Students all; we had hoped that last month’s Energy Alphabet Competition, “T for Tidal Energy” would attract a bumper entry.
But it didn’t; only one of you gave it a go.
Now that you’re all back at school, having enjoyed a fantastic festive break, the time has come to flex those brilliant brains by entering our Energy Alphabet Competition.
We’re re-running the letter T for Tidal Energy as it clearly clashed with the run-up to Christmas.
We’re looking for your ideas about tidal energy, What is it? How can it be used? To get involved all you have to do is tell us in not more than 250 of your own words just what you think tidal energy is.
Please send your entry to us by Friday, January 24, and we shall publish the winning entry on February 3.
Don’t forget to include your name, age and what school you attend. Don’t forget, there’s a terrific prize every month in the shape of an iPad for your school thanks to the generosity of Shell, which has a big presence in the North Sea.
If you’re at all worried about how to do all this, just ask your teacher for help. Or, if you belong to a Young Engineer’s Club (YEC), ask your club leader.
E-mail entries to: jeremy.cresswell@ajl.co.uk
Meanwhile, if you want to discover more about the amazing world of energy, Shell’s Inside Energy app is stuffed with masses of good stuff through videos, animations and photo galleries.
WE HAVE A NOVEMBER WINNER
And the winner of November’s competition – S is for Shale – is Megan Hewison of Ellon Academy with her piece “My understanding of shale gas”:
Shale gas is natural gas that is found trapped within shale formations. Shale gas has become an increasingly important source of natural gas in the United States since the start of this century, and interest has spread to potential gas shales in the rest of the world. In 2000, shale provided only 1% of US natural gas production; by 2010 it was over 20% and the US government’s Energy Information Administration predicts that by 2035, 46% of the US natural gas supply will come from shale gas. Some analysts expect that shale gas will greatly expand worldwide energy supply.
China is estimated to have the world’s largest shale gas reserve. I believe that increased shale gas development will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Some studies have alleged that the withdrawal and use of shale gas may result in the release of more greenhouse gases than conventional natural gas. We are at early days, but it now seems likely that European shale gas reserves will be equal to those of the United States. What could this mean?
- European and world natural gas reserves will be in excess of 150 years. Until recently expert opinion was that conventional resources in the North Sea were already depleting. Suddenly, something magical is happening and the reverse will be true.
- If significant volumes of natural gas aren’t produced in your own country, they will be available from a near neighbour.
- The big issue here in Europe will be creating demand for natural gas, not supply. Natural gas is the cleanest – and cheapest – carbon fuel and can replace both coal and oil.
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