Sources and Uses of Energy

Abstract

It is a privilege and an honour for me to have been invited to give a lecture associated with Sir George Thomson, a man whom I had the experience of working with when he was Chairman of the Ministry of Power's Scientific Advisory Council and I was one of the Council members. I will not attempt an appreciation of his scientific work, particularly distinguished in nuclear physics, but I can say that his qualities of intellect and personality made a most impressive impact on his colleagues on the Council.

My choice of subject is very wide, but so is the effect of energy on our daily lives. After a brief discussion of the way in which we need and use energy I will describe the major sources available to the world, with a more detailed examination focused on North Sea gas. Moving on to a brief review of the uses of energy in Great Britain, the lecture will close with an outline of the Gas Council's plans.