Introduction
The Energy Theme promotes sustainable energy use and the engineering of sustainable energy supply.
Each year the UK currently consumes the equivalent of around 160 million tonnes of oil to meet its energy demands. With many of our ageing power stations going offline during the coming decade, North Sea oil and gas resources becoming increasingly scarce, and ambitious targets for the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, there are significant challenges ahead for the way in which we source, distribute and use energy.
With tens of thousands of members working in the energy sector, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers is at the heart of the debate. IMechE is committed to promoting sustainable energy use and to engineering sustainable energy supplies by focusing on four key areas:
We believe that technological opportunities and engineering-led solutions will help solve the major issues in energy sourcing, distribution and consumption. By highlighting the work of our members and the engineering industry we hope to educate and inspire change within businesses, policy makers and the general public.
Our Key Messages
1. Go Lean, and then Go Green
The Energy Hierarchy
The Energy Hierarchy links closely to the principles of sustainable development and offers an integrated, easy to use approach to energy demand and supply decision making. A common-sense sustainable energy policy should make its first priority the reduction of energy use, before seeking to meet the remaining demand by the cleanest means possible:
- Priority 1: Energy conservation – changing wasteful behaviour to reduce demand
- Priority 2: Energy efficiency – using technology to reduce energy losses and eliminate energy waste
- Priority 3: Exploitation of renewable, sustainable resources
- Priority 4: Exploitation of non-sustainable resources using CO2 emissions reduction technologies
- Priority 5: Exploitation of conventional resources as we do now
2. Action on Energy
Action is needed across the demand and supply-sides of all energy sectors – we must pay attention to the issues of heat and transport energy as well as electrical power.
3. Don’t Waste the Heat
Because large centralised electricity generating plants waste so much energy in the form of heat, significant overall system efficiencies and sustainability for power generation can be achieved through a less centralised model, using low carbon sources such as biomass and “waste”, and local distribution of heat for domestic and industrial usage.
4. Use All the Options
Even after exploiting all the opportunities to reduce demand and provide locally-generated and distributed power, there will be a continuing significant role for centralised, grid-based electricity generation. A mixed portfolio of supply options should be preserved to enable a balanced grid and secure supplies, with an increasing share from renewables alongside a continuing role for coal and gas (both with carbon capture and storage) and nuclear.
5. Buildings Old and New
Significant opportunities exist in the built environment sector. Priorities include a major refurbishment programme to improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings, the rapid implementation and enforcement of higher standards for new buildings and the provision of better advice and financial support for on-site energy supply (micro-generation) technologies.
6. Less is More!
A clear and workable integrated long term Government transport policy is required together with appropriate and adequate financial incentives. The policy should aim to encourage a better balance of transport usage (passenger and freight), favour the most environmentally friendly solutions and promote increased use of public transport.
7. Renewables, Now!
The UK has an abundance and wide range of renewable energy sources available to it. We welcome the 15% by 2020 UK target for renewable energy set by the EU. It is achievable, but not with existing policies. A step change in the scale of ambition, reach and delivery of Government action is urgently required.
Learn more about renewable energy sources.
Underlying principles of the Energy Theme
In delivering the headline theme statements, the Institution will inform the public on engineering issues and campaign for decision makers to adopt specific measures and policies, based on its own analysis. To help ensure the resulting pronouncements are robust, consistent and appropriate, we will use the following guiding principles:
- We support the principles and practices of Sustainable Development, as described in the IMechE Sustainable
- Development Position Statement
- We use the word “sustainable” in its broadest sense, embracing concepts such as energy security, cost effectiveness, environmental stewardship, ethics, legacy and stakeholder dialogue
- We support technological innovation, particularly in areas that inspire young people and provide major future business opportunities
- Engineering and technology development on their own cannot address all the issues; we recognise the potential and need for behavioural, societal, political, economic and organisational change
- Markets and legislation are tools to be used to contribute to a sustainable future, not necessarily constraints on that future
- We accept the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Stern Review; that modern global warming is real and largely man-made. It can be cost-effectively addressed only if tackled urgently and aggressively
- We are a Learned Society, not a trade association or trade union. We will be open-minded, gather evidence from a wide variety of national and international sources, and make pronouncements on the basis of what we perceive to be best for society, the environment and economy at large
- We will, wherever possible, lead by example and promote engineering and engineers as able to achieve great things and thus be the key deliverers of a sustainable future.
This position statement is also available as a PDF download.