy system?

Can we provide a healthy low-carbon diet for the UK population?

New research

A technically robust scenario in which the UK has risen to the challenge of climate change.

Net zero across all greenhouse gas emissions (not just energy), using technology we have now.

From this …

… to this

Without major impacts on quality of life (in fact, we think this future looks pretty good)

We have to see the future like this

No ‘business as usual’ future

is available.

“Need an explicit recognition that it is ‘large and difficult’, not ‘simple and painless’”

– Stuart Capstick

So, how does this work?

Energy

Supply Demand

Can we “keep the lights on”?

The ZCB Energy Model:

Based on ten years of real-world hourly data

2002 - 201187,648 hours

ZCB electricity supply

ZCB electricity demand

Land use

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Biomass

70% of our land

(85% livestock)

55% of our food

Toda

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Biomass

Land use in ZCB

There is enough space for:

• Food

• Biomass

• Natural spaces

Food + diets model: nutrition, emissions, land

Land use GHG emissions today

~ 10% of UK total

Agricultural GHG emissions today

~ 10% of UK total

Current average UK diet 64% of adults overweight/obese

(Bates et al, 2011).

71% of deaths in 2010 from diet- related disease (WHO, 2013).




• Too much food.




• Too much food.

• An unhealthy balance.




• Too much food.


• Too much HFSS and high protein foods.

• Too little fruit, vegetables and cereals.




• Too much food.


• Too much HFSS and high protein foods.

• Too little fruit, vegetables and cereals.

• Waste (30% in Europe (FAO, 2011)).

Food + diets model: nutrition, emissions, land

Change our diets

Change our diets• Switch high protein foods

5-6 portions meat/dairy/eggs.

4 portions ‘alternatives’ (beans, pulses etc).

+ Milk for tea/coffee.

Change our diets

+ halve food waste

+ improve agricultural practices

= Emissions - 75%

85% of our food

55% of our food

Grow all the biomass need

Capture remaining carbonSafe, proven, long- lasting methods:

• Restore 50% of peatlands

• Double forest area

• More use of UK wood products

This is how it works.

Net zero GHG emissions is possible.

• Using technology available now.

• Without major impacts on quality of life.

We can provide a reliable energy supply.• 100% renewable/carbon-neutral.• No nuclear, no fossil fuels.• Using technology available today.

ZCB also shows that

We can provide a reliable energy supply.• 100% renewable/carbon-neutral.• No nuclear, no fossil fuels.• Using technology available today.

We can provide a healthy sustainable diet, biomass and capture carbon using UK land.

ZCB also shows that

Other benefits:

• 1.5 million jobs

• Increased resilience

• Biodiversity

• Improved wellbeing

© All rights reserved by Centre for Alternative Technology

Other benefits:

• 1.5 million jobs

• Increased resilience

• Biodiversity

• Improved wellbeing

A positive future.© All rights reserved by Centre for Alternative Technology

Zero Carbon Britain

To demonstrate that integrated and technically feasible solutions do exist.

To demonstrate that integrated and technically feasible solutions do exist.

To support and inspire the action needed to achieve a positive zero carbon future.


18th – 20th July

How can ZCB be most useful?


• Helps us see the scale of our actions.


• Helps us see the scale of our actions.• Be more radical in what we ask for.


• Helps us see the scale of our actions.• Be more radical in what we ask for.• As a tool to help forge political will.

http://www.twoenergyfutures.org Danny Chivers et al.

http://www.twoenergyfutures.org/


• Helps us see the scale of our actions.• Be more radical in what we ask for.• As a tool to help forge political will.• Helps local groups fit into a bigger picture.


• Helps us see the scale of our actions.• Be more radical in what we ask for.• As a tool to help forge political will.• Helps local groups fit into a bigger picture.• Helps us imagine an alternative future.

‘What we need is credible optimism … the real problem is that we can’t imagine the alternative’ – Naomi Klein

www.cat.org.uk | @centre_alt_tech www.zerocarbonbritain.org | #ZCB

We have the technology to power the UK with 100% renewable energy, to feed ourselves

sustainably and to leave a safe and habitable climate for our children and future generations.

Have you learned something new this

evening?

Speak to someone with the same coloured blob

How are you feeling right now?

(bit of emotion please…)

Speak to someone with a different coloured blob

Is there a particular fact or statistic that’s going to

stick in your head?Blue blobs speak to green blobsBlack blobs speak to red blobs

Is there anything you’re thinking

about differently as a result of the

evening? Blue blobs speak to red blobs

Black blobs speak to green blobs

Who do you think might find ZCB useful – will you

tell them?

Speak to someone with the same coloured blob

Will anything you’ve learned tonight

change your approach to

sustainability or environmental

action? Speak to someone with a different coloured blob

What do you think is the most useful thing to do with

this research now?

Speak to someone with a different coloured blob

Don’t forget to add your thoughts to the comment and feedback cards!

Thankyou!(now just have fun)

Speak to whoever you want!

www.cat.org.uk | @centre_alt_tech www.zerocarbonbritain.org | #ZCB

Zero Carbon Britain Event (London 9th April 2014): Can renewables keep the lights on?

Environment

Transcript of Zero Carbon Britain Event (London 9th April 2014): Can renewables keep the lights on?