We discuss the energy crisis created by the Ukraine War.
We talk about retrofitting and insulation.
We talk about the nuclear option.
Climate In a dramatic start to 2023, a winter heat wave smashed January records across Europe. (Washington Post)
War in Ukraine energy crisis for the west - Global impact of war in Ukraine: Energy crisisAs Russia wages war on Ukraine, Europe has adopted a four-fold strategy:
Condemn Russian aggression and help impose sanctions regime
Continue importing Russian oil due to fears of high fuel prices: Shell and Vitol accused of prolonging Ukraine war with sanctions ‘loophole’ ('Europe continues to import about 250,000 barrels a day via pipeline from Russia as it attempts to balance hurting the Russian economy with concerns over supplies and fuel prices.')
Continue shutting down baseload power-generating nuclear reactors
Turn to alternative energy sources like…natural gas, coal, and intermittent wind and solarRebuttals to usual anti-nuclear fearmongering rhetoric: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1580814439875776513.html
Current Nuclear fuel comes from Russia, Kazakhstan and Niger: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Nuclear_energy_statistics#Uranium_supply_security
Niger and Kazakstan are in Russian orbit: https://www.voaafrica.com/a/can-blinken-sway-niger-from-russia-china-influence-/7010365.html
Canada working on small nuclear reactors: https://smractionplan.ca/
Developments in Renewable techs:
Batteries - Why 2023 is a breakout year for batteries
solid-state batteries - smaller, better performance, safer
Sodium-ion batteries may not improve performance, but they could cut costs because they rely on cheaper, more widely available materials than lithium-ion chemistries do
iron-air battery that uses a water-based electrolyte and basically stores energy using reversible rusting
Solar - Chart: Which country dominates the solar supply chain?
Insulation -
https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/straw-bale-construction/
https://wildsight.ca/2022/03/07/home-retrofits/#:~:text=Retrofitting%20a%20home%20means%20updating,doors%2C%20and%20improving%20air%20sealing.
https://natural-resources.canada.ca/energy-efficiency/homes/canada-greener-homes-grant/start-your-energy-efficient-retrofits/plan-document-and-complete-your-home-retrofits/eligible-grants-for-my-home-retrofit/23504
Lack of retrofit options for apartment and condos - typically these are the “renters” so the retrofit help rich get richer than drive down costs for renters
This helps owners and owners have no incentives to retrofit rented out homes
Geothermal - https://www.dw.com/en/we-are-entering-the-golden-age-of-geothermal-energy/a-64127592
https://pemedianetwork.com/carbon-economist/articles/net-zero-strategies/2022/outlook-2023-the-geothermal-prize-in-tackling-the-energy-trilemma/
RenewablesOil, gas, coal (hydrocarbons)
Russia supplies around 70% of European Coal
Factbox: Europe ramps up coal imports as energy supply fears grow
China brokers agreement between Saudi Arabia & Iran
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/europe-ramps-up-coal-imports-energy-supply-fears-grow-2022-07-26/
