Mad Dictators

[BotusBuild]

16 minutes ago, saveasteading said:

Can't do that.

Yes you can. In a previous role I installed a 50kW array on an agricultural barn. It's still running so one must assume the barn is still stanindg

[BotusBuild]

22 minutes ago, SteamyTea said:

Points 2 through to 6 will just put the prices up so high it is not worth doing.

If you make the sticks big enough ....

[SteamyTea]

12 minutes ago, saveasteading said:

I don't think they can

Then what is the point of the Scottish parliament. Better off spending the money on more turbines.

[saveasteading]

3 hours ago, Spinny said:

charging people 3 times as much to cook their tea at 6.30pm.

Thats perhaps intended as a distraction.

No, but they could get a reduced rate for using non- peak times. 

 

It's also common sense, as a no Investment solution. People are entitled to not turn on the cooker any time they choose.

 

 

 

[saveasteading]

1 minute ago, SteamyTea said:

what is the point of the Scottish parliament

Scotland has differing values and goals to a large extent. Hence a left wing government for a long period , despite the voting system being designed to prevent it.

So lots is different

And lots was not devolved.

 

In summary?

More collectivist and egalitarian. Eg social services.

Less of a class system

Naturally against privatisation.

 

 

[JohnMo]

1 hour ago, SteamyTea said:

Given a binary choice

Nothing is really binary. Have high speed trains powered by the wind turbines. Lay PV between tracks while your at it.

[JohnMo]

5 hours ago, Spinny said:

don't believe in charging people 3 times as much to cook their tea at 6.30pm.

That's only applicable to ToU tariffs. If you want no extra charges use a flat rate tariff. ToU tariffs are an option, you make your choice and then live by it. Our battery takes us through the expensive periods. Never use grid energy unless in a cheap period - until I mess up things, which happens to everyone.

[SteamyTea]

12 hours ago, JohnMo said:

Nothing is really binary. Have high speed trains powered by the wind turbines. Lay PV between tracks while your at it.

"Never answer the question that is asked of you. Answer the question that you wish had been asked of you."
Robert McNamara 

 

 

[MikeSharp01]

12 hours ago, JohnMo said:

That's only applicable to ToU tariffs. If you want no extra charges use a flat rate tariff. ToU tariffs are an option, you make your choice and then live by it. Our battery takes us through the expensive periods. Never use grid energy unless in a cheap period - until I mess up things, which happens to everyone.

Do you run your systems automatically, manually or semi manually. I guess I can see how you could 'mess up' in manual mode but how might you 'mess up' in the other two?

[JohnMo]

In round fully automatic via the inbuilt timers. But when I do an Axle VPP it is supposed do the setting changes automatically also, but has messed up leaving eco mode setting off instead of switching it back on. It's generally gone wrong when other so called systems were involved. Learning for was keep it simple.

[Nickfromwales]

13 hours ago, JohnMo said:

Nothing is really binary. Have high speed trains powered by the wind turbines. Lay PV between tracks while your at it.

PV panels laid flat (sub 12°) won’t ‘self-clean’. 

[JohnMo]

8 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said:

PV panels laid flat (sub 12°) won’t ‘self-clean’. 

True, but things have been developed to help - you can add capillary clips to help drain water and debris off.

 

Edited 15 hours ago by JohnMo

[Nickfromwales]

10 minutes ago, JohnMo said:

True, but things have been developed to help - you can add capillary clips to help drain water and debris off.

 

You think manufacturers would simply omit 20-30mm sections of frame in all 4 corners, leaving the metal sides flush with the top of the glass to allow this runoff, but I suppose the glass edge is then too vulnerable.

[JohnMo]

3 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said:

You think manufacturers would simply omit 20-30mm sections of frame in all 4 corners, leaving the metal sides flush with the top of the glass to allow this runoff, but I suppose the glass edge is then too vulnerable.

They chase the last % efficiency but cannot do the simple things. I am going to install the previous image clips to my flat panels on a pergola roof to see what they do. There are two panels. Hadn't cleaned for over 6 months after cleaning made 110W difference in full sun, even though the panel were really mucky at the start.

[Nickfromwales]

4 minutes ago, JohnMo said:

They chase the last % efficiency but cannot do the simple things. I am going to install the previous image clips to my flat panels on a pergola roof to see what they do. There are two panels. Hadn't cleaned for over 6 months after cleaning made 110W difference in full sun, even though the panel were really mucky at the start.

110w improvement after cleaning?

[JohnMo]

yes about 20% in percentage terms

[Nickfromwales]

1 minute ago, JohnMo said:

yes about 20% in percentage terms

“Clean your panels in spring, folks!!!”

[Ed_]

19 hours ago, Spinny said:

As long as you ignore a need to fight a war during winter anti-cyclonic gloom.

Losing a chunk of power for a period is normal for war time- look at Ukraine. 

Conversely look at Russia, floating on oil but can't get petrol at the pump due to the concentrated nature of fossil fuel refinement. 

Electricity grids are highly resilient, particularly once rolling blackouts become acceptable, as they are in wartime. Fossil fuel supply chain? Not nearly so much. You could argue nuclear is best as no one would dare to attack it...

 

18 hours ago, ProDave said:

may get build but not connected

I can assure you that no one will build a wind farm unless they have a grid offer. Frequently the grid connection is delayed so a wind farm could be dormant for a short period, but no one gets the finance to build a project without a grid connection date.

[BotusBuild]

9 hours ago, Nickfromwales said:

PV panels laid flat (sub 12°) won’t ‘self-clean’.

As part of railtrack inspection, fit a sprinkler system and air dryer under the relevant wagon and clean the panels as they inspect the track. Too obvious? Probably

[SteamyTea]

Does anyone really think that fitting PV panels on railway lines is a good idea?

 

Just because something can be done, does not mean it should be done.

[JohnMo]

1 hour ago, SteamyTea said:

Does anyone really think that fitting PV panels on railway lines is a good idea?

The Swiss are doing it.

[saveasteading]

2 minutes ago, JohnMo said:

The Swiss are doing it.

Have they remembered to stop at tunnels?

[SteamyTea]

7 minutes ago, JohnMo said:

The Swiss are doing it.

Are Switzerland, if it is not illegal, it is compulsory.

[Nickfromwales]

1 hour ago, BotusBuild said:

As part of railtrack inspection, fit a sprinkler system and air dryer under the relevant wagon and clean the panels as they inspect the track. Too obvious? Probably

Oh lordy……   

[Spinny]

On 12/07/2026 at 17:47, Nickfromwales said:

PV installed en-mass on every (suitable) bare, open, sun-soaked roofs / other elevations should be mandatory. Micro inverted panels for simple hook-up, near zero impact on the home / property owners, no excuses.

 

We’re busy frying the planet, almost in ignorance, and this initiative would help a LOT.

Heil Fuhrer Nick !

 

If it is a good idea people will want it. If people want it, the market will build it. End of.

Even Nick doesn't know what is 'the greater good' for everything.

https://youtu.be/IoKK5b4aTG0?si=WPjsuOhNkcARt6_i