Walt Patterson
Encyclopedia
Walter C Patterson (born November 4, 1936) is a UK-based Canadian physicist and widely-published writer and campaigner on energy.
Patterson was born in Winnipeg
, Manitoba, Canada, and educated there at the University of Manitoba
. Patterson arrived in the United Kingdom
in 1960. Trained as a nuclear physicist, Patterson has spent his life teaching, writing and campaigning. In 1972, he became Friends of the Earth
's first energy campaigner (1972–78) at their London office. In 1984-5, Patterson acted as series advisor to the award-winning BBC
drama series Edge of Darkness
.
Patterson has published thirteen books and hundreds of papers, articles and reviews, on nuclear power
, coal technology, renewable energy
, energy systems, energy policy
and electricity. His most recent book, Keeping the Lights On: Towards Sustainable Electricity was published by Earthscan
in 2009 and provides practical road maps for electricity production, supply and use.
Since 1991 he has been a Fellow
of what is now the Energy, Environment and Development Programme at Chatham House
in London
. He is also a Fellow of the Energy Institute
, London, and a Visiting Fellow of the Science Policy Research Unit at the University of Sussex
.
In 2004, Scientific American
honoured Patterson as Energy Policy Leader for his work in pioneering the concept of distributed micropower generation
.
Patterson was born in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba, Canada, and educated there at the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
. Patterson arrived in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1960. Trained as a nuclear physicist, Patterson has spent his life teaching, writing and campaigning. In 1972, he became Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth (EWNI)
Friends of the Earth is one of 70 national groups around the world which make up the Friends of the Earth network of environmental organizations...
's first energy campaigner (1972–78) at their London office. In 1984-5, Patterson acted as series advisor to the award-winning BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
drama series Edge of Darkness
Edge of Darkness
Edge of Darkness is a British television drama serial, produced by BBC Television in association with Lionheart Television International and originally broadcast in six fifty-five minute episodes in late 1985...
.
Patterson has published thirteen books and hundreds of papers, articles and reviews, on nuclear power
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
, coal technology, renewable energy
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
, energy systems, energy policy
Energy policy
Energy policy is the manner in which a given entity has decided to address issues of energy development including energy production, distribution and consumption...
and electricity. His most recent book, Keeping the Lights On: Towards Sustainable Electricity was published by Earthscan
Earthscan
Earthscan is an English language publisher of books and journals on climate change, sustainable development and environmental technology for academic, professional and general readers....
in 2009 and provides practical road maps for electricity production, supply and use.
Since 1991 he has been a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of what is now the Energy, Environment and Development Programme at Chatham House
Chatham House
Chatham House, formally known as The Royal Institute of International Affairs, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in London whose mission is to analyse and promote the understanding of major international issues and current affairs. It is regarded as one of the world's leading...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He is also a Fellow of the Energy Institute
Energy Institute
The Energy Institute, commonly referred to as EI, is the main professional organization for the energy industry within the UK that promotes the safe, environmentally responsible and efficient supply and use of energy in all its forms and applications...
, London, and a Visiting Fellow of the Science Policy Research Unit at the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
.
Awards
In 2000, the Institute of Energy, now the Energy Institute, awarded Patterson its annual Melchett Medal.In 2004, Scientific American
Scientific American
Scientific American is a popular science magazine. It is notable for its long history of presenting science monthly to an educated but not necessarily scientific public, through its careful attention to the clarity of its text as well as the quality of its specially commissioned color graphics...
honoured Patterson as Energy Policy Leader for his work in pioneering the concept of distributed micropower generation
Microgeneration
Microgeneration is the small-scale generation of heat and power by individuals, small businesses and communities to meet their own needs, as alternatives or supplements to traditional centralized grid-connected power...
.
Books
- Nuclear Power (Penguin 1976-86)
- The Fissile Society: Energy, Electricity and the Nuclear Option (Earth Resources Research 1977)
- The Plutonium Business and the Spread of the Bomb (Paladin 1984)
- Going Critical: An Unofficial History of British Nuclear Power (Paladin 1985)
- The Energy Alternative: Changing The Way The World Works (Boxtree 1990)
- Rebuilding Romania: Energy, Efficiency and the Economic Transition (Earthscan 1994)
- Power from Plants: Global Implications of New Technologies for Electricity from Biomass (Earthscan 1994)
- Transforming Electricity: The Coming Generation of Change (EarthscanEarthscanEarthscan is an English language publisher of books and journals on climate change, sustainable development and environmental technology for academic, professional and general readers....
1999) - Keeping the Lights On (EarthscanEarthscanEarthscan is an English language publisher of books and journals on climate change, sustainable development and environmental technology for academic, professional and general readers....
2007)