Renewable power is key to keeping the lights on for the long term and to reducing carbon emissions and hence climate change right now.
To do this, renewable power needs to replace power from scarce or polluting fossil fuels, but it is currently regarded as the expensive, small-scale option. In the UK, renewable power supplied less than 5% of Britain’s electrical power needs in 2006, the second lowest in Europe. The UK Government has aspirations to more than triple this contribution by 2015, en route to reducing carbon emissions by at least 60% by 2050. This requires fundamental technological and industrial changes. However large scale installation of renewables has been achieved in other countries e.g. Sweden (26%) and Austria (21%) and the UK now needs to replicate these successes.
There are many options and considerable political and public pressure to increase renewable power’s contribution to the generation mix but all “solutions” are complex, both technologically and socially, as we seek to manage the change-over from a society based on fossil fuels to the exploitation of more sustainable resources.
Many engineers are now developing, manufacturing, building, operating and financing new renewable power projects. British engineers have been leading projects here and abroad and considerable expertise and experience is available. With the sector expanding quickly many more experienced engineers will be attracted into the sector and young engineers will start their careers in the sector with the prospect of it providing a lifetime of professional challenges.
IMechE’s Renewable Power Committee is constituted to be a natural home for all forms of renewable power. We have contributed to renewable power policy debate for over a decade and organise a programme of conferences, seminars and lectures. We also explore new ways to promote renewable energy inside and outside of IMechE.
David Raubenheimer
Chairman
Renewable Power Committee
"To provide an informed perspective, from professional Mechanical Engineers, into the continuing development of the renewable power industry; engaging with engineers, industry, financiers, NGOs and government to promote effective knowledge sharing and technology & policy development."
The Renewable Power Committee will:
- Create a ‘natural home’ for all aspects of mechanical engineering which relate to the renewable power industry
- Provide a focal point within the Institution for matters relating to renewables in power industries
- Establish and maintain a viewpoint on the value and effect of renewables
- Offer professional opinions to the government and other external organisations
- Promote renewables through conferences, seminars, lectures and discussion meetings
- Represent the Institution at the discussions on renewables of other learned societies
- Encourage collaboration with other committees within IMechE as well as other Institutions
- Involve experienced engineers to ensure the committee represents the state of current knowledge in renewables
- Recommend Institution papers for prizes and awards
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The scope of the industry - and hence the committee - ranges from resource assessment, economic viability, environmental impact analysis, project development and financing, manufacturing and technology development to safe commercial operations and maintenance for both power devices and complete plants. This operates at both large scale and at microgeneration levels. Much of this needs to link in with, and provide a specific renewables focus for, existing specialisms within the Institution.
The scope includes: - Strategic UK Government and international policy
- Biomass in power generation, co-firing and CHP Schemes, including fuel logistics and handling
- Biogas from landfill and anaerobic digestion
- Recovering power and Power Generation Fuels from waste
- Wave power development and exploitation
- Wind power (onshore and offshore)
- Hydro power expansion (whilst mitigating any adverse effects)
- Tidal power development and exploitation
- Solar power development and exploitation
- Geothermal power development and exploitation
- Infrastructure requirements for renewable power
- Interfacing with other relevant committees
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