Teachers and students visited the Palace of Westminster to meet Dr. Robert Spink MP and to ask questions of him, generally relating to Sustainable Development and the use of the worlds energy resources.
Q: Claudio Quaranta. (LGSA)
What do you see as the future of energy provision in the United Kingdom?
A: Bob Spink MP.
Looking ahead, possibly as far as 2050, Nuclear Fusion must be part of that energy provision. However, this will probably only provide some 25% of the overall needs.
In addition, the use of clean burn coal will add to that figure and I believe we have some 150 estimated years of supply underground in this country although it must also be balanced with the cost of transportation in energy terms, wherever the supply comes from and that could negate as much as 20% on those figures.
Q: Jasmin Mischke. (CZO)
What is Britain doing about ensuring the future of energy provision?
A: Bob Spink MP.
We must become cost effective when we look to renewable sources of energy and certainly what you are doing in the Comenius project re-enforces our duty to future generations to become energy efficient.
Such energy efficiency can equate to 25% of our total demand.
Q: Marta Casasola. (LGSA)
What do you think about the capture of energy from waste landfill sites?
A: Bob Spink MP.
The conversion of gas capture serves two major purposes, firstly the prevention of methane entering the atmosphere and creating a greater emissions footprint and secondly as I am pleased to say, both I and my constituency of Castle Point have supported the installation of conversion plants at our local landfill site generating some 12 megawatt of electricity, roughly translated to supplying 12,000 homes electricity demand for a year and probably for the next forty to fifty years.
Q: Wiebke Haselbach. (CZO)
What about energy use by the public sector?
A: Bob Spink MP.
What a very good question! The public sector including Government use some 20% of the energy consumption in the UK. I make a point on the size and use of my car in my public life having only an 1100cc engine. I wish other parliamentary colleagues would follow my example.
Q: Chiara Corradi. (LGSA)
What about the use of alternative fuels?
A: Bob Spink MP.
Bio-fuels including Palm Oils appear to be the most efficient but again there is a balance to be made with the economic and environmental cost of initial production
also the cost of conversion or refining of waste bio-fuel products. I can say this issue
was also raised on Canvey Island recently but that related more to an environmental location concern.
Q: Mats Patermann. (CZO)
Do you think the UK Government invests enough in sustainable and renewable energy projects?
A: Bob Spink MP.
No, definitely not! Perhaps too much reliance on Blue Skies Research and Nuclear Fusion and Fission to provide those answers.
Q: Sabrina Ramuenka. (CZO)
In Germany we seem further advanced than in the UK in the use of Bio-fuel technology, what other sources are being researched?
A: Bob Spink MP.
We are currently looking at Sugar Beet conversion to Bio fuel. Also, you may be aware that Richard Branson of Virgin is promoting its use, currently with his own freight aircraft.
Q: Federico Monteleone. (LGSA)
What is your opinion on more Wind Turbine Farms being created?
A: Bob Spink MP.
They form part of the renewable energy plan but obviously have limitations in terms of supply. They are also expensive and environmentally unfriendly and a further issue is they don’t always generate electricity when needed.
Q: Thomas Schaefer. (CZO)
What are the risks from more Nuclear Energy provision?
A: Bob Spink MP.
It is well documented, there is a very long ‘half life’ degeneration of radio active waste material which future generations will have to address. However, we have a duty to ensure nuclear waste is safer.
We must consider also, that on average each year some 100 coal miners across the world are killed whilst nuclear energy provision remains a ‘nil’ fatality production.
Q: David Scancarello. (LGSA)
What do you think about waste incineration and the possible links to cancer?
A: Bob Spink MP.
Essex in general and my constituency of Castle Point being one of its Boroughs does
not support having an Incineration facility before we address the issue of reducing our current approximate 750,000 tonnes annual waste to landfill to around 150,000 tonnes by 2030 and we have signed up to the EU ‘LATS’ Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme. During that time newer technology will emerge and a review of incineration will undoubtedly occur and hopefully will have no health impact issues.
Q: Monica Boccuzzi. (LGSA)
In Italy, following a popular referendum, we do not have nuclear power plants but we ‘buy in’ Nuclear Energy from other countries, do you think this is a way forward for the UK?
A: Bob Spink MP.
As I have mentioned, the risks of using Nuclear Energy are lesser than Fossil Fuels in energy production and the resultant increase in the carbon footprint. However, we should address this simple fact that Solar Energy radiates over our whole planet some 44 minutes every day of every year. Our problem globally is how to capture that energy.
Q: Christine Hertel. (CZO)
Do you know how much the UK spends on Nuclear Energy research?
A: Bob Spink MP.
Too much! There is a reliance on Nuclear Energy but cheaper and cleaner forms of PWR (Pressurised Water Reactors) and Sand bed systems are here.
The UK have announced today that the biggest Wind Turbine Farm has opened in Scotland. What happens if it is not windy?
A greater negative equity on energy production and cost efficiency!
Q: Maria Teresa Ciaffaroni. (LGSA)
In Venice we are experimenting with the use of seaweed as a bio fuel resource. Is there anything similar in the UK?
A: Bob Spink MP.
We are currently working on the seeding of Algae and its potential, both as a food and energy source and as discussed already, our collective demands are greater than the renewables available. We also have lots of seaweed!
The whole party thanked Dr. Spink for his time, by applause, for arranging the meeting to be held in the Grand Committee Room of the House.
