Man-made island to provide energy for about 80 million people in Europe

Man-made island to provide energy for about 80 million people in Europe

News Unknown   07:25

Efforts are being put in place to create an artificial island off the UK coast which would be able to supply parts Europe with renewable energy.

The following are countries that would benefit from the project upon its completion: Britain, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway and Belgium. The man-made island would host several wind turbines and solar panels and act as an energy centre of the continent.

The project is said to be proposal made by a group of energy firms from the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany. And it is expected to cost £1.1 billion, and also rubber stamped by Brussels on March 23.

The project which is to occupy 25 square mile island is going to accommodate a small workforce and feature roads, workshops, trees and a man-made lake with a beach.

Sea and airports which accommodate tankers, a control tower and terminal are also going to be built together with the 7,000 wind turbine.

It is believed that by 2050 hubs would be put to used says Energinet, a Danish state-owned energy grid operator.

According to Torben Glar Nielsen, Energinet technical director: “Maybe it sounds a bit crazy and science fiction-like but an Island on Dogger Bank could make the wind power of the future a lot cheaper and more effective.”

Positioned 62 miles off the coast of Hull on Dogger Bank, the site is thought to keep costs low as it is comparatively shallow with depths varying from 15 to 36 metres.

Interestingly, it has been announced that the moment the island becomes ready for use over 80 million people would have their homes powered. Again, the project is intended to meet the target set by the Europe to reduce the release of carbon dioxide emissions.

Energinet said: “Wind and solar energy complement each other: there is more sun from spring to autumn, and more wind in the colder and darker months of the year.

“So a sustainable and stable energy system for the future will need solar and wind energy, both on a large scale.

“This requires optimum cooperation and synergy because it cannot be accomplished by individual member states alone.”

Dogger Bank provided an ideal location as it had optimal wind conditions, it centrally located and is in shallow waters, they said.

They added: “Staff, components and assembly workshops can be stationed on the island, thus optimising and simplifying complex offshore logistics.”

The firm behind the North Sea Wind Power Hub are expected to sign a deal on March 23 in the presence of European Energy Union Commissioner, Maos Sefcovic.

Philip Hammond's U-turn on controversial NI charges

Philip Hammond's U-turn on controversial NI charges

News Unknown   10:49

After much pressure from the British people, the Chancellor Philip Hammond rescinds from his controversial increase in National Insurance for the self-employed which critics said was against the Tories manifesto.

The Chancellor’s resolve to back down was mainly as a result of the colossal condemnation from within and outside his own backbenchers.

Dead rats turned to pencil cases by a Plymouth student

Dead rats turned to pencil cases by a Plymouth student

News Unknown   10:50

Indeed we are in a world and age where creativity takes people to the limelight and make them relevant despite the various challenges facing mankind.

Here is a butcher who became a student, and self-fund his university degree by selling pencil cases he makes from dead animals.

The 22-year-old Jack Devaney created the holders which uses the body of dead rats, mice, moles, squirrels, and rabbit as well.

The finished pencil cases, a rather novel form of taxidermy, have generated enough interest that they sell as far away as Norway and the United States.

Aside the global recognition, however, Mr Delay acknowledges some regard him as a bit of a "nut job".

Mr Devaney, a 3D design student at Plymouth University, made his first post of one of his designs that was made from the dead rat last week on image sharing imgur, which has since attracted over 500,000.

Having worked part-time as a butcher for years, Mr Devaney turned his hand to "making daft stuff" after seeing a funny picture of some bad taxidermy online.

So far his pet projects have sold in places as far-flung as the US and Norway.

Mr Devaney explained: "I'd worked part-time as a butcher for nine years so I've been sort of desensitized to the process.

"It also meant that I knew how to pluck, skin and dress different animals."

He added: "I used to have a snake when I was younger and I knew that you could buy frozen mice, rats and chicks from different pet stores.

"I get them from pest control and estate managers, I basically posted on Facebook asking for help and I had people getting back to me within 10 minutes.

"My last order cost about £25 for four moles and three squirrels."

Despite early success, Mr Devaney is not confident the project is viable in the long term.

"You'd have to be a nutter to think you could make a living out of this," he said.

"Some people have suggested my work is satirical or that they have a deeper meaning but they are just daft."

He said: "There's been a varied response. The average posts range from 'This guy is a nut job' to 'Where can I get one', but I'm always polite when I'm responding."

Brazilian constitutional lawyer abandon her profession for prostition

Brazilian constitutional lawyer abandon her profession for prostition

News Unknown   09:23

34-year-old Claudia de Marchi quits her legal career in order to become a prostitute, because she said she earns more with more job satisfaction being a prostitute than being a lawyer.

The former attorney quit her job as an expert in constitutional law last year, and moved to capital Brasilia, for high-flying constitutional lawyer charges men £150 an hour for sexual services.

According to her, one of the major reasons behind her career swap, was the ‘masculine selfishness’ of her previous line of work. Saying that making money from her body is a form of liberation, and she has started a blog to help other women ‘demand the best for themselves, both in and out of bed’.

HURRAY: Nokia 3310 set to be relaunched this month with new innovations

HURRAY: Nokia 3310 set to be relaunched this month with new innovations

News Unknown   07:29

Famous Nokia 3310 to hit the market again after several years of extinction from the market.

The phone was once everyone’s favourite and was glued into the pocket of almost everyone, including those who had sophisticated phones. This was due to its lasting battery life, durability of the product, and was very cheap to get.

First Nokic 3310 was released in 2000, and replaced its predecessor the 3210, which sold about 126 million of it globally. But was later discontinued in 2005.

The handset is rumoured to be being re-released at the Mobile World Congress later this month.

According to sources, HMB Global, which owns the rights to the Nokia brand, is anticipated to announce four new handsets for sale, among them the 3310.

It’s set to retail at around £49, VentureBeats reports.

Scottish government to ban petrol and diesel powered cars soon in place of renewable energy

Scottish government to ban petrol and diesel powered cars soon in place of renewable energy

News Unknown   09:16

While Nigerian government and militants in the creeks of the Niger Delta are out there fighting for crude oil that may soon fizzle out or become obsolete in the nearest future, countries which sees beyond oil is working round the  clock to let go of the consumption of petrol and diesel within their environment of which Scotland is one.

Ministers in Scotland have been asked to put into consideration a policy which bans the use of fossil fuel (diesel and petrol) powered cars as one of the effort to make Scotland more environmentally friendly country by the year 2030.

Scholastics and industry specialists on Scotland's future energy team have quite recently distributed their vision of what the energy framework could look like in the next 13 years.

Accordingly, the Scottish Government as of now have vowed to cut emission by 80% by 2050, the year is viewed just like an "important staging point" in accomplishing its objectives.

The new procedure recommends how the energy sector could be "decarbonised" and proposes ministers ought to “identify urban locations for the phased introduction of a ban in the use of conventionally fuelled vehicles by 2025”.

The team, assembled by WWF Scotland, additionally proposed central and local government ought to ensure they purchase and rent just low carbon vehicles that deliver less emanations.

The report supports the advancement of low carbon energy sources, highlighting the need specifically for carbon, capture and storage (CCS) innovation. It additionally proposes a program be set up for all homes to be raised to a base energy proficiency standard by 2025, where practicable to do as such.

It is anticipated that the Scottish Government would soon make a publication about its energy policy. Thus, Dr Keith MacLean, the chair of the UK Energy Research Centre advisory board, and taskforce facilitator said there was “an excellent opportunity for the Scottish Government to assert overall leadership and control over the nation’s energy future”

He stated: “A major task like decarbonising the energy system will not be achieved on a piecemeal and incremental basis, nor without an integrated long-term plan.”

Dr Jillian Anable, Professor of Transport and Energy at the University of Leeds said: ” Transport has for too long been the laggard sector when it comes to reducing carbon emissions, and this energy strategy is the perfect time to introduce policies to address the shortfall.

“The Scottish Government should take this opportunity to identify locations for a phased ban in the use of petrol and diesel vehicles from 2025, take steps to decarbonise publicly owned or managed transport fleets and coordinate collaboration between delivery firms to reduce the recent rapid growth in road freight emissions.”

Professor Jan Webb of Edinburgh University said: ”Scotland’s relatively old and often draughty buildings account for nearly half of our energy spending, and we have a great opportunity to improve their warmth without turning up the heating.

“All homes should be renovated to a minimum ‘C’ energy performance rating by 2025, through incentives and standards which build on successful existing schemes.

“We also need to start planning now for a future sustainable, and renewable, heat supply.

“Local governments will need to examine the best options for their areas, and be empowered and resourced to develop detailed strategies.”

Jenny Hogan, d irector of policy at industry body Scottish Renewables, said: ” Scotland has made great strides in the decarbonisation of its electricity supply, with renewables now generating enough power to meet almost 57% of our electricity needs.

“Tackling the colossal challenge of climate change while keeping energy bills down and securing sustainable jobs means putting renewables at the heart of our energy supply.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ” Scotland has adopted among the most ambitious statutory targets in the world and achieved much to date, exceeding the 2020 target of 42% six years early.

“In response to increased global ambition in the Paris Agreement, we will be consulting this year on a new Climate Change Bill to establish a more testing emissions reduction target for 2020.

“The Scottish Government’s support for renewable energy has been a key factor in the remarkable progress the country has made so far through substantially increasing the supply of low carbon electricity and generating sustainable economic growth.

“We have also made available half a billion pounds over the next four years to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency, made progress on developing a more circular economy – where goods are kept in valuable use for longer – and boosted food waste recycling.

“Later this week we will publish a draft Energy Strategy for consultation, alongside our draft Climate Change Plan, which will outline a long-term vision for the future of the energy system in Scotland up to 2050.

“The Strategy will consider energy supply and consumption as equal priorities and demonstrate how to facilitate and capitalise on the transition to a low carbon economy, securing the social and economic benefits for the people and businesses of Scotland.”