Though there seems to be some contradiction between sustainable energy and the oil and gas industry, there were many from this sector at the University of Cumbria's Sustainable Energy residential this week.This was part of an international MBA run with Robert Kennedy College, Switzerland. A compulsory requirement of the programme was that the students had a week-long course in Ambleside. As well as lectures and guest speakers, the students visited a number of relevant installations: an electricity sub-station handling wind-power from Scotland and a factory that used community-funded solar-power to generate electricity.
Not all the students were from the oil and gas industry. Some were from government agencies and non-government organisations concerned with energy efficiency. A couple were from private firms that distributed power. They were from the Middle-East, North-America, Europe and the Far East. Lots of different places but all of them interested in trying to shift the energy mix away from dirty fossil fuels towards cleaner renewables. To find solutions to the growing levels of carbon dioxide emitted every year.
There was discussion and debate as to how make things better. Suggestions made on policies both for national governments and international agencies. Models from theorists and successful small-scale projects around the world. We talked and evaluated, finishing the week with all the students presenting their ideas.
Thought there were no clear solutions, everyone left hoping to do something positive in their organisations when they got home. They planned to make a difference.
And we'd all had a lovely time in Ambleside for a week.