The College of Global Change : Hot Ideas from the Climate Change Kitchen

Are We Ready for Energy Change ?

Research Survey

What is this survey ? This survey is about your views on upgrading the energy systems in the United Kingdom.

Why take part in this survey ? If you have 15 to 20 minutes to answer the 30 questions in this survey, you will be contributing to an ambitious university study. Its main aim is to provide essential feedback on energy changes to policymakers and campaigners.

What do you think about energy ? This survey asks questions about how ready we are for changes in the energy systems. It asks you what you think about Energy Change, rather than asking if you are "doing your bit" to save energy.

Why do the energy systems need to change ? New energy systems need to be built because old ones need to be shut down. The new energy systems need to be paid for, even though there are problems in the global economy. The UK Coalition Government has made several proposals on how to use both public and private money to make Energy Change happen.

Making progress on the Coalition Government's Energy Bill and related legislation is vital for the long-term economic prospects of the country, and as a concerned citizen, now is the time for your voice to be heard on the development of cleaner, greener energy systems.

What's the future ? The UK Parliament's 2008 Climate Change Act makes it the law to cut down on global warming gas emissions, and so new energy systems will be low carbon. Better and cleaner energy systems can help stop Climate Change and support economic health. The price of electricity and fuel will almost certainly go up in future, partly because of Energy Change. This makes saving energy important for keeping the national economy stable.

How do I answer this survey ? There are 30 questions in the Energy Change survey, plus 10 general questions about who you are to help with analysis of the results. Please give yourself 15 to 20 minutes to complete the survey. In each question, please choose the answer that best matches your ideas - and if none of them are close enough, or if you disagree with anything about the question, please choose the "Other" option and give your reasons.

For more information, or if there's anything wrong, please contact the researcher by e-mail or telephone 0845 4598460. Click here for more on energy. Please be aware of the Terms & Conditions for this survey, and also the Disclaimer.

The UK energy regulator Ofgem says that £200 billion needs to be spent over the next ten to fifteen years to replace energy supply systems that have reached their end of life. To meet the demands of Climate Change law, energy companies will need to provide new clean technologies for energy systems, and this will make the cost of energy higher than otherwise.

Question 1 When fossil fuel energy systems need replacing, will it be worthwhile to spend the extra money to use new, clean energy technologies ?

	No. We should spend the least amount of money possible to provide new energy supplies.
	I don't think so. We shouldn't risk our energy supplies by relying on unproven low carbon technologies.
	I'm not sure. We're in an economic recession, so it is unclear about the best way to proceed.
	I expect so. We are told that we need new low carbon technologies.
	Yes. We have to invest in our long-term energy security and a stable environmental climate.
	Other (please specify)

Roughly half of the UK's electricity is generated by burning coal. Between 2004 and 2009 the energy company BP says the world used up 45 years of known coal reserves. New emissions standards will mean that coal power stations should not be in constant use without capturing the carbon dioxide and storing it permanently out of reach. Carbon capture technology will make power stations burn more fuel than they do now.

Question 2 Do you think there are economic risks in building new power stations that will burn coal for another 50 years ?

	No. I'm sure the energy companies can make Carbon Capture and Storage cheap enough to compensate for rising fuel prices.
	No. Despite what some people claim, there are hundreds of years of coal left in the ground.
	No. We are always going to need coal power stations for when the wind doesn't blow.
	I'm not sure, but maybe we should switch to burning Natural Gas for power.
	Yes. We could be locked in to using ever-more costly coal to generate electricity.
	Yes. We might build them then find that Climate Change laws prevent us using them.
	Other (please specify)

The market prices for fossil fuels have changed a lot in the last few years. Experts say that supplies of petroleum oil might never get higher than they are now. Natural Gas supplies are coming from resources that were considered uneconomic twenty years ago. More power plants will use Natural Gas in future, because it burns more cleanly than coal.

Question 3 How likely do you think it is that the UK will see significant disruption in imports of oil or Natural Gas within the next 20 years, because other countries are competing for the same resources ?

	Not at all. If we start to run out, the prices will go up and pay for more exploration.
	Not really. The Middle East countries can be persuaded to open up their taps a little more.
	I don't know for sure, but it would be a good idea to have more Natural Gas storage in this country.
	Could be. The energy companies are having to drill and mine in harder-to-reach places.
	Very likely. As poorer countries develop, energy supplies are going to be stretched.
	Other (please specify)

A fifth of the power stations in Britain need to be replaced soon, due to old age and new European emissions rules. Decisions about replacement technologies have been delayed or shelved, such as the Severn Barrage Scheme for tidal electricity. In these difficult economic times, energy companies are slow to build new power stations, and the Government has few powers to make sure there's enough electricity.

Question 4 Do you think that the UK will face shortages in electricity supply in the next 10 or 20 years ?

	No. Reaching our European renewable energy targets will compensate for decades of under-investment in energy
	Probably not, if we can rationalise energy consumption and overcome our resistance to wind farms.
	I'm not sure. Whatever happens we can always import French nuclear power, as long as their reactors are still running safely and reliably.
	Possibly. It all depends on whether adequate support is provided to private companies to help them build new power stations.
	Yes, I'm afraid to say. The economic situation will prevent timely replacement of key power plants.
	Other (please specify)

Upwards pressure on energy prices is coming from all directions, including European Union renewable energy targets. There are UK Government proposals to price carbon dioxide emissions, and the cost to energy companies will be passed on to bill payers. Amendments to the existing Renewables Obligation will provide more power from sustainable sources, at a price to the taxpayer. Plus, building new energy systems depends on raw resources such as steel, whose real world prices are rising.

Question 5 Do you think that electricity prices will rise in the next few years ?

	No. They will go down quite a bit, as the European energy market becomes more open.
	New markets will push prices down a little, as renewable energy is installed across Europe.
	Energy prices will stay about the same in Britain because the Government will open up the North Sea to further oil and gas exploration.
	Energy prices will rise, keeping pace with renewed economic growth from recovery.
	The need to build new energy systems will make consumer prices rise strongly.
	Other (please specify)

The UK Government proposes to set up UK carbon pricing, and it is hoped this will support the development of low carbon technologies. The carbon floor price is intended to be a stronger market signal than the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme, which has suffered from very low prices, computer hacking and credit fraud.

Question 6 Do you think that setting a definite price on carbon dioxide will have an impact on emissions ?

	Definitely not. Economic instability will have more of an impact on carbon dioxide emissions than carbon costs.
	No. All the energy companies producing or using fossil fuels will strongly resist the imposition of an effective carbon price.
	No. The market signal from carbon trading is being lost amongst the wild swings in energy prices - I don't think a fixed carbon price would do any better.
	No. Energy companies will not choose to invest in low carbon energy technologies because of a carbon price. They only respond to tax breaks, grants, bailouts and subsidies.
	Maybe, if the carbon price is high enough, but we will need to protect small businesses and those living in fuel poverty.
	Yes. Putting a higher price on carbon dioxide emissions will make companies take note when they run their profit forecasts.
	Absolutely. Energy companies will seriously consider low carbon technologies for new investments if there is a firm price on carbon.
	Other (please specify)

The UK Government's Climate Change Committee recommended that the UK cut emissions by 34% by 2020. The UK has a European Union target - 15% of all energy should come from renewable sources by 2020. This could mean over 30% of UK electricity having to come from renewable energy. Plus, there will need to be strong enforcement measures for energy conservation, and significant renewable heat provision.

Question 7 Do you think we can meet Climate Change targets in the UK over the next ten years by rapidly increasing the amount of renewable energy, such as wind power ?

	No. I think the emissions targets are unrealistic and they will cost us too much money.
	No. I think that the global economic conditions will prevent us from building all the renewable energy systems we need.
	No. I think we should be building nuclear power plants instead of wind farms to cut emissions.
	No. Renewable energy is not very reliable. Instead we should reduce emissions by building Carbon Capture and Storage for our coal power stations.
	I don't know. Isn't energy conservation more effective than renewable power at cutting emissions ?
	Yes. I know that energy companies are putting effort into making this happen, and the Government has plans to support them financially.
	Absolutely, but I think it will require tougher rules from the Government.
	Other (please specify)

The Treaty of Lisbon promises to keep the lights on in the European Union. The British Government are committed to meeting their EU Renewable Energy Directive target. As it stands at the moment, the target is that 20% of all European energy should come from renewable sources by 2020. European Union policy in the 2008 Energy Package will directly fund investment in what it calls Strategic Energy Technologies. This includes funding for a supergrid to connect renewable energy resources across the region.

Question 8 Do you think Britain should urge Europe to adopt a new target of 30% renewable energy by 2020, compared to the current target of 20% ?

	Absolutely not. The energy markets are finding it hard to ramp up renewable energy production as it is.
	No. There's a recession on, and it would be a waste of money to spend it on renewable energy.
	I'm not sure.
	Yes. It would be good for Britain to have more homegrown energy, but it's going to cost a lot of money.
	Definitely. Britain should show leadership and protect its economy from energy price shocks in the future.
	Other (please specify)

Experts recommend that electricity providers switch fuels from coal to Natural Gas, which burns more cleanly. Many electricity generators will want to burn Natural Gas to avoid the potential of costly carbon prices or taxes. The UK Government says that burning Natural Gas for electricity is the lowest cost, lowest risk investment for new power stations. However, from start to finish, extracting new resources of Natural Gas may produce more emissions than coal.

Question 9 Do you think that large oil and gas companies such as Shell, BP, ExxonMobil and Chevron should put more money into developing clean energy resources from the sun, tides and wind ?

	No. They're oil and gas companies. That's what they do.
	I don't think it is important. If the oil and gas companies don't diversify out of high carbon fuels, they'll lose market share to low carbon energy companies, but not profits, because energy prices are going up.
	I'm not sure. The world relies heavily on fossil fuels, but Climate Change is a concern.
	Yes. The oil and gas companies should reconsider their future business plans in case a firm carbon tax is set.
	Definitely. The oil and gas companies need to diversify out of polluting carbon.
	Other (please specify)

The energy companies seem to be slow to put their capital resources into building new energy systems. Some might think that they are waiting for promises of Government financial support because of the enormous costs involved.

Question 10 Who should pay for Energy Change ?

	The banks - especially the banks that had Government bailouts.
	The companies with money in Swiss Banks and offshore tax havens.
	High net worth individuals such as Bill Gates
	Taxpayers.
	Pension Funds and other large institutional investors.
	The energy companies.
	Energy bill payers.
	Other (please specify)

According to the UK Government energy statistics, in 2009, households used two thirds of all Natural Gas for heating and hot water, and more than a third of all the electricity. Transport in the UK used nearly all of the petrol and diesel, which was more than a third of all the energy consumed in the UK.

Question 11 What do you think would be the best use of the money raised by carbon pricing ?

	Subsidising a nationwide programme for insulating buildings and solar power.
	Compensating energy companies for the loss of their profits as they borrow and spend on new energy systems
	Supporting industry to manufacture lightweight, efficient new cars, buses and trains to run on renewable electricity or renewable gas.
	Financing new Natural Gas and oil exploration in the North Sea
	Supporting the build of new Nuclear Power stations to replace the ones going out of service
	Supporting new Carbon Capture and Storage technologies for Coal plants.
	Subsidising wind power, tidal power and wave power technologies.
	Developing a better electricity grid, connecting us with the rest of Europe.
	Other (please specify)

The UK Coalition Government are proposing to give nuclear power plants some state support by reviewing their financial obligations when they close down. Setting a carbon price would benefit nuclear power operators as they make electricity with much less emissions than coal power. The UK Government is proposing to buy out any failing energy companies under a new Special Administration Regime. Some campaigning organisations question whether Government financial support will be spent on the best energy technologies.

Question 12 Do you think it would be efficient to run low carbon energy as a national business ?

	No. The history of nationalised industries has been one of waste, inefficiency and poor public service.
	I don't think so. Europe has an open market in energy and it should stay that way.
	I couldn't say one way or the other
	Probably. The private energy companies have not been ploughing their profits back into new energy systems.
	Yes. The history of the privatised energy industry has been one of waste, lack of investment and poor public service.
	Other (please specify)

The European Union and the UK are investing public funds in new electricity grids. These developments will help to open up the European market to new electricity resources, but it does not guarantee that energy companies will commit capital to building new power stations, wind farms or marine energy, and it does not set a timetable for new energy supplies.

Question 13 Do you think that the Government should intervene directly in the energy markets, for example by setting target dates for new power stations, banning dirty or inflexible energy technologies, or refusing energy projects that will take a long time to build ?

	No. We should let the market decide which kinds of energy we have.
	Not really. The energy companies already have an interest in building new power stations to replace those going out of service, and don't need pushing.
	I don't know. Very little has been built until recently, but that could change.
	I suppose so. It could seem like there isn't an overall plan at the moment.
	Yes. Carbon capture is nowhere in sight, so we should ban dirty coal power as a basic first step
	Yes. We should forget about expanding nuclear power as it's too slow to build.
	Other (please specify)

The Coalition Government scrapped New Labour Government plans for an Infrastructure Planning Commission that would have been central to implementing national energy policy for new grids and power stations. Energy companies now face uncertainty about whether new energy systems can be fast-tracked through the Localism Bill that is under discussion.

Question 14 Do you think that local communities should be allowed to refuse a planning application for a low carbon energy system such as a wind farm, a "capture ready" coal plant, or nuclear power station ?

	No. People always resist local development, even when it will benefit them in the long run.
	No. But they should be awarded compensation payments, or dividends from the energy company profits.
	Maybe not. People that refuse wind farms have used some poor local environment arguments.
	Yes, because large energy companies should not be allowed to exploit our country's resources purely for profit.
	Yes, because we should not have to accept the poor technology choices of the energy companies.
	Other (please specify)

The European Union has set aside about €70 billion to finance Strategic Energy Technologies that include Concentrating Solar Power, Carbon Capture and Storage and new nuclear power plants. The UK Government has invited wind turbine manufacturing companies to set up in the UK. It has also proposed the Green Deal, a system of loans to householders for energy saving renovations which would reduce bills, savings that would pay off the finance.

Question 15 What do you think is the best way to make and keep green jobs in the British economy ?

	National investment in wind power factories in the UK
	Regulate energy companies to sell energy reduction services as well as energy supplies
	Make energy efficiency a key target for every public and private service contract
	Mandate that every company has energy monitoring and control staff.
	Train Gas Safe installers and builders to provide home makeovers to increase domestic insulation.
	Other (please specify)

The UK Coalition Government is proposing to offer special payments or price guarantees to electricity generation companies. This is to offer certainty for energy companies coming forward to build expensive investments such as new Nuclear Power Plants and Carbon Capture and Storage facilities.

Question 16 Do you think offering energy companies special payments or price guarantees to encourage them to build costly new energy systems is fair practice ?

	Yes. The Government needs a direct lever on energy companies to make sure they build new and expensive energy systems.
	It's probably OK. The energy companies need to feel that they are not going to lose out by spending the money to build new energy systems.
	I'm not sure.
	Probably not. If energy companies are going to receive special payments or price guarantees, consumers will have to pay more for their energy than they need to.
	No. It goes against the grain of the free market principles in energy supplies.
	Absolutely not. The Government should take firmer control of the energy supply instead of offering sweeteners.
	Other (please specify)

The British Government is proposing to offer special payments or price guarantees to all electricity generators, whichever fuel they use, to persuade them to keep power stations in operation, and maintain a regular electricity supply.

Question 17 Do you think the British Government should offer special payments or price guarantees to electricity generators to keep the lights on in the UK, even though some of them will be burning fossil fuels ?

	No. There will always be a market for power in the UK, even without special payments or price guarantees, so there's no need.
	No. The Government should regulate the industry instead of handing out sweeteners.
	No. High carbon energy technologies should be phased out, so they should not get state support.
	No. We should pay the full price for electricity generated from burning fossil fuels, so that energy companies have a reason to invest in low carbon power instead.
	I don't know.
	Yes. We will need to compensate essential electricity generators who suffer a loss of earnings from carbon pricing.
	Other (please specify)

A lot of the UK's wealth is tied up in fossil fuel energy systems. Pension funds and other major investors expect good returns from companies such as BP. The main mission of companies like BP is to provide profit for their shareholders. To break the vicious cycle of dirty energy investment, it is necessary to find a mechanism to redirect funds towards low carbon energy.

Question 18 Do you think that Local Authorities, Charities, Pension Funds and other large organisations should make a conscious effort to put their money into green energy investment ?

	Absolutely not. Money should always be invested for the highest return.
	No. Organisations should be free to choose how they invest.
	I'm not sure what is best.
	Yes. Organisations should consider green investment as much as they do ethical investment.
	Absolutely. Organisations have a responsibility to make all their investments green.
	Other (please specify)

The UK Government has put forward proposals for a Green Investment Bank as a way for ordinary people to vote with their savings on the development of new low carbon energy technologies.

Question 19 Would you be prepared to put your savings in the proposed Green Investment Bank ?

	Certainly not. The money would probably be wasted on wind turbines that don't work properly.
	No. I don't think it would provide a sufficiently high interest rate for my financial plans.
	I don't know. I'd probably wait and see how it performs first.
	Yes. I think it sounds like a good idea.
	Definitely yes. I think it's essential that we pool our resources to make the move to a green economy.
	Other (please specify)

If everybody did their little bit on energy conservation, the sum total would be only a little bit of what is needed to reduce energy waste and greenhouse gas emissions. Do the actions of energy consumers matter ? Or do all the significant decisions get made by Government and the energy companies ?

Question 20 Do you think that household energy consumers should be held responsible for changing their behaviour ?

	No. The Government should make sure that all energy is low carbon energy.
	I don't think so. I am careful with energy use, but I often don't have low carbon options available.
	I don't think there is anything I can do myself to change things.
	Maybe. People do waste a lot of energy at home without thinking, but energy companies should make an effort as well.
	Yes. People should become more aware of energy waste and their part in turning down and turning off as a social duty.
	Definitely. There should be laws about energy conservation. Maybe we need energy rationing.
	Other (please specify)

The UK Economy is worth roughly £7 trillion. Currently, most contracts for goods and services are considered on a purely value for money basis. The electricity suppliers are obliged to procure a certain amount of green power. A similar obligation for low carbon heat could be provided by such things as more home insulation, biomass burning and district heating schemes (from community combined heat and power plants).

Question 21 Do you think all Local Government and public services should have obligations to buy green energy - not just electricity but also heat and vehicle fuel ?

	No. The Renewables Obligation has proved costly and inflexible, and procurement would get even more difficult if similar rules applied to all forms of energy.
	I don't think so. Obligations to "buy green" should be limited to problem areas such as electricity generation.
	I'm not sure. It seems sensible to consider the environmental effects of energy, but on the other hand it would probably make everything more expensive.
	It makes sense. If the cheapest option is the dirtiest option, there has to be a way to prevent it.
	Yes, certainly. Every step of a supply chain should be green, and public services and large companies can lead the way.
	Other (please specify)

The Gulf of Mexico oil spill of 2010 will cost BP billions of dollars for the clean up and fines. BP made an annual trading loss of $4.9 billion in the year 2010. The oil company Chevron have recently been fined billions of dollars for environmental pollution in Ecuador.

Question 22 Do you think that media attention to the BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill and the heart-rending stories of coal mine accidents are helping to influence perspectives on what our future energy choices should be ?

	No. They're just over-inflated environmental and "human interest" stories.
	I don't think so. The world will continue to want to burn oil, gas and coal in ever-increasing quantities.
	I don't know.
	Probably. People are normally not aware of the environmental impacts of how energy resources are drilled and mined.
	Definitely. Most people accept that clean energy is the future, and these stories add to the determination to close the door to the high carbon past.
	Other (please specify)

The Coalition Government in the United Kingdom want to introduce what is known as the "Green Deal" in their new Energy Bill. This would offer homeowners a loan, paid back from energy savings, to renovate their properties to make sure they use less energy. The mass programme of insulation of British offices and homes will take a lot of manpower, and could be expensive, but could save a lot of energy and money in the long run.

Question 23 In your view, what would be the best side-effect of the UK Government's Green Deal for energy saving in homes and offices ?

	Many new employment opportunities.
	Natural Gas supplies could be freed up to replace the coal burned in power stations.
	We could start to compress the spare Natural Gas to use in new low carbon vehicles.
	Reduce expensive imports of Natural Gas.
	It would prevent us having to consider energy rationing, if Natural Gas imports are threatened.
	Other (please specify)

The UK Government have offered incentives to energy companies to help us reduce the amount of electricity we use. Many low energy light bulbs have been handed out, but this has been criticised as a token gesture, as it has not reduced the amount of power the country uses. It is cheaper to cut electricity use ("negawatts") than building new power stations, so energy saving makes sense.

Question 24 Which do you think would be the best way to cut down on your demand for grid electricity ?

	Put a wind turbine on your roof
	Put electricity-generating solar panels on your roof
	Buy all-new A++ rated electrical appliances
	Make sure that all your non-essential electrical equipment gets turned off at night
	Not buying any extra electrical devices and appliances
	Install a smart meter to tell you how much power you're using so you can control it, and maybe even turn the freezer off for several hours a night
	Turn off the lights when you don't need them on
	Other (please specify)

The energy company BP says that there are 46 years of oil reserves left; 63 years of Natural Gas and 119 years of coal. Running road vehicles on liquid fuel made from coal or Natural Gas would be costly and dirty. It would take decades to replace all the cars, vans, lorries (trucks) and buses to use compressed Natural Gas or electricity, so there could be a real crisis ahead for transport systems.

Question 25 Which do you think could provide an effective substitution for petrol and diesel vehicle fuel ?

	Corn (maize) bio-ethanol - which would take up a large area of food-growing land.
	Sugarcane bio-ethanol - which currently threatens rainforest and uses peasant labour.
	Cellulosic bio-ethanol - which is an unproven fuel.
	Plant oil bio-diesel - an industry that currently threatens rainforest and food supplies (palm oil, coconut, jatropha, canola or rapeseed).
	Algae bio-diesel - which is largely untested and slow to produce.
	Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles - which have heavy metal containers for the gas on board (high cost).
	Electric vehicles - which need to use rare metals in heavy batteries on board (high cost).
	Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) - which creates huge fuel efficiencies in India already.
	Compressed bio-methane - which would be digested from plant, animal and human waste.
	Much smaller, lighter cars or covered mopeds.
	Not driving so much any more
	Other (please specify)

There are a number of factors influencing energy prices, including the need to build new energy systems, carbon pricing and economic conditions. Estimates vary for how much consumer energy bills will increase, but most experts agree that we will be paying more as bill payers, because the energy companies will pass most of these costs on to us. Even if some of the costs of new low carbon energy investment are offset by Government support, the energy bill payers will still bear the cost, as taxpayers.

Question 26 How much extra do you think energy bill payers might have to pay for the energy companies to build a fully low carbon supply of energy ?

	25% for 10 years.
	15% increase for 15 years.
	10% for 20 years.
	5% increase for 25 years.
	Other (please specify)

Electricity is a very flexible form of energy, and it can be made in a wide variety of ways. A number of reports projecting the future of energy have said that using renewable electricity to power our vehicles and heat our homes is a flexible strategy, as the changes in transport and households can be made at the same time as the supply of renewable electricity is being developed.

Question 27 It has been projected that we will stop using fossil fuels altogether and everything will be run on renewable electricity, from transport to heating. Do you think that's a possible future ?

	No. Nobody will want to afford a slow electric car or waste expensive electricity on heating.
	No. Renewable energy is too expensive.
	No. We will always have plenty of fossil fuels. As the prices go up, it will make economic sense to find fossil fuels in more difficult places.
	I'm not sure. I don't think you can fly aeroplanes on electricity.
	Yes. Although I think it will take a long time to phase out petrol-burning cars.
	Yes. Climate Change will force us to abandon using fossil fuels, so we have no other choice.
	Yes. Fossil fuels will start to run out, so there will be a strong economic incentive to move the whole economy over to renewable energy.
	Other (please specify)

There are several stages for the transition to a low carbon economy. Some of the changes made along the way will be useful later on. For example, making energy systems more efficient, and doing more with less, such as installing Combined Heat and Power plants in the community. This will make the use of fossil fuel much more efficient, and the same systems will be able to use renewable fuel later on when it is more widely available. The number of changes means that the low carbon transition will be a major part of the economy.

Question 28 Do you think that the shift towards renewable energy will make the rest of the economy suffer ?

	Absolutely not. Examples like Texas and Germany show us that rapid renewable energy development does not conflict with economic strength.
	Not at all. The development of national homegrown energy will increase employment and protect the national budget.
	No. Increased competition for fossil fuel resources will mean that moving to renewable energy makes economic sense.
	I'm not sure.
	Yes. Other sectors in the economy will suffer from the resources and finance given to renewable energy development.
	Definitely. Green power will damage economic recovery, as energy becomes a much more expensive part of our lives.
	Other (please specify)

A number of people are saying that we should focus on producing renewable gas that we can use in the existing grid network and in power stations. Renewable gas could be hydrogen made from spare wind power (bio-hydrogen), biogas made from composting animal and human waste (bio-methane), or biogas from burning municipal waste (bio-syngas). Changes would need to be made at every sewage treatment plant, local authority waste depot and many farms, factories, supermarkets and warehouses.

Question 29 Developing sources of renewable gas could make up for falling supplies of Natural Gas coming from the North Sea. We could make use of the existing Natural Gas grid network without significant changes. What do you think would be the biggest impact ?

	Using renewable gas could provide something like a third of our national consumption.
	Feeding renewable gas into the grid network would mean building works in many locations.
	The UK would not need to develop high carbon gas resources
	The UK would not need to waste money importing liquid natural gas (LNG).
	The UK would not need to have a complex political contract with Russia or the Middle East.
	It would save the country a lot of money on our heating bills.
	I don't know enough about this to be able to say.
	Other (please specify)

Progress on replacing the use of fossil fuels has been slow. Fossil fuels are still relatively cheap in the global economy, and the fossil fuel energy companies are embedded in the investment and finance sector. Transition from one energy resource to another is time-consuming and expensive.

Question 30 Which energy source do you think we will be using the most of in 2030 ?

	Solar Power
	Wind Power
	Nuclear Power
	Petroleum, Natural Gas and Coal
	Tidal and Wave Power
	Solar, Tidal and Wave Power
	I don't feel I know enough to say
	Other (please specify)

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