Utility Week

Community Head in the clouds It's a solution to global warming that sounds Trump-like in being simultaneously obvious and wildly impractical – any takers for giant sunshades in the sky? It's actually not as hope- lessly ridiculous as it sounds. Solar geoengineering, as it is called, proposes that aerosols released into clouds at the right height can alter their reflective properties. In fact, so advanced is the theory that a group of scientists from third world countries have written an open letter in the scientific journal Nature calling for poorer countries to be given more of a role in research and any possible deployment. Their worry is both that poorer countries could be le behind and that they will suffer the most if things went wrong. "Clearly, solar radiation management geoengineering could be dangerous," says Dr Atiq Rahman, director of the Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies and the article's lead author. He's right on that one. It sounds like the plot of an American action movie, where scientists accidentally put too much moisture in the clouds and our hero has only 24 hours to do something or other or the world will freeze over. Except of course that in such a movie, any middle-aged male scientist would be the vil- lain, while the heroine "cloud scientist" would be played by a 19-year-old blonde, who would grudgingly learn to respect fighter pilot Jason Statham as he battled to save mankind. Creating a buzz You've got to admire people who are prepared to go the extra mile, haven't you? People such as performance artist Marina Abramovic, who has announced plans for a new installation piece in which she will charge her body with one million volts of electricity. If successful, she will then extinguish a candle from more than 1m away using her electric field, which will repel the flame's charged particles. The performance will be part of Abramovic's 2020 solo show at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, by which time she will be 73 years old. According to tech company Factum Arte, with whom she is collaborating, it isn't as danger- ous as it sounds. " Electricity is something that people really don't understand," said Adam Lowe, Factum Arte's founder, speaking to The Times newspaper. "As long as you are insulated, you can fly bits of lightning out of your fingers." Hmm. It's true that a good charge of static can produce a light show, but surely there's a point at which charging yourself becomes dangerous? Let's hope it's aer the point at which you can put out a candle. Busted We live in an age which lauds "authenticity" above all else, even if it ignores everything else. Thus Boris Johnson is UK foreign secretary and Donald Trump is president of the USA. Until last week you could have added to that list Jacob Rees-Mogg, whose 19th century Latin schoolmaster shtick meets with the approval of the masses. Well, Disconnector can reveal that Rees-Mogg has been rumbled – by the Beano. Beano Studios has served a "cease and desist" letter on the Eurosceptic Tory backbencher, accusing him of copying the appearance and mannerisms of one of its characters, the snooty Walter 'the Soy' Brown. Rees-Mogg claimed to be "flattered" by the comparison. Disconnector Editor, Utility Week, and content director, Utilities: Ellen Bennett, t: 01342 332084, e: ellenbennett@fav-house.com; Deputy editor: Jane Gray, t: 01342 332087, e: janegray@ fav-house.com; Associate editor: Suzanne Heneghan, t: 01342 332106, e: suzanneheneghan@ fav-house.com Features editor: Lois Vallely, t: 01342 332080, e: loisvallely@fav-house.com; Deputy news editor: Katey Pigden, t: 01342 332082, e: kateypigden@fav-house.com; Content editor: Alice Cooke, t: 01342 332102, e: alicecooke@fav-house.com; Energy correspondent: Tom Grimwood, t: 01342 332061, e: tomgrimwood@fav-house.com; Reporter: Clare Ruel, t: 01342 332069, e: clareruel@fav-house.com Policy correspondent: David Blackman, e: davidblackman@fav-house.com; Sales executive: Ben Hammond, e: benhammond@fav-house.com. t: 01342 332116; Conference sponsorship manager: Sophie Abbott, t: 01342 332062, e; sophieabbott@fav-house.com; Publisher: Amanda Barnes, e: amandabarnes@fav-house.com. General enquiries: 01342 332000; Membership enquiries: Peter Bissell, t: 01342 332057, e: peterbissell@fav-house.com. ISSN: 1356-5532. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office. Printed by: Buxton Press, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 6AE. 2,500 Average circulation Jan–Dec 2017 Membership subscriptions: UK £669 per year. Overseas £781 per year. Contact Peter Bissell on: 01342 332057 Utility Week is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK's magazine and newspaper industry). We abide by the Editors' Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think that we have not met those standards and want to make a complaint please contact the editor, Ellen Bennett, at ellenbennett@fav-house.com. If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors' Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit www.ipso.co.uk UTILITY WEEK | 13TH - 19TH APRIL 2018 | 31 Duncan Carter @Duncan_E_Carter More SMETS1 meters to be installed by energy suppliers. @beisgovuk grants derogation to 12 energy suppliers to continue to install SMETS1 until 13 January 2019, less than 2 years until the end smart meter rollout Drax @Draxnews 'British power generator Drax could end production at its coal plants ahead of a government imposed deadline of 2025, the company's CEO said on Monday,' reports @ReutersUK #PoweringPastCoal #CleanGrowth #BNEFSummit National Grid Media @Grid_Media For the second time since the 1880s the UK electricity network has operated for 24 hours without the need for coal generation. We are expecting some coal to return to the system soon though, so last year's record should still stand. Open Water @OpenWaterOrg It's been one year since the #BusinessRetailWaterMarket opened. And what a year it's been! #OpenWaterOneYearOn #YourWaterYourChoice #Water #Wastewater #UKBiz http://socsi.in/4dzg7 DefraWater @DefraWater A year ago today we opened the world's largest #waterretail market with @Ofwat @MOSL_ giving over 1.2m #business customers choice over their #water and #wastewater provider. See https://www.open-water.org.uk/ for more info #OpenWaterOneYearOn Water UK @WaterUK Water UK has responded to @Ofwat's letter to the Environment Secretary, @michaelgove. "All companies take very seriously their responsibility to act in the public interest and to operate to the highest standards." The full response is on our website http://bit.ly/ WUKR2OL Energy Networks @energynetworks Electricity networks have invested over £1bn in innovation projects through LCNF, NIA and NIC funding to build an efficient, smarter, cleaner energy system – read about our plans for the future of innovation here: http://ow.ly/ saCT30jhIX6 #electricity #innovation Top Tweets Walter (left) and Rees-Mogg

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