California gas leak worst man-made greenhouse-gas disaster, EDF will take its time on Hinkley C, & more

26.02.16

News

California gas leak was the worst man-made greenhouse-gas disaster in U.S. history, study says

The massive leak that vented almost 100,000 tonnes of methane from a Los Angeles storage facility now appears to have been the worst accidental discharge of greenhouse gases in US history, a new study says. The Aliso Canyon leak, which was halted only a week ago, more than doubled the amount of methane pollution emitted by all sources across the entire Los Angeles region. The impact on the climate is said to be the equivalent of the annual emissions of more than half a million cars, says the BBC. Lead scientist for the study, Dr Stephen Conley, said that when he first began measuring the outpouring of methane in early November, the readings were so high that thought his equipment was malfunctioning, reports MailOnline. The study was covered widely, including The Hill, Reuters, Associated Press, Time and Ars Technica, while Carbon Brief has an infographic explaining the leak. Meanwhile, The Hill also reports that lawmakers in the US repeatedly pressed the federal government’s pipeline safety agency to crack down on the potential for leaks at natural gas storage facilities.

Amber Rudd may go nuclear but EDF will take its time on Hinkley Point C

The Independent

Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Amber Rudd, says she “fully expects EDF to go forward” with the new nuclear power plant at Hinkley and she “certainly hopes” they will make the commitment in the next month. Rudd makes the comments in an interview with the Independent about the ongoing uncertainty around the project. “This is a very large project involving large sums of money… and there are always last-minute things where people want to check this and check that. It’s a huge deal and it is a huge commitment,” she said.

Electric cars ‘will be cheaper than conventional vehicles by 2022’

The Guardian

A new report suggests that electric cars will be cheaper to own than conventional cars by 2022. Substantial reductions in the cost of batteries will be a key factor in a fall in total cost of ownership, which combinines purchase price and running costs, says the report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance. The dip below petrol and diesel cars will happen even if conventional cars improve their fuel efficiency by 3.5% a year, the researchers say. Grist also has the story. Elsewhere, Honda has announced a new goal to make two thirds of its sales from plug-in hybrids and zero emission vehicles by 2030, reports BusinessGreen, and Energy Live News covers a new survey that suggests 80% of Londoners would consider buying an electric vehicle when they next buy a car.

Oil prices dip on continued oversupply, despite news of meeting to freeze output

Reuters

Crude oil prices dipped this morning as reports of a meeting by oil producers to freeze output failed to convince traders that enough effort was being made to rein in global oversupply. Hope was stoked by reports that OPEC-members Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Venezuela, as well as non-OPEC producing giant Russia, would meet in March to discuss capping crude oil production at January levels. But the rally in oil markets did not last into this morning as traders estimated that a freeze in production would not reduce the glut, leaving crude oil prices at around $35 a barrel. Meanwhile, Ed Crooks at the Financial Times looks at how the oil industry hopes cost-cutting will generate returns amid low prices, and another FT article delves into the “eternal torment” of low prices on the industry.

Britain heading for power cuts next winter, say 60 local authorities

The Guardian

A group representing 60 local authorities has warned that recent closures of large power stations have left Britain “perilously exposed” to power cuts next winter. The Industrial Communities Alliance (ICA), an all-party association of councils across Britain, said the UK needed at least 2,500 megawatts (MW) of additional generating capacity – enough to power 2.5m homes. Responses from Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), Ofgem and the National Grid all denied that blackouts were looming. “There will be no impact on this winter and action has already been taken to secure extra capacity for next winter,” said a DECC spokesperson.

Arctic warming: Rapidly increasing temperatures are ‘possibly catastrophic’ for planet, climate scientist warns

The Independent

The rapidly warming Arctic could have a “catastrophic” effect on the planet’s climate, warns leading scientists Dr Peter Gleick, president of the Pacific Institute in California. Arctic sea ice cover for this point in February is currently smaller than at any time in the last 30 years, and Gleick says the “evidence is very clear that rapid and unprecedented changes are happening in the Arctic.” “We are, effectively, conducting a global experiment on the only planet we have,” he argues.

Comment

Energy price war spreads to gas as US shale storms global market, stalks Russia

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, The Telegraph

As the US exports its first shipment of natural gas, surging US supply over the next five years threatens to break Russia’s dominance over Europe’s gas market, writes Evans-Pricthard. The new exports are already provoking talk of a “Saudi-style” counter attack by Moscow to drive US shale gas frackers out of business before they gain a footing, he says. “At the very least, it sharpens a global price war as liquefied natural gas bursts onto the scene, and closes the chapter on the 20th century system of pipeline monopolies,” he says.

Science

Changes in yield variability of major crops for 1981–2010 explained by climate change

Environmental Research Letters

Kenya, Tanzania, Bangladesh and Myanmar are all likely to face greater year-to-year difference in crop yields as a result of climate change, according to new research, raising the risk of shortages in these already food-insecure regions. In total, crop yields in 9-22% of harvested area across the world will become more unstable, say the authors. The global trend is for reduced yield variability, however, with 19-33% of regions set to see smaller year to year differences.

Climate change predicted to lengthen transatlantic travel times