Why we need "Net zero"

[SteamyTea]

15 minutes ago, JohnMo said:

Trouble is nuclear is the devils electric

Yes it is, but I think I read it is not part of the auction as it is considered 'base load'.

I may be wrong though.  If it is part of the auction clearing system, then, as you say, they will be buying it at almost twice the current price.

Red Diesel was 77p/litre, so about 8p/kWh, yesterday.

So it would be possible to generate electricity at about 25p/kWh, and, at the same time, get a kWh of thermal energy out of it.

Not as cheap as a large PV array, but on a par with grid connected.

[JohnMo]

1 minute ago, SteamyTea said:

Not as cheap as a large PV array, but on a par with grid connected.

But does generate on a dull wet day like we have today, unlike solar. Big battery, PV and a diesel generator with waste heat recovery straight into a thick screed floor - job done

[SteamyTea]

4 minutes ago, Beelbeebub said:

The more cheap electricity that is produced the easier it is for politicians to put policies in place to make electricity cheap to consumers. 

What is the Green Parties and the Lib Dem's policy on these.  They don't seem to get much radio coverage at the moment.

A properly costed carbon tax is probably the best way to control fossil fuel/combustion usage.

[Beelbeebub]

14 minutes ago, SimonD said:

 

I was listening to Greg Jackson (CEO of Octopus for those who don't know the name) talking about the  infrastructure upgrade decisions being made. He mentioned that due to these costs, we're highly unlikely to see any reduction is prices for the foreseeable on this basis alone.

The outgoing head of national grid said the transmission costs are about £25 a year an an average bill. 

 

With the investment to connect wind etc that will double (watch for daily mail headline) to £50,but the savings on constraint costs by having more capacity will save about £40, so a net £10 a year increace 

 

<https://open.spotify.com/episode/5PuyXuWML9xvzb2iHcIrUH>

 

 

 

Edited 4 hours ago by Beelbeebub

[SteamyTea]

8 minutes ago, JohnMo said:

But does generate on a dull wet day like we have today, unlike solar. Big battery, PV and a diesel generator with waste heat recovery straight into a thick screed floor - job done

Sunny here at moment, there is always some sunshine, somewhere.  Why we need the EU Supergrid to get a move on.  It is probably 60% done.  The link to Morroco could make the biggest potential difference.  Last year they produced 1.59 TWh.  The UK did 19.32 TWh.  So there is a massive opportunity for exports.  I bet they don't get bogged down in planning for a decade.

Edited 4 hours ago by SteamyTea

[SimonD]

44 minutes ago, Beelbeebub said:

The outgoing head of national grid said the transmission costs are about £25 a year an an average bill. 

 

With the investment to connect wind etc that will double (watch for daily mail headline) to £50,but the savings on constraint costs by having more capacity will save about £40, so a net £10 a year increace 

 

<https://open.spotify.com/episode/5PuyXuWML9xvzb2iHcIrUH>

 

Ah, so this must be the truth then. Have a look at this. He explains the dysfunctional market very well, but if you want the TLDR, just go straight to 4:26. The whole video is worth a watch IMHO, plus he deals specifically with the economic ineptitude of the, "this bit only adds so much to costs" and how from a financial perspective this leads to excessive costs.

 

 

[SteamyTea]

If you prefer the better pictures that are on radio, then this was on earlier, it is about dynamic pricing in general, though does have someone from Octopus on it. Octopus spend a lot on this sort of soft selling.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002qthh

 

 

[ProDave]

We need Octopus's boss to replace Ed Milliband.  THEN we might get some sensible policies.  I have not heard anyone talk so much well reasoned sense for a long time.

[SteamyTea]

48 minutes ago, ProDave said:

I have not heard anyone talk so much well reasoned sense for a long time.

I suspect those words will come back to haunt you, especially if you buy into one of his price plans, buy some kit to take advantage of the ToU, then find he pulls the deal at very short notice.

[Beelbeebub]

52 minutes ago, ProDave said:

We need Octopus's boss to replace Ed Milliband.  THEN we might get some sensible policies.  I have not heard anyone talk so much well reasoned sense for a long time.

Are you sure? He is big into heatpump and renewables. 

[ProDave]

Just now, Beelbeebub said:

Are you sure? He is big into heatpump and renewables. 

He also thinks carbon capture is a waste of time and is very pragmatic about what is possible. Not aiming for unachievable dreams regardless of cost.

[SteamyTea]

5 minutes ago, ProDave said:

carbon capture is a waste of time

That has been know for at least 2 decades, why very little time is spent on it on Renewable Energy courses.

It has been cheaper, for at least a decade and a half to just install wind and solar, which do not need CCS at the point of generation.

 

In 2025, the UK's Per Capita CO₂ emissions was 4.53t.

World Average was 4.73t.

 

https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/co-emissions-per-capita?tab=table

[Beelbeebub]

33 minutes ago, ProDave said:

He also thinks carbon capture is a waste of time and is very pragmatic about what is possible. Not aiming for unachievable dreams regardless of cost.

Indeed CC is, alongside Hydrogen boilers, a load of bollocks. 

 

And we should be pragmatic. 

 

The problem is nobody can agree on what is achievable or not. 

 

I was arguing (I know think of it) with a chap on YouTube who was convinced only new builds could use heatpumps, they cost upwards of £33k after subsidy and required you to give up you gas cooker. 

 

*if* that was true then yes, the idea of moving the country to electrified heating is impractical without vast cost. 

 

Of course, it isn't true.

 

One thing to think about is Octopus are arguing strongly for a local electricity market, almost certainly with heavy skew to ToU tariffs. 

 

I doubt thr CEO of an energy supplier heavily invested in the digital infrastructure required for individual real-time pricing of electricity is pushing for a move to individual real-time pricing of electricity out of thr goodness of his heart. 

 

I'm not saying there isn't value in the proposal, only that he is far from an honest broker in the debate (as in he is undeniably partisan not as in he is dishonest) 

 

 

[Beelbeebub]

33 minutes ago, SteamyTea said:

That has been know for at least 2 decades, why very little time is spent on it on Renewable Energy courses.

It has been cheaper, for at least a decade and a half to just install wind and solar, which do not need CCS at the point of generation.

 

In 2025, the UK's Per Capita CO₂ emissions was 4.53t.

World Average was 4.73t.

 

https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/co-emissions-per-capita?tab=table

I don't know how much wind/solar capacity could be constructed for the £22bn he mentions is being spent on Carbon Capture,but it's infinitely better value.