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The UK needs to STOP growing! (Out the EU I say)

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I've always wished for the UK to be as self-sufficient as possible. I don't think being so reliant on other countries is good :no:

Reply 141

2016_GCSE

Original post by littlenorthernlass

I've always wished for the UK to be as self-sufficient as possible. I don't think being so reliant on other countries is good :no:

Certainly not, If turn off at any moment then we are also buggered.

Reply 142

JamesN88

Original post by 2016_GCSE

I have placed some time in to researching geo-thermal and if tides go weak then we could possibly have some geo thermal plants taking advantage of naturally occurring steam. The UK is not volcanic by any means however there is suitable places where these sites could be built: http://www.britgeothermal.org/research/uk.html

Other options include turning off more street lamps at night in areas that will have a lot of other lights lighting up the streets, Leaving a gap of 1 on , 1 off , 1 on for street lamps lowering electricity usage across the nation.

If all these renewable sources of electricity come together i'm sure that we will be able to keep the UK powered without taking up large spaces of land or burning toxic fuels.

According to your own source Iceland(a country of only c300k people that's littered with active volcanoes) only provides 25% of its electricity demand through geothermal power.

This would be a drop in the ocean for the UK's requirements for 60million+ people even with equivalent to Iceland's level of geothermal activity, never mind our minuscule level in comparison.

Reply 143

2016_GCSE

Original post by JamesN88

According to your own source Iceland(a country of only c300k people that's littered with active volcanoes) only provides 25% of its electricity demand through geothermal power.

This would be a drop in the ocean for the UK's requirements for 60million+ people even with Iceland's level of geothermal activity, never mind our minuscule level in comparison.

Geo Thermal was part of a response to meeting demands when tides were low for generating power through water and if there were low winds for wind turbines.

Anyway's can't electricity be stored for later use through any methods if excess is been made?

Reply 144

JamesN88

Original post by 2016_GCSE

North Korea is a step too far, My steps won't go beyond Food , Water and Power.

Most major things in the modern world as we need these to keep our nation going.

Should we rely on other countries who could turn off supply's in an instant?
Certainly not.

They need our money as much as we need their energy supplies.

Reply 145

2016_GCSE

Original post by JamesN88

They need our money as much as we need their energy supplies.

But we need secure power as much as we could use there excess power.

If these countries can't produce enough power for us one day are they going to turn power off for there own country to supply us? Certainly not as they would not let there country's fail for the UK's benefit.

Reply 146

J_C_

These are all things that the establishment has a strong vested interest in preventing, some of them justifiably. For example, if I'd worked really hard all my life, I'd be a bit vexed to see all my hard earned money entirely devalued. More importantly, people in this position, as well as those with inherited and more ill-gotten wealth, are the exact demographic who could actually influence the course of the country (though I doubt even they could turn it into a mechanised socialist utopia, even if they wanted to).

More minor point, but if nobody on our all-of-a-sudden entirely independent and isolated island has any money, how exactly do they function when travelling abroad? Locking everyone in, just as all of the immigrants would be locked out, wouldn't go down too well.

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Reply 147

J_C_

Now here, you've made the classic Donald Trump error. The energy industry is a global market, run by companies who sell to the highest bidder. The government of Iceland, or whoever, don't get much of a say.

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Reply 148

JamesN88

Original post by 2016_GCSE

You can but it isn't viable in the volumes needed for a large scale supply. The power companies just increase or decrease output from plants depending on demand.

Original post by 2016_GCSE

You've been watching too many apocalyptic films. Political tensions are a more likely cause but ultimately money talks, for example despite all the recent posturing between Russia and the West we're still happily buying gas of them and they're happily selling it to us.

Don't get me wrong I'm certainly in favour of renewable energy, if it was up to me every south facing roof would have a solar panel on.

Reply 149

JamesN88

Original post by littlenorthernlass

I've always wished for the UK to be as self-sufficient as possible. I don't think being so reliant on other countries is good :no:

Of course, you should always rely on yourself before anyone else.

I'd hardly call the OP's idea of collective farming, with the govt controlling the entire food supply and then rationing it to the population a reasonable way of going about it though. :smile:

Reply 150

DJKL

Why not grow more plants raise less livestock, thus increase calorific yield per acre plus improving the health of the population into the bargain, thus in the long term reducing health costs. There is also vertical farming, albeit you need to crack the energy issues, but if you can generate cheap clean power the yields growing in controlled spaces would greatly increase.

However not good news for McDonalds; veg burger and fries instead of that delightful quarter pounder burger they currently sell.

Reply 151

J_C_

Original post by DJKL

However not good news for McDonalds; veg burger and fries instead of that delightful quarter pounder burger they currently sell.

And that's kinda part of the problem, because at the end of the day, it's a consumer driven market. People won't accept the death of fast food, because on the short term, it's in nobody's interest.

Well, maybe the vegans, but other than that, the consumers still want it and the producers still want to sell it, so you couldn't make a dent in it if you tried. This extends to so many other aspects of the economy and society and means that self sustainability isn't feasible. People won't take Maoism lying down.

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