To: European Commission's Directorate-General for Energy
Oblige EU members to map out the electricity power plants powering the country
Oblige EU members to create a google map (similar to other google maps like https://www.transitionnetwork.org/initiatives/map ) of all energy power plants (all fossil fuel power plants -i.e. operating on coal, gas, petroleum, ...-, nuclear power plants, and the present renewable power plants -i.e. wind turbines, hydropower plants, biomass power plants, ...). Color shades can be use to mark each type of power plant per category and the exact type therein. For example, fossil fuel power plants can be given a shade of red, nuclear can be given a blue color, and the renewable power plants can be given a particular green shade per type.
Besides mapping out the currently operating power plants, currently untapped energy spots can also be marked on the map. These include things like areas where waste is incinerated, where other organic waste is processed, waterfalls, ...
Also useful would be to also mark out the energy storage facilities (like pumped hydroelectric energy storage stations), molten salt energy storage implements near CSP plants, ...
Each google map should be made accessible via a website hosted by the national government, so that the general public too can view the map.
Besides mapping out the currently operating power plants, currently untapped energy spots can also be marked on the map. These include things like areas where waste is incinerated, where other organic waste is processed, waterfalls, ...
Also useful would be to also mark out the energy storage facilities (like pumped hydroelectric energy storage stations), molten salt energy storage implements near CSP plants, ...
Each google map should be made accessible via a website hosted by the national government, so that the general public too can view the map.
Why is this important?
Such a map would be useful to spark meaningful debate on the best routes to take to make the country emissionless (on energy production). At present, there is a lot of pressure (by environmental action groups, green construction companies, ...) on the government to build new wind turbines and other new power stations. However, the most cost-effective method is generally not by making new electricity stations at all, but by merely converting the existing (fossil fuel) power stations (i.e. converting say coal-powered plants to run on wood waste, ... see also: http://jnmocc.blogspot.com ). This map will help assess which (currently polluting) plants can be converted and help green the power production.
Untapped energy spots (like areas where waste is incinerated) can then again help to convert current incineration facilities to say waste-fired power plants, also helping in greening power production. Waterfalls/waterdrops can be used to determine where extra hydroelectric power plants can be created.
Finally, marking out energy storage facilities would help in levelling out the power production over the entire day, so that for instance there isn't too much power produced during windy or sunny days (by wind turbines, CSP plants/PV panels, ...) which then can't be used anyway as there is too little demand at that point in time. Having a healthy mix of continuous power plants (biomass power plants, nuclear power plants, ...) can help in this too, but some degree of power storage should be present in countries as well.
Untapped energy spots (like areas where waste is incinerated) can then again help to convert current incineration facilities to say waste-fired power plants, also helping in greening power production. Waterfalls/waterdrops can be used to determine where extra hydroelectric power plants can be created.
Finally, marking out energy storage facilities would help in levelling out the power production over the entire day, so that for instance there isn't too much power produced during windy or sunny days (by wind turbines, CSP plants/PV panels, ...) which then can't be used anyway as there is too little demand at that point in time. Having a healthy mix of continuous power plants (biomass power plants, nuclear power plants, ...) can help in this too, but some degree of power storage should be present in countries as well.