Outcome and discussion
The final options were:
A + F + C: Reduce reliance on imported gas through
increases in community generation, use ethanol produced from waste
plant material to generate electricity and imanage demand
B + D + C: Increase investment in wind industry, phase out
nuclear power, reduce generating capacity by leveling out supply and
manage demand
E + C: Maximise the contribution and benefits of solar energy and manage demand
Interpretation and discussion:
First it is worth noting that all three of the final options incorporated
the original option C “Demand management – improve electricity network
reliability and extend battery life for electric vehicles”, although,
while it was clear that most of the participants favoured managing energy
demand, it was not explicit how much emphasis was placed on each of the
proposed methods for achieving it (efficiency, reduced wastage and dynamic
pricing) nor the importance placed on the electric vehicle element of the
option. The problem of where the additional energy for charging electric
vehicles was seen as problematic by some participants, but others thought
it would and should be dealt with as electric vehicles were an important
part of the story and should be included in the energy mix.
The option that ranked highest at the end of the event was merged option
A + F + C.
The main emphasis of this option was a combination of reduced demand
through various types of demand management, increases in community
generation and a specific shift to the use of ethanol produced from waste
plant material to generate electricity. The original element of reduced
reliance on imported gas followed from this, but did not appear to be as
central to the revised option as it was in the original option A.
The second highest ranking was associated with merged option B + D + C.
Here the emphasis was on levelling out electricity supply and demand,
combined with a heavy investment in the wind industry. This was perceived
to have multiple benefits for the region, in particular local generation
and the growth of local industry, producing and maintaining wind turbines.
The smarter electricity grid was an important element of this option as
two-way flow of electricity at the small and large scale would make it
viable. Similarly storage was an important element of this option.
It was not clear how committed the merged group were to eliminating
nuclear power from the mix, although this was part of the original option B.
Finally, the lowest ranked of the final three options (although it was
very close to option B + D + C) was merged option E + C.
This option sought to maximise the contribution and benefits of solar
energy again combined with a demand management strategy. While this option
did not rank as highly as the others, it was also apparent that increased
use of solar was a popular strategy with those favouring the other options,
so an overall mix decided by this audience would definitely have included
solar heavily – in particular, in option A + F + C solar would be an
important element of energy (heating and electricity) generated locally
(i.e. community generation).
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