Sir,
Ambrose Evans-Prichard advocates using less coal and gas as a “solution” to spiralling energy prices.That would be fine if there was an alternative source of green power – which there isn’t when solar and wind power capacity is sometimes only around 1% of U.K. maximum demand.
Indeed, with declining nuclear capacity, the only other only significant back-up energy sources are coal and gas fired power stations, which have been squeezed by the carbon credit process.
That has led to some power stations only being used at times of peak demand – which means that the operator has to recover costs over a much shorter operating period. It should be of no surprise that the peak demand charges have risen.
Continuing to reduce the profitability and availability of fossil fuel power stations – before alternative nuclear, H2 or long term energy storage is commissioned – will only increase the likelihood of power cuts. We should be following data, not target dates.
Resistance to fracking and gas storage has also left the UK exposed to the whims of big suppliers, such as Russia, not to mention our dependence on interconnectors with France, with its hostile President. If we can see the risks, then why can’t Boris Johnson?
Timing is everything – as is a good grasp of the difference between energy and power generation capacity – which is about keeping the lights on. Blurring that difference will only see us increasingly resembling a third world country, whilst losing the confidence of investors.
Respectfully, Roger Arthur
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Sir,
once upon a time we had a nearby gas field that had been converted to a gas storage facility. It held several Winter weeks’ supply of gas. Natural gas fields don’t take kindly to being pressurised/depressurised too often, leaks develop and get worse. Ours was offshore near Hull and has been out of action for some time. This means that in Winter we have only a couple of days worth of gas stored in the high pressure gas grid.
The gas grid cannot be allowed to depressurise. If air got into it, an explosion could result. So, they can’t turn the gas off at their end.
If a gas main becomes depressurismed, before it can be put back into service, it has to be “purged”, ie gas is manually run through it to remove any air. This has to be done in every branch and every gas user’s premises. It might take weeks.
So, they are not going to be turning the gas off at their end, they’re going to have to cut the gas off at point of use to keep the gas mains pressurised. No, they won’t come round to your house to turn off the gas at the meter, they’ll shut off the electricity – easily done and easily restored.
99% of gas appliances need electricity to function, no electricity = no gas used. So, if we even look like running out of gas, they’ll cut the electricity to prevent gas usage, there is no alternative.
Only those with their own portable generator will be able to defeat this plan. Oh and the gumption to have the boiler/central heating system wired through a 13A plug and socket, so enabling easy connection to the generator.
Respectfully, Harold Armitage
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Sir,
Erin Baker (see DT, 22-09-21) mentions a reduction in the plug-in grant for electric cars, from £5,000 to £2,500.
That is just as start and it will be eclipsed at some point, after the tax on petrol and diesel fuel (£30bn pa (or £10,000 per vehicle) is transferred to electric cars.
That is nothing compared with the £3 trillion cost of decarbonising the national grid, which equates to around £100,000 per household.
Respectfully, Roger Arthur
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Sir,
David James (DT letters, 24-09-22) queries the cost of Boris Johnson’s net zero target.
National Grid has given part of the answer, with an estimate of £3 billion to decarbonise the Grid – which equates to around £100,000 per family.
But what of the benefits? CO2 comprises around 0.04% of the atmosphere and Global Human Activity contributes around 3% of that. The UK contributes around 1% of that 3%, which is 1% of 3% of 0.04% in the atmosphere.
So assuming (pessimistically) that CO2 accounts for around 30% of the greenhouse effect, then the UK accounts for 0.0000036% of that effect.
Not surprisingly physicist Prof Richard Lindzen observed that “The influence of mankind on climate is trivially true and numerically insignificant.”
Respectfully, Roger Arthur
Ambrose etc says there is no alternative …………………. Of courde there is, several. Water pressurs, ( Not water flow.and many other short cuts . There must be some engineers left. Mist, sound etc
Ridiculous. A whole country cannot think of alternatives…. We’ve gone soft in the head But big business will not want to know.
I recently actually heard someone say that glass was not recyclable. The Romans might not have known.. English education triumphs..
Big business does not tolerate change. Keep making cars, laptops etc Change its colour or this bit or that bit but it’ll still be the same thing . And regulated in law . lobbying .
Smokeless coal? Why can`t it be used to operate power stations?
As I keep saying, Anyone with a water tank in the loft more than 3 foot higher than the device . does not need electricity. And if you have a water tank in the loft, that’s ample.. ( All the talk about heat pumps has got us confused Its just an inside out fridge ) So most of your electricity need not come out of the wall All the really silly heating like drying clothes , Water wasteful showers and baths, wasteful cooking on hotplates etc can all be done much better. So
Do not use electricity for old fashioned machinery.. We use it because it appears cheap to those ignorant of alternatives. And we do not need fracking ,mines, petrol stations. There are many many ways for everyone. However Insulation ais a good way to start thinking. If you like triple glaze the entire house.
We have all been conned by the greedy, to never think. British education is worse than a kid in the kalahari.
If you sold it to the Westminster bubble Dyson would have us all in tow within a year.. Except The Corrupt would demand their share.
Except Corruption is often considered by the foolish to be good business.
In the sixties the London smog, and pollution was such that one couldnt drive or walk easily andone lost ones wat in the simplest of road systems. Mrs Thatcher intriduced theclean air acts sensibly and sensitivity except for miners And the problem was it was abotched Nationalised Industry run amock. Just like our NHS and all proto large businesses.
”Just throw another chair leg on the fire, Jeeves”. Sorted.
Revolution the only way we will get real change Johnson Starmer Davey Royals need to go
As the saying goes – the Tories never give a sucker an even break.
Roger Arthur gets my vote as always.
Harold Armitage has managed to worry me. Just as I’d decided my gas fired heating system somehow would work without electricity because unlike the previous system it was not plugged into the electric mains, he says 99% of gas heating does require electricity.
Once agaim I am overwhelmed.
The Civil Service runs the country. How is that going ?
Politicians in chargr of laws. How is that going. ?
The Institutions themselves. How are they doing ?
So, Law and Order…How is that going ?
The NHS, Gas electricity etc, Education How is that doing, ?
The armed forces , Now being insulted by piffling local politicians to solve their problems.. and being used ignorantly . How is that going down ?
Are our fish happy. Have we solved the problems. Anothe powder keg. Are you doing anything ?
Another manufactured covid hysterics. How is that going ?
Have we lost NI yet. However is that going. ?
I know I can’t solve thses problems. I can’t, and will not, even brainwash myself into click savvy.. We knew this might happen in the 50’s, But sheer vaplume of ignorance drowning it out . How is that going.. Do we even know its happening?
And………… on and on……………. Surely we can get something correct
Oh yes TAX gathering !