ISHS Acta Horticulturae 76: Symposium on More Profitable Use of Energy in Protected Cultivation
CONCLUDING SUMMARY |
| Author: | G.F. Sheard |
| Abstract:
In its latest report on the world energy outlook, OECD concludes that world oil production will peak in the 1990's and that unless industrialised countries change their current energy policies, it will be impossible to satisfy the demand for oil by the middle of the next decade. Failing any large additions to proven reserves; world production of oil will rapidly decline from the end of the millenium. The outlook for coal, the other major fossil fuel, is better there being proven reserves estimated to last for 300 years at current rates of extraction. The situation with coal differs from that with oil only in degree and declining oil production can only stimulate an increase in the production of coal. It is always possible that current projections will be proved wrong but considering developments in the science and technology of mineral surveying and prospecting they are, in my view, more likely to be correct. There are many people in the world who refuse to look ahead and believe that by taking no notice, problems will disappear. I think the works of Charles Dickens are well enough known in most countries for me to remind you of the character Mr. Micawber in the book David Copperfield. He was, you will recall, always hoping for something to turn up. We have too many Mr. Micawbers hoping our energy problems will disappear. They will not, but by effort they are capable of solution as the papers presented during this week have shown. I do not consider the situation will suddenly or dramatically become worse but we must look 12–15 years ahead. This is about the time when energy problems are likely to increase through declining supplies of oil and gas and the time when the capital investment in modern greenhouses will have been written off. We have to face the possibility that priorities in the use of fossil fuels could be determined as matters of national policy. It could be agreed that oil and gas supplies were best used as chemical feedstocks rather than as primary sources of energy. If such priorities were determined, it is unlikely that the production of crops in greenhouses would receive very high priority. Now is the time to begin the move to alternative sources of energy for heating greenhouses. Now is the time to initiate research and development programmes to solve the problems involved. When the problems increase in ten years time we should be ready, to start then will be too late. The papers presented during the symposium show that there are three main areas where progress is possible. First to exploit the greenhouse climate by manipulating the environment to increase yield and reduce the energy content per unit of output. Second to reduce heat loss from greenhouse structures. Third to exploit alternative sources of energy. Manipulation of the environment and reduction of heat loss from structures provides immediate short term help but they will do little to solve the basic, long term energy problem. We must look to | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
