Tim Pollard, Head of Sustainability at Plumb Center, assesses whether the extraction of shale gas can be a valuable – albeit controversial – addition to the UK’s energy mix.
Fracking is one of the hot topics in the industry today.
In essence, it’s drilling down into the earth to recover gas and oil from shale rock, and the Government has invested in the process by offering large tax breaks to shale gas companies. This approach is basically in the hope that the UK can create more of its own gas and not rely on supplies from overseas.
On the one hand, it’s easy to see why fracking is an attractive prospect – shale gas could provide a relatively cheap, secure, energy supply.
But there has been high profile opposition to fracking – both here and abroad – as people are concerned with the effect it will have on water supplies, earthquakes and public health, although it’s important to note that nothing has been proven.
In my opinion it’s important to recognise the potential of fracking, but we have to be realistic.
I’ve read that the UK has large deposits of shale gas, but we don’t know how much the energy companies will be able to get out of the ground.
In the US, our transatlantic cousins have had success with fracking, and the country is on its way to becoming ‘energy independent’ (according to the International Energy Agency).
The problem is there’s no guarantee we’ll see the same sort of impact here. For one thing, we’re a much more densely populated country, which makes drilling harder, and there are many other factors, such as mineral rights, that mean the fracking process will be very different on our shores.
So while shale gas is an interesting prospect, we need to also invest in other ways to power the country. Making our buildings more efficient and looking at renewable heating systems like biomass boilers and heat pumps will go a long way to create clean, sustainable and affordable fuel. There is no one right answer, so it’s a good idea to consider them all.
[author image=”https://www.installeronline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/timpheadshot.jpg” ]Tim Pollard is Head of Sustainability for Plumb and Parts Center, and believes passionately in the provision of sustainable construction solutions which are practical, effective and economic. Tim played an instrumental role in launching the Sustainable Building Center in Leamington Spa, which was opened in 2008 as the UK’s first commercial showcase for sustainable building products and construction methods, and is head of the team which is defining Plumb and Parts Center’s sustainable product offer and its commercial implementation. During his 25-year career, Tim has developed a breadth of knowledge which stretches across a wide range of products and technologies together with the implications and requirements of a sustainable supply chain. He regularly speaks at industry conferences throughout the UK and is actively involved in activities within the local community, especially involving young people. [/author]
