Summary of the presentation

Dr Luke Myers, Lecturer, Department of Engineering and Environment, Southampton University

Whilst our mainstream media sources often criticise renewable sources of energy, weighing up the pros and cons, our scientists continue to explore and experiment, edging us nearer to finding usable solutions.

Tidal power is predictable, unlike wind. The most turbulent tidal sites provide a challenging test bed for each new design of tidal turbine and Dr Myers’ talk references several different projects and different design of turbine. Less turbulent sites such as St Catherine’s Point here on the Island provide a less hostile environment where designs can be operated more easily, where experimentation in the early stages can perhaps provide clearer insights.

Security of supply is becoming the dominant news story. Tidal power as a renewable source has a part to play in meeting demand as other energy sources diminish and/or become subject to global political unease.

Dr Luke Myers: Presentation

Dr Luke Myers: Presentation slides
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Q&A with the audience

Photo of Luke Southapmton Uni

Thank you very much to Sue Curd, who provided this write-up of the event. If you’d like to do a write up, please get in touch – Ed.

Professor Chris Rhodes’s talk gathered the biggest audience the Isle of Wight Cafe Scientifique has had to date.

We all gathered hear Chris on the subject of fracking. The talk and accompanying slides (below) provide a background to available energy resources and the contribution made by each and then covers potential fracking shale oil and gas specifically.

It seems that fracking is an expensive process and that at current oil prices the economics are not attractive. It’s also debatable whether the volume is worthwhile especially considering the relatively low quality of the oil which then needs to be heavily processed in order to produce high-grade fuel.

Land density in US and Europe are very different
Fracking is widespread in the US however the geology of the US differs considerably in that there are vast expanses of unpopulated and unused land whereas Europe is more densely occupied. The accompanying slides provide current data on energy resources generally and more specifically about shale and certainly some useful diagrams for any students out there (Students: remembering to cite your sources!).

This is a factual presentation useful for those who would like to gain more knowledge at a time when financial incentives are being pressed on local authorities to investigate fracking for shale gas and oil.

Prof Chris Rhodes presents his views on local impacts explaining the need for numerous drillings over a site and the impact on local road infrastructure.

A lively question and answer session follows the main talk.

Prof Chris Rhodes: Presentation

Prof Chris Rhodes: Presentation slides

Q&A with the audience