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Same day: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-09/uk-coal-free-week/11095220 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-09/uk-coal-free-week/110... "Britain records fi

Same day: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-09/uk-coal-free-week/11095220 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-09/uk-coal-free-week/110... "Britain records first coal-free week since the Victorian era, thanks to gas, nuclear power and renewables" (Admittedly, that was 56.7% natural gas, so not nearly as renewable as I'd like...)

azinman2 8y ago
Natural gas is a much less dirty source at least.
- erdewit 8y ago
  Right, two thirds of the energy of natural gas comes from the hydrogen atoms which, when burned with oxygen, produce water. On the other hand burning "beautiful, clean coal" only yields CO2 and a bit of SO2.
  - mrob 8y ago
    >two thirds of the energy of natural gas comes from the hydrogen atoms which, when burned with oxygen, produce water Natural gas, being mostly methane, has the highest proportion of hydrogen of any fossil fuel, but it still emits at least 50% of the CO2 of coal for the same energy production: https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=73&t=11 https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=73&t=11
- ClassyJacket 8y ago
  As someone who has no knowledge of this whatsoever, my assumption is that burning natural gas still emits greenhouse gases, but doesn't emit cancer-causing particles that coal does. And that maybe it's better than coal for climate. So my layman feelings are that it's better but still bad. A quick google suggests that both these assumptions are correct, so it still seems like a big improvement per KwH versus coal.
setquk 8y ago
For now. Apparently we got a big chunk of our energy imported and there’s Brexit on so we’re going back to coal fired Teslas and eating grass and our own shoes pretty soon I reckon.
- swarnie_ 8y ago
  > Apparently we got a big chunk of our energy imported Not strictly true. Right now we're importing just over 4% of our energy needs with 2.7% of that coming from the nuclear power loving French. Source: https://www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk/ https://www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk/

azinman2 8y ago

Natural gas is a much less dirty source at least.

erdewit 8y ago
Right, two thirds of the energy of natural gas comes from the hydrogen atoms which, when burned with oxygen, produce water. On the other hand burning "beautiful, clean coal" only yields CO2 and a bit of SO2.
- mrob 8y ago
  >two thirds of the energy of natural gas comes from the hydrogen atoms which, when burned with oxygen, produce water Natural gas, being mostly methane, has the highest proportion of hydrogen of any fossil fuel, but it still emits at least 50% of the CO2 of coal for the same energy production: https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=73&t=11 https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=73&t=11
ClassyJacket 8y ago
As someone who has no knowledge of this whatsoever, my assumption is that burning natural gas still emits greenhouse gases, but doesn't emit cancer-causing particles that coal does. And that maybe it's better than coal for climate. So my layman feelings are that it's better but still bad. A quick google suggests that both these assumptions are correct, so it still seems like a big improvement per KwH versus coal.

setquk 8y ago

For now. Apparently we got a big chunk of our energy imported and there’s Brexit on so we’re going back to coal fired Teslas and eating grass and our own shoes pretty soon I reckon.

swarnie_ 8y ago
> Apparently we got a big chunk of our energy imported Not strictly true. Right now we're importing just over 4% of our energy needs with 2.7% of that coming from the nuclear power loving French. Source: https://www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk/ https://www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk/