Book reviews

perceived problem of high initial cost of efficient production and use of energy: 'this study shows, however, that when capital requirements of both supply and end use technologies are combined - on a systemwide basis - higher efficiency technologies re- duce overall capital costs'. Thus in electricity generation, for example, the higher capital costs of efficient end use equipment are more than compen- sated for by lower investment in generating capacity. A useful appen- dix illustrates how capital and lifecycle

costs of electricity services may be calculated.

At a cost of only US$15 this book is essential reading and ready reference for anyone concerned with energy in developing countries. It would also be very useful to many people interested in developed country energy matters and to those who study energy and environmental interactions, whether local or global.

D. O. Hall King's College

London, UK

The long and the short of it

IN THE SERVITUDE OF POWER: Energy and Civilisation Through the Ages

Jean-Claude Debeir, Jean-Paul De- 16age and Daniel Hrmery

Zed Books, London, 1991

Compared with the short-termism of almost all contemporary energy policy and economic analysis, there is clearly something profoundly misguided - perhaps even insane - about In the Servitude of Power: Energy and Civi- lisation Through the Ages (J.-C. De- beir, J.-P. Delrage and D. Hrmery , Zed Books, 1991). While world mili- tarism rushes in to secure short-term energy supplies in the Middle East, the nuclear industry discounts its fu- ture costs until they disappear, the UK government inadvertently threatens to decimate the indigenous coal industry in the space of a few months, oil tankers inadvertently spill their deadly loads over sensitive environmental heritages, and well brought up inves- tors everywhere insist on contract periods as short as (if not shorter than) political terms of office, here are three crazy Frenchmen with the temerity to place the present crisis of energy, capi- talism and environment in the context of a timescale that stretches back to the dawn of time. What on earth can they mean by it?

Of course the French have always been a slightly odd race. Consider that over a hundred years ago Flaubert (who did not believe in progress) man- aged to denounce democracy as the dream of raising the proletariat ' to the level of stupidity attained by the bour- gois ie ' . (How dare he!) But the answer cannot be quite easy as that. After all it is also the French who, through a torrid political process de- scribed with ruthless clarity in this book, developed the most extensive civil nuclear industry in the world - supported by an almost cynical export of military technology. It was the French who proposed ' the law of doubling of electricity demand' in order to justify the need for the mas- sive expansion in electricity produc- tion which such a nuclear programme required. Surely this tendency should reassure us of French integrity to the cause of energy capitalism? As if in despite of this comforting shortsight- edness, we find Debeir, Del6age and H6mery writing a powerful, incisive, informative and provocative tract de- bunking that very process.

In the Servitude of Power is an ambi- tious attempt to broaden our temporal horizons, and to place in context man's historical dependency on ener- gy resources. With unerring precision, it describes the complexities, idiosyn- crasies and at times unforgivable folly of the present energy infrastructure.

Chapters in the book cover the im- portance of energy systems as tech- nological, economic and social struc- tures; the development of primitive energy/food chains in prehistory; the case of the mediaeval Chinese energy model with its reliance on food ener- gy; mechanical innovation and the em- ergence of a new mastery of biological energies through fossil fuel combus- tion; the industrialization of Europe and the expansion of the capitalist energy system; the social and political dynamics of the oil and woodfuel crises; and the abortive attempts of technological gigantism to seek a solu- tion through the peaceful deployment of nuclear power.

There is so much in this book to provoke thought, anger and not a little fear, that it would be impossible to synthesize it all in a short review. The authors' vehement attack on the flaws of industrial energy capitalism might tempt one to suppose that this was some kind of Marxist tract. But that would be to oversimplify. In fact, Marx is round ly c o n d e m n e d for 'allowing an entire theoretical tradi- tion to become polarised by the con- frontation between the labour force and means of labour' while marginal- izing the importance of the 'object of labour' - nature. On the other hand, there is a clear attempt to link the failure of contemporary energy sys- tems to social failures.

Until a massive transfer of resources allows the [starvelings of the earth[ to promote a form of development compatible with the improvement of their environment, appeals for a rational approach to energy will remain a dead letter

the authors argue, warning that 'such a reorientation is inconceivable with- out a radical change in the key econo- mic choices which shape civilisation over long periods. '

By the time you have reached the end of this tour de force through the historical evolution of energy systems, you sometimes wonder if you there is any way out from the succession of crises presented. There are occasional glimmers of light - for instance, the clever documentation of the way in which the dominance of supply over end-use demand in the industrialized countries (with its consequences for

820 ENERGY POLICY July 1993

overconsumption of energy) resulted from a deliberate policy of economic expansionism. But these are in their turn dimmed by recognition of the profound changes needed to uproot the fundamental social conventions underlying the economic patterns. 'From childhood, individuals are con- ditioned to appreciate superlatives: the largest city, the tallest building, the fastest car, the biggest salary . . . Gigantism, power and waste are link- ed.'

Debeir and his coauthors clearly believe that the priority for change lies in economic and social reform. Their caveats about demographic growth, and the lessons from their own analy- sis of the history of energy systems suggest, however, that solving the world energy crises, overthrowing un- sustainable economics and replacing outdated wisdoms may not be easy. Nevertheless, this book represents an honest, thoughtful and extremely de- tailed attempt to place the demands

Book reviews

now faced by the energy systems on which we rely into a historical context. It is the sort of book which, when discovered some centuries hence by the lucky (or perhaps unlucky) survi- vors, is more than likely to prompt the question: 'if those guys back in the twentieth century really knew all this, how come they still managed to screw up?'

Tim Jackson Stockholm Environment Institute

London, UK

Making Energy Privatisation Work- The Future of Regulation QEII Conference Centre, London SW1, 17 November 1993.

A Conference Organised by The Institute of Energy Regulation is the key to privatisation. One thing we have learnt from the UK experience is that regulating a privatised oligopolistic industry is a great deal more complex than regulating a state utility and there is a long way to go before the design and operation of regulatory institutions is mature.

Idiosyncracies in the regulatory system and its interpretation have contributed to the "dash for gas" and the present problems of the coal industry. An apparent inability to satisfy conflicting demands from two regulators lead British Gas to seek refuge in the MMC. Policy decisions are constantly being made by regulators, apparently outside the control of normal political processes.

The controversy will not go away. On the horizon are more issues which will draw regulators, government and industry into new, tangled and sometimes clandestine disputes. The various demands of the environment, global warming especially; the nuclear review; the profits of generators and the possible need for their regulation; revision of the regulation of transmission in gas and electricity and the results of the MMC review of the gas industry. A system based in regulation will eventually lead to legal challenges and interpretation through the courts; some tentative signs of this trend are already evident.

The key issue for this conference is to question the structure of the UK regulatory system and to ask:

• Does it work? Is it fair, predictable and efficient? • Is it acceptable? • What lessons can be learnt to date? • How can the system be improved?

The conference should be of value to all those engaged in or affected by regulation and who want to contribute to, anticipate or manage change in the way in which it is done.

The speakers are:

Tim Eggar MP, Minister for Energy Prof James Harrison, InsUtute of Energy John Baker, National Power plc Malcolm Chatwin, Yorkshire Electricity Group pIc David Jefferies, National Grid Company plc Cedric Brown, British Gas plc Alan Marshall, AGAS Lady Wilcox, National Consumers' Council lan Blakey, British Iron and Steel Producers Association Director-General of OFGAS Richard Caborn MP, Trade & Industry Select Committee Richard Morse, Kleinwort Benson Group Conference Chairmen: Mr lan Powe, Gas Consumers' Council Professor Nigel Lucas, Imperial College.

E N E R G Y P O L I C Y July 1993 821