Successful 'Energy Beyond 2040' symposium in Gibraltar attracts over 200 people including six Members of the Gibraltar Parliament and representatives from environmental NGOs.
The Gibraltar Group of Professional Engineer (GGPE) organised a Symposium entitled "Energy Beyond 2040" which took place on Thursday 18 November 2010 in the theatre of the John Mackintosh Hall.
The main reason for holding such an event was our general concern at the fact that Energy will become the dominant world issue as oil reserves become severely diminished within three or four decades.
The problem will be worldwide and will have the largest effect on island-like territories which are dependent on oil for electricity generation. Transport powered by internal combustion engines, that is today's cars, ships and aircraft, will be severely affected regardless of the size and configuration of countries.
The GGPE understands the need to construct a new state of the art diesel oil power station to replace the three ageing stations. This is the best technology available today to meet our electricity demand. Power needs to come from a reliable energy source. We consider that this will probably be the last power station of its type to be built in Gibraltar. Its operational life will be coming to an end around 2040. So what happens after 2040? Our sixth formers of today will be the people in position of responsibility then. This will be a problem that will affect future generations.
The purpose of this Symposium was to discuss the options open to Gibraltar in the form of new types of energy to replace oil. Amongst the well over 200 people in the audience, which packed the theatre, were six Members of the Gibraltar Parliament and environmental NGOs.
The Symposium was opened by the Chairman of the GGPE Mr Xavier Pons. His speech outlined Gibraltar's dependence on fossil fuels since the onset of electricity generation and commented "our current sixth formers and my own grandchildren will face a future without oil". Mr David Bingham gave a thorough overview of Gibraltar's power needs and the plans for the new power station. The audience was able to appreciate how the load varies on an hourly basis and the resilience of the diesel engines to fulfil this demand. The new facility would employ cutting edge technology that will help reduce emissions and noise pollution.
Mr Juan Gari provided a fascinating insight into the submerged tidal current turbines being developed by his company which has presently a one megawatt turbine undergoing tests at the European Marine Energy Centre in Scotland. The Gibraltar sea area offers special challenges on accounts of its depth close to shore. Once the technology was fully developed in shallower waters, Gibraltar's potential would be maximised.
Dr Nigel Burton, IET President offered a sobering assessment on the scope for green energy in Gibraltar. Its small size would make it difficult to rely exclusively on renewable sources. According to him, the new power station engines' ability to operate on renewable sources of bio-fuel could be the way forward. He pointed to the uncomfortable reality that well planned, regulatory mechanisms were necessary to encourage consumers to make better use of available energy resources.
The Symposium was closed by Mr Joe Holliday, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Enterprise, Development and Technology, who highlighted the Government's commitment to explore the possibilities of renewable alongside the new power station.