PunkTheFunk 125,703 Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 Electrical industry's 'dirty secret' boosts warming It's the most powerful greenhouse gas known to humanity, and emissions have risen rapidly in recent years, the BBC has learned. Sulphur hexafluoride, or SF6, is widely used in the electrical industry to prevent short circuits and accidents. But leaks of the little-known gas in the UK and the rest of the EU in 2017 were the equivalent of putting an extra 1.3 million cars on the road. Levels are rising as an unintended consequence of the green energy boom. Cheap and non-flammable, SF6 is a colourless, odourless, synthetic gas. It makes a hugely effective insulating material for medium and high-voltage electrical installations. It is widely used across the industry, from large power stations to wind turbines to electrical sub-stations in towns and cities. It prevents electrical accidents and fires. Across the entire UK network of power lines and substations, there are around one million kilograms of SF6 installed. A study from the University of Cardiff found that across all transmission and distribution networks, the amount used was increasing by 30-40 tonnes per year. This rise was also reflected across Europe with total emissions from the 28 member states in 2017 equivalent to 6.73 million tonnes of CO2. That's the same as the emissions from 1.3 million extra cars on the road for a year. Researchers at the University of Bristol who monitor concentrations of warming gases in the atmosphere say they have seen significant rises in the last 20 years. "We make measurements of SF6 in the background atmosphere," said Dr Matt Rigby, reader in atmospheric chemistry at Bristol. "What we've seen is that the levels have increased substantially, and we've seen almost a doubling of the atmospheric concentration in the last two decades." Concentrations in the atmosphere are very small right now, just a fraction of the amount of CO2 in the air. However, the global installed base of SF6 is expected to grow by 75% by 2030. Another concern is that SF6 is a synthetic gas and isn't absorbed or destroyed naturally. It will all have to be replaced and destroyed to limit the impact on the climate. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-49567197 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maryjanesdope 681 Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 Trumps America Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morphine Prince 109,654 Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 1 minute ago, Maryjanesdope said: Trumps America This article is talking about the UK Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dit 46,738 Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 6 minutes ago, PunkTheFunk said: "Secret" gas Well excuse me for being human and letting one rip every once in a while. damn Spoiler no but for real...earth is doomed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brie Candy 18,650 Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordEnigma 11,313 Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 12 minutes ago, Morphine Prince said: This article is talking about the UK Love that people think problems don't exist outside of America Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChromeAngel 3,230 Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 And this is why we have to be more thoughtful about synthetics. Nature doesn’t have a way to deal with them. Just like when we use pesticides... where does that all go? In the ground. Where do we get our drinking water? FROM THE GROUND Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemo 4,410 Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 It's fun stuff. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladey Gaygay 9,321 Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 We just cant live can we STREAM JUICE BY LIZZO Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PartySick 172,478 Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 1 hour ago, Morphine Prince said: This article is talking about the UK We can still blame Trump We won't be right but that hasn't stopped people from believing things before OT: humans destroying the Earth?! no! never! Whimsical bitch Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adakam 2 Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 2 hours ago, Nemo said: It's fun stuff. Yeah ive seen it used like that, found it kinda unexpected that it can become a greenhouse when its that heavy. I figured it would just stay on the ground Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adakam 2 Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 2 hours ago, Morphine Prince said: This article is talking about the UK Well it does make you wonder if that gas is also "secretly" produced in the US. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woolfsmck 2,763 Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 5 hours ago, LordEnigma said: Love that people think problems don't exist outside of America yeah, we kinda get tunnel vision here in the us … its not intentional tho, like a cat in a sil, I observe life, moving and still. My words give a clue,look inside to see whats true Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woolfsmck 2,763 Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 3 hours ago, Adakam said: Well it does make you wonder if that gas is also "secretly" produced in the US. its not that this problem was hatched by evil co... but regulations need to be erected to get the problem fixed. like a cat in a sil, I observe life, moving and still. My words give a clue,look inside to see whats true Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maryjanesdope 681 Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 7 hours ago, Morphine Prince said: This article is talking about the UK Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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